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Health Education

15 reasons you may have belly button pain

There are many different reasons for discomfort around your navel, ranging from indigestion to appendicitis
Leandra Beabout
By | Dec. 22, 2023 Medically reviewed by Jesse P. Houghton, MD, FACG
Person in a crop top - causes of belly button pain
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Almost everyone experiences stomach discomfort from time to time. But what if the pain is centered around your belly button? Belly button pain, known as periumbilical pain, can happen for many reasons. Sometimes, periumbilical pain is caused by temporary issues such as constipation, indigestion, or the stomach flu. In other cases, belly button pain can be a sign of serious health issues like appendicitis or a bowel obstruction. Here, we discuss the most common causes of belly button pain

15 causes of belly button pain

Belly button pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. That means there are several possible causes. While many causes of belly button pain are related to your digestive system, some causes are linked to other organs or systems in your abdomen. Below, we take a closer look at the possible causes of belly button pain and which causes might call for a visit to your healthcare provider. 

1. Indigestion

Indigestion is very common. This temporary stomach condition feels like burning, discomfort, or painful fullness in the upper abdomen. However, it can also radiate across the whole abdomen and cause belly button pain, says Dr. Sawhney. Common causes of indigestion include:

  • Overeating
  • Eating too fast
  • Stress
  • Smoking
  • Drinking
  • Certain medications

In most cases, indigestion is temporary and not a cause for concern. But, if you’re experiencing chronic or worsening indigestion, tell your healthcare provider. It could be a sign of an underlying gastrointestinal problem. 

2. Belly button skin infection

Skin infections can develop from bacteria, fungus, or insect bites. They cause pain, irritation, or itching in and around the skin of the belly button, says Charu Sawhney, DO, MPH, an internal medicine primary care physician at Harbor Health in Austin, Texas. If your belly button skin is infected, you’ll probably also notice reddened or darkened skin and, in some cases, flaking or scaliness.

3. Umbilical hernia

An umbilical hernia occurs when part of the intestines pushes through an opening in the abdominal muscles, creating a swelling near the belly button. Umbilical hernias are common in infants, but when they develop in adults, these hernias often require surgical treatment.

Umbilical hernias can cause a tender or aching bulge or swelling in and around the belly button. “The pain gets worse with lifting, standing, and straining activities,” Dr. Sawhney says. Other symptoms of umbilical hernia include:

  • A dark red or purple lump in the belly button
  • Constipation
  • Vomiting 
  • Fever

If you think you may have an umbilical hernia, you should see your healthcare provider.

4. Constipation

Can’t go? Your belly button pain may be caused by constipation. Defined as having fewer than three weekly bowel movements, constipation affects about 4 million Americans. It can be caused by a variety of lifestyle factors, medical conditions, and certain medications (such as opioids).

“Persistent long-standing constipation over two or more months can be problematic and lead to abdominal discomfort and belly button pain,” says Dr. Sawhney. “This type of pain and discomfort is not constant, comes and goes, and is vague in nature.” Other signs of constipation include:

  • Discomfort or pain when pooping
  • Passing dry, hard, lumpy stools
  • Feeling like you cannot evacuate your bowels completely

It’s normal to feel backed up from time to time, but if your constipation does not subside with lifestyle changes like higher fiber intake, proper hydration, and regular exercise, you should make an appointment to see a healthcare provider. 

5. Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, your belly will stretch and get bigger as the fetus grows. The relatively rapid growth can put pressure on the back of the belly button, causing discomfort and dull pain. Sometimes, the skin around the belly button gets itchy and irritated as the abdomen gets larger.

Ultimately, belly button pain caused by pregnancy is usually easy to pinpoint. If you are in your second or third trimester of pregnancy, it is normal to feel discomfort while your skin and uterus are stretched. 

6. Appendicitis

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small organ in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. This fairly common health condition comes on suddenly and can affect anyone, regardless of age or sex. 

“Appendicitis pain may start as a dull ache around the belly button and intensify, shifting to the lower right abdomen,” says Thiruvengadam Muniraj, MD, advanced endoscopist at Yale Medicine and associate professor at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. “It may worsen with movement, coughing, sneezing and you may have tenderness when pressure is applied to the lower right abdomen.” Other symptoms of appendicitis include nausea, diarrhea, and fever.

Appendicitis requires prompt medical treatment. If you’re worried about appendicitis, seek immediate medical care. If you’re experiencing worsening symptoms of appendicitis, go to the emergency room.

7. Gastroenteritis

“Gastroenteritis or the stomach flu is an acute viral or bacterial infection that can be transmitted from contaminated food and water,” says Dr. Sawhney. “It causes sudden abdominal [or] belly button pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These infections usually resolve on their own and are treated supportively with anti-nausea, anti-diarrhea, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications.”

