Abdominal Pain: Symptoms and When to See a Specialist in Singapore
Dr Thng Yongxian
Medical Director & Senior Consultant Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgeon
Keyhole Gallbladder Surgery Specialist
MBBS • MMed • MRCS (IRE) • FRCSED • FAMS
Last reviewed: 13 November 2026
Abdominal pain, also called stomach pain or belly pain, is discomfort felt anywhere between the chest and the groin. The abdomen contains the stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, bladder and reproductive organs, so pain in this area can come from any of them. Doctors identify the source from the location, character, pattern, timing and spread of the pain.
What causes abdominal pain?
Abdominal pain has causes in the digestive tract, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, urinary tract and reproductive organs. Gastritis, stomach ulcers, gallstones, appendicitis, pancreatitis, kidney stones, constipation and gut infections are common examples. The location of the pain is the strongest clue to its source.
Organs behave differently when they hurt. Hollow organs such as the bowel, gallbladder and ureters produce pain that comes in waves, while inflammation of solid organs such as the liver and pancreas produces pain that stays. Gallstones are a frequent cause of pain in the upper right abdomen.
Which organs cause pain in each region of the abdomen?
Doctors divide the abdomen into nine regions, and each region lies over different organs. Upper abdominal pain usually points to the stomach, liver, gallbladder or pancreas. Lower abdominal pain usually points to the bowel, appendix, bladder or reproductive organs. Right and left sides also differ, as the table shows.
| Region | Where it is | Organs and conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Epigastric | Upper centre, below the breastbone | Stomach (ulcer, gastritis), oesophagus (reflux), pancreas (pancreatitis), liver (hepatitis) |
| Right hypochondriac | Upper right, under the ribs | Gallbladder (gallstones), liver (hepatitis, liver abscess), bile duct (bile duct stones), colon (diverticulitis) |
| Left hypochondriac | Upper left, under the ribs | Stomach (gastritis, ulcer), pancreas (pancreatitis), colon (diverticulitis), spleen (abscess) |
| Umbilical | Around the belly button | Small bowel (gastroenteritis, bowel obstruction), colon (constipation, obstruction), aorta (aortic aneurysm) |
| Right lumbar | Right side, level with the belly button | Right kidney (kidney stones), gallbladder (gallstones), colon (colitis, diverticulitis) |
| Left lumbar | Left side, level with the belly button | Left kidney (kidney stones), colon (colitis, diverticulitis) |
| Right iliac | Lower right | Appendix (appendicitis), colon (colitis), female reproductive organs (ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis), lymph nodes (mesenteric adenitis) |
| Left iliac | Lower left | Female reproductive organs (ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis), colon (colitis, constipation) |
| Hypogastric | Lower centre, below the belly button | Bladder (urinary tract infection), female reproductive organs (fibroids, endometriosis), colon (colitis, diverticulitis), prostate (prostatitis) |
How does abdominal pain feel?
Abdominal pain is described as sharp, cramping, dull, burning, pinching or pressing. Doctors ask for your own words first, then prompt with specific terms. The description helps separate pain from hollow organs from pain from solid organs.
Pain may feel:
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Sharp or stabbing
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Cramping or colicky
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Dull, aching or heavy
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Burning or gnawing
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Pressure-like or squeezing
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Constant, persistent or intermittent
When does abdominal pain occur?
Many abdominal organs react to eating, digestion and bowel movements, so the timing links pain to a source. Pain tied to meals, foods or stool usually arises in the digestive tract, while pain at rest with no trigger more often arises elsewhere.
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Occur during, shortly after or several hours after meals
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Follow fatty or spicy foods
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Come before, during or after a bowel movement
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Change with bending forward, lying flat or walking
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Appear at rest with no clear trigger
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Wake you from sleep or worsen at night
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Follow the menstrual cycle in women
Where does abdominal pain spread?
Abdominal organs share nerve pathways with the back, shoulder, chest and groin, so pain can be felt away from its source. The place where the pain is strongest points to the organ, and the direction of spread adds a second clue. Gallbladder pain can reach the right shoulder tip, pancreatic pain can reach the back and kidney stone pain can travel to the groin.
When should you see a doctor for abdominal pain?
See a doctor promptly for sudden severe pain, pain with fever, persistent vomiting, blood in the stool or vomit, yellow skin or eyes, or pain that keeps worsening. Go to the nearest emergency department for sudden severe pain, a rigid abdomen or vomiting blood. Mild abdominal pain often settles within hours or a couple of days.
Seek a specialist review sooner when any of these are present:
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Sudden, severe abdominal pain that comes on without warning
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Abdominal pain with fever, chills or rigors
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Persistent vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
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A rigid or visibly swollen abdomen
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Blood in the stool, black tarry stools or vomiting blood
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Yellowing of the skin or eyes
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Unintentional weight loss with persistent abdominal pain
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Pain that wakes you from sleep or worsens over days
What tests diagnose abdominal pain?
Dr Thng order tests according to the examination findings. Blood tests, urine and stool tests, ultrasound, CT, MRI and endoscopy are the common ones. Abdominal ultrasound is usually the first imaging test
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Blood tests: full blood count, liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes (amylase and lipase), inflammatory markers and tumour markers where indicated.
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Urine and stool tests: check for infection, hidden blood or other abnormalities that fit the suspected diagnosis.
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Abdominal ultrasound: images the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and nearby structures. It uses no radiation, is widely available and suits biliary disease well.
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CT scan or MRI: gives more detail when the diagnosis stays unclear or when a known condition needs staging. CT is often used for acute abdominal pain, and MRI with MRCP suits the bile ducts and pancreas.
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Endoscopy: gastroscopy or colonoscopy when the digestive tract needs direct viewing, a biopsy or treatment
Which causes of abdominal pain does Dr Thng treat?
Dr Thng is a Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and General Surgeon, which means he treats conditions of the liver, pancreas and bile ducts as well as general surgical conditions. These include gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, liver conditions, hernias and appendicitis.
Consult Dr. Thng Yongxian, HPB Surgeon in Singapore
Dr. Thng Yongxian is a Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and General Surgeon in Singapore. He manages a broad range of conditions that present with abdominal pain, including gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, liver conditions, hernias and appendicitis. Where surgery is appropriate, Dr. Thng employs minimally invasive (laparoscopic) techniques wherever the clinical situation allows.
If your abdominal pain has been persistent, recurrent or accompanied by any of these warning signs, a specialist consultation can clarify the cause and the appropriate next step. Contact hepatobiliary specialist Dr. Thng’s clinic to arrange an assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are frequent causes of short term abdominal pain?
Digestive causes such as gastritis, constipation and gastroenteritis are frequent. The location and timing of the pain show which organ is involved.
Where is gallbladder pain felt?
Gallbladder pain is felt in the upper right abdomen under the ribs. It can spread to the right shoulder tip.
What does pain in the right lower abdomen mean?
It can come from the appendix, the colon or, in women, the right ovary. Pain that starts near the belly button and moves to the lower right suggests appendicitis and needs same day review.
What is the hypogastric region?
The hypogastric region is the lower central part of the abdomen, below the belly button. It lies over the bladder, part of the colon and the uterus or prostate.
Is abdominal pain during pregnancy normal?
Mild discomfort can occur as the womb grows. Severe, persistent or one sided pain needs urgent review by an obstetrician.
When should I see a specialist for abdominal pain?
See a specialist when the pain is severe, recurrent or comes with fever, vomiting, blood in the stool or yellow skin. Dr Thng’s clinic at Gleneagles Annexe in Singapore can assess the cause.
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