8 Surprising Minor Causes of Belly Button Pain

What?! Your belly button hurts? That’s weird…not! There are a number of reasons for navel pain, some perfectly harmless and others which are quite serious. It is a good idea to know some of the symptom differences so you will generally know when to seek medical attention (but please note, everyone is different – medical information isn’t always one-size-fits-all advice, only you know your body so when it doubt, check it out)! Now let’s take a look at some of the surprising reasons for minor navel pain.

Minor Causes of Belly Button Pain

Is your actual belly button paining, or the area surrounding it? How severe is the pain? Is it intermittent? Different pains can mean different things. Some potential causes include:

1. Bacterial infection – If the discomfort is coming specifically from that strange little cavern and not the surrounding area you may want to look for signs of a navel infection which may include a foul smell, buildup inside the navel, or discomfort and redness on the skin. There are several different types of bacteria living in the bellybutton that can become problematic.
2. Yeast infection – yeast loves damp, hidden areas of the body. Yeast can easily overpopulate in the bellybutton leading to chapped, red and itchy skin or even pustules around the area.
3. Chronic skin condition – skin problems such as psoriasis or eczema can cause belly button discomfort, including chapped skin, redness, pain and itching.
4. Bloating or distention – a common and minor cause of belly button pain may include overeating which can lead to some pretty noteworthy bloating, temporarily causing discomfort in the middle of the stomach.
5. Urinary tract infection (UTI) – Along with burning and painful urination, UTIs can also cause belly button pain that feels like a string of pain from the navel to the pubic region. UTIs can be minor, but they can also be very serious if left untreated.
6. Urachal cyst – These very unpleasant cysts occur between the umbilical region and the bladder, they can cause such symptoms as bladder infections, navel pain or even navel discharge.
7. Trapped gas – another common and minor cause of belly button pain is trapped gas. This can be an extremely painful experience even though it is not a serious one.
8. Pregnancy – often pregnant women will experience navel pain or tenderness as the stomach expands and everything shifts and grows. Normally this is minor and harmless, but sometimes if the pain is very bad or persistent, it may be a sign of fetus distress and should be checked on.

So there you have some of the minor causes of navel discomfort, next we will look at more serious causes of mid-abdominal pain to watch out for. Thanks for visiting DocChat! If you have any questions or concerns about any of these symptoms or conditions, don’t hesitate to try a video consultation with one of our board certified DocChat physicians today!