8. Peptic ulcer

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that causes stomach infections. H. pylori infections are very common—up to 40% of Americans have had one. In most cases, the infection causes no symptoms and goes away on its own. But sometimes, the infection becomes chronic and can erode the stomach lining and cause a painful stomach ulcer.

People who have peptic ulcers often experience a dull, gnawing stomach pain that sometimes improves with eating, according to Bishwajit Bhattacharya, MD, general surgeon at Yale Medicine and Associate Professor of Surgery at Yale School Of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. Peptic ulcer pain is typically felt above the belly button, adds Dr. Muniraj. If you have a peptic ulcer, your pain may be accompanied by bloating, nausea, black stool, or unintended weight loss. 

9. Gallstones

Gallstones, medically known as cholelithiasis, form when bile substances harden into crystals inside the gallbladder. This condition affects 10% to 15% of Americans. Many gallstones remain inside the gallbladder and cause no problems. But a stone that blocks the tract leading out of the gallbladder can cause sudden, severe pain above the belly button and right upper abdomen. Other symptoms of a gallbladder attack may include vomiting, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, or light stool. 

10. Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which lies behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. More than 200,000 people in the United States develop pancreatitis each year—a large number but a tiny percentage of the overall population. 

Gallstones, heavy alcohol use, high triglyceride levels, and more can cause pancreatitis. Aside from pain around the belly button, pancreatitis can cause stomach pain radiating to the back, nausea, vomiting, fever, rapid pulse, and diarrhea. 

11. Umbilical pilonidal sinus

Umbilical pilonidal sinus is an uncommon condition in which hair and lint that have become compacted in the belly button penetrate the skin and cause an inflammatory reaction. Symptoms of this type of belly button infection include:

  • Belly button pain
  • Smelly belly button discharge
  • Redness of the skin inside the belly button

Men with very hairy stomachs and deep navels have the highest risk of developing an umbilical pilonidal sinus. Obesity and poor hygiene are other risk factors.

12. Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect the entire digestive system. It is an inflammatory bowel disease caused by inflammation that develops from an overactive immune system.

Crohn’s disease can cause intense abdominal pain or cramping that affects the area around the belly button. The belly button pain from Crohn’s likely comes and goes based on your eating patterns. It can also come and go over weeks and months. Belly button pain is not the only sign of Crohn’s disease. Other symptoms include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Weight loss
  • Pain and cramping in other parts of the abdomen
  • Fatigue
  • Joint pain

13. Bowel obstruction

Bowel obstruction is what it sounds like—a physical blockage that prevents food and liquids from moving through your intestine. They’re often caused by hernias, adhesions (scar tissue), tumors, and more. “Bowel obstruction is often associated with bloating and absence of bowel function,” says Dr. Bhattacharya. In other words, a specific area of your abdomen will swell, and you will be unable to poop or pass gas. 

“Bowel obstruction pain tends to be crampy and sporadic, starting as a general ache around the belly button before becoming more severe and focused on a specific area of the abdomen,” explains Dr. Muniraj.

14. Muscular injury

“Muscular and tendon injuries to the torso and abdomen are not common but can still be a cause of belly button pain,“ Dr. Sawhney says. If your belly button hurts after participating in contact sports or activities involving forceful torso twisting, you might be dealing with an injury.

If your belly button is tender, swollen, or bruised due to physical trauma, you might find that it gets worse or better when you move into different positions. Focus on rest, icing the area, and changing your activities until the injury heals.

15. Urinary tract infection

More than 50% of women will get a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their lifetime (compared to about 12% of men). This common infection is caused by bacteria from the bowel getting into the urinary tract through the urethra. As the infection spreads, it can cause pressure or abdominal cramps typically below the belly button, but it can also be referred around the belly button. Other signs of UTIs include:

  • Pain or burning sensation when peeing
  • Frequent urge to urinate
  • Bloody urine
  • Pain in the groin or lower abdomen

It’s best to see a healthcare provider if you have a UTI. These infections often require prescription antibiotic treatment.

When to see a healthcare provider

The seriousness of belly button pain depends on the underlying cause. “Belly button or abdominal pain can often be confusing as it is influenced by what medication you take, what you eat [or] drink, and your daily physical activities,” Dr. Sawhney says. So, how do you know when to worry about belly button pain? 

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you experience sudden belly button pain or belly button pain that does not improve over time. “If one experiences symptoms such as gradually worsening pain, fever with chills, vomiting, or being unable to pass gas, it is highly recommended to seek immediate medical attention from a doctor or go to the ER,” Dr. Muniraj says. These symptoms could indicate a potentially life-threatening condition such as pancreatitis, appendicitis, or bowel obstruction.

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