Evaluation of abdominal pain in pregnancy

Last reviewed: 11 Sep 2025
Last updated: 21 Jan 2025

Summary

Differentials

Common

  • Miscarriage
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Preterm labor
  • Adnexal mass
  • Acute cystitis
  • Placental abruption
  • Uterine rupture
  • Acute pyelonephritis
  • Nephrolithiasis
  • Acute hydronephrosis
  • Ruptured ovarian cyst
  • Hemorrhagic ovarian cyst
  • Adnexal torsion
  • Appendicitis
  • Cholecystitis
  • Acute pancreatitis
  • Intestinal obstruction
  • Uterine fibroids
Full details

Uncommon

  • Chorioamnionitis
  • Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome
  • Acute fatty liver of pregnancy
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
  • Splenic rupture
  • Rectus sheath hematoma
Full details

Contributors

Authors

Pasquale Berlingieri, MBBS, MD, PhD

Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Head of Virtual Reality (Screen-Based) Simulation Centre

The Royal Free Campus

University College London

London

UK

Divulgaciones

PB declares that he has no competing interests.

Jurgis Gediminas Grudzinskas, BSc, MBBS, MD, FRCOG, FRACOG

Formerly Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospital School of Medicine

London

UK

Divulgaciones

JGG is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Revisores por pares

John Bachman, MD

Consultant in Family Medicine

Parker D Sanders and Isabella Sanders Professor of Primary Care

Rochester

MN

Divulgaciones

JB declares that he has no competing interests.

Rhona Hughes, MBChB

Lead Obstetrician

Lothian Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health

The Royal Infirmary

Edinburgh

Scotland

Divulgaciones

RH declares that she has no competing interests.

Samuel J. Stratton, MD, MPH

Professor

UCLA School of Public Health and David Geffen School of Medicine

Los Angeles

Medical Director

Health Disaster Management/Emergency Medical Services

Orange County Health Care Agency

Santa Ana

CA

Divulgaciones

SJS declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

Referencias

Nuestros equipos internos de evidencia y editoriales colaboran con colaboradores expertos internacionales y revisores pares para garantizar que brindemos acceso a la información más clínicamente relevante posible.

Artículos principales

Kumar SS, Collings AT, Wunker C, et al. SAGES guidelines for the use of laparoscopy during pregnancy. Surg Endosc. 2024 Jun;38(6):2947-2963.Texto completo  Resumen

Hahn SA, Promes SB, Brown MD. American College of Emergency Physicians clinical policies subcommittee (Writing Committee) on early pregnancy. Clinical policy: critical Issues in the initial evaluation and management of patients presenting to the emergency department in early pregnancy. Ann Emerg Med. 2017 Feb;69(2):241-50.e20.Texto completo  Resumen

American College of Radiology. ACR appropriateness criteria: right lower quadrant pain. 2022 [internet publication].Texto completo

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee opinion, no. 723: guidelines for diagnostic imaging during pregnancy and lactation. Oct 2017 [internet publication].Texto completo

Artículos de referencia

Una lista completa de las fuentes a las que se hace referencia en este tema está disponible para los usuarios con acceso a todo BMJ Best Practice.

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