Your belly button could hurt for various reasons, some involving nearby organs. The pain might stem from acute (short-lived) issues like constipation or indigestion. Serious causes could include appendicitis, which often starts with pain around the belly button before moving to the lower right abdomen. Chronic conditions like Crohn’s disease, which affects the intestines, can also lead to persistent pain in this area.
To address the pain, first consider if your diet may have led to constipation, indigestion, or a food-borne illness. If the pain persists or you develop symptoms like fever, nausea, or vomiting, reach out to a healthcare professional right away. Your provider can diagnose the issue and recommend treatment, which might range from home remedies to more advanced care.
Indigestion
Indigestion, also called dyspepsia, is a common cause of belly button pain. It is often due to something you ate. Indigestion feels like a burning or aching sensation mainly between the breastbone and belly button.
A bout of indigestion can be caused by:1
- Eating spicy, acidic, fatty, or greasy foods
- Eating too fast
- Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine
- Drinking too many carbonated drinks
- Feeling stressed
- Smoking
- Taking certain medications, like antibiotics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Indigestion is often treated with over-the-counter antacids like Mylanta (aluminum hydroxide) or H2 blockers like Pepcid AC (famotidine).1
Constipation
Constipation is another common cause of belly button pain, and one of the most common reasons people see a healthcare provider. You may be constipated if you have fewer than three bowel movements in a week. The stool that does pass is usually hard, dry, and pebble-like.2
Constipation can cause pain—often sudden and sharp—in the belly button area as well as the lower abdomen. With constipation, you might also feel bloated, uncomfortable, or sluggish.2
Causes of constipation include:3
- Not eating enough fiber
- Being physically inactive
- Ignoring the urge to pass stools
- Not drinking enough water
- Side effects of certain medications
- Numerous medical conditions
Constipation can often be relieved by eating more fiber and staying hydrated. Stool softeners and laxatives can provide short-term, occasional relief.4
Hernia
A hernia is when a part of your insides bulges through a weakness in the muscles or tissues containing them. A ventral hernia is a type that involves the abdominal wall. Those that occur near or adjacent to the belly button are called umbilical hernias.5
An umbilical hernia can cause a bump or bulge around the navel. You may feel pain, pressure, or a pulling sensation that radiates from the belly button to the lower abdomen. The pain can be especially sharp when coughing, sneezing, exercising, or stretching.
Hernias can be repaired surgically. The surgery may be open (involving a scalpel and large incision) or laparoscopic (involving specialized tools and tiny “keyhole” incisions).5
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can affect any part of the urinary system.
Lower UTIs cause lower abdominal and pelvic pain. If the infection spreads to the ureters and kidneys, pain may shift to the middle and upper abdomen, including around the belly button. The pain can be dull, sharp, or both.6
UTIs can cause pain with urination, frequent urination, the inability to empty the bladder completely, and blood in the urine. The infections are typically bacterial and treated with antibiotics.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis, or “stomach flu,” may be caused by a virus (such as norovirus) or bacteria (such as E. coli or salmonella) found in contaminated, undercooked food.7
Gastroenteritis often causes wave-like abdominal pain and cramping, typically in the middle and lower abdomen, including around the belly button. It is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea.
Gastroenteritis usually goes away on its own in several days to a week. The treatment is mainly focused on managing symptoms and preventing dehydration.7
Helicobacter Pylori
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria associated with peptic ulcers. The infection is hard to treat and causes symptoms of gastritis (stomach inflammation), characterized by abdominal pain, indigestion, acid reflux, nausea, and bloating.8
The pain is mostly confined to the upper left abdomen but can be felt in the middle abdomen during acute flare-ups.
Symptoms of H. pylori can be managed with antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors like Nexium (esomeprazole). The infection itself can be cleared with a combination of antibiotics given over seven to 14 days.8
Infection
Belly button infections happen when a fungus or bacteria infect the skin in your belly button. Common causes of belly button infections include an infected piercing and poor hygiene.
People with “innie” belly buttons are most at risk, as deeper belly buttons can harbor more sweat, dirt, and bacteria.9 Your risk of belly button infection may also be higher if you have obesity, as extra fat folds in the stomach area can accumulate more moisture and bacteria.10
In addition to pain in or around the belly button, other signs of an infection in your belly button include:9
- A sore or ulcer
- Red, itchy skin
- Foul smells
- Swelling
- Yellow, green, or dark-colored discharge
- Persistent pain
- Blistering around the naval
- Fever
If you notice signs of an infection around your belly button, see your healthcare provider. For mild infections, your provider may recommend a topical antifungal or antibacterial ointment. More severe infections may require oral and/or topical medications.10
Pregnancy
Pregnancy can cause abdominal pain as the baby grows inside the uterus (womb). A common cause during the second trimester is the stretching of the round ligament. This is a band of connective tissue between the uterus and groin that supports the expanding uterus.11
A stretched round ligament can cause sudden, sharp pains in and around the belly button, especially when laughing, coughing, or making sudden movements. Though the pain is usually not a cause for concern, speak with your healthcare provider if the pain is severe or persistent.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract that can cause abdominal cramping and pain. The pain is typically located in the middle to lower abdomen and around the belly button, and can range from mild to severe. The pain often occurs in waves during flare-ups.12
Lichtenstein GR, Loftus EV, Isaacs KL, et al. ACG clinical guideline: management of Crohn’s disease in adults. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113:481-517. doi:10.1038/ajg.2018.27
Other symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, blood in the stool, weight loss, and fatigue.
Crohn’s disease can be treated with a combination of medications (including steroids and biologics), changes in diet, stress reduction, and, in some cases, surgery.13
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. When inflamed, the appendix swells and becomes filled with a thick, infectious fluid called pus.
With appendicitis, the pain is generally dull when it starts around the belly button. The pain will then migrate to the lower right abdomen and become increasingly severe. Other symptoms include fever, indigestion, nausea, gas, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, and a loss of appetite.14
Appendicitis requires emergency medical care. Left untreated, the appendix can spontaneously burst and cause potentially life-threatening complications.15
Gallstones
Gallstones are calcium crystals that can block the ducts of the gallbladder, a non-essential organ located under the liver on the right side of the abdomen. The gallbladder is a responsible for storing and secreting the digestive fluid bile.
Gallstone pain can be felt in the middle to upper-right portion of the abdomen. The pain is often sharp and stabbing and can last from minutes to hours. Pain may also radiate to the back or right shoulder. Nausea and vomiting are common.16
Most gallstones clear on their own and get passed into the intestine for removal in feces. If you are experiencing chronic symptoms, your provider may recommend a common surgery called cholecystectomy to remove the gallbladder.17
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. This is the organ situated just below and behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and insulin.
Causes of pancreatitis include:18
- Abdominal injury or surgery
- Infections like mumps or viral hepatitis
- Gallstones or gallbladder disease
- High triglycerides in the blood
- High calcium in the blood
- Certain medications like estrogen and thiazide diuretics
- A pancreatic tumor
- Cystic fibrosis
The pain is often intense and persistent and can be felt in and around the middle abdomen. The pain can also radiate toward the back. Other symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and bloating.18
The treatment of pancreatitis varies based on the underlying cause.
Bowel Obstruction
A bowel obstruction is a blockage in the intestines that prevents stool passage, causing severe cramping pain from the belly button to the lower abdomen.
The pain can come in ever-increasing waves until either the blockage is cleared or the intestine bursts. Nausea, vomiting, and bloating are common.19
Bowel obstruction can be caused by:19
- Impacted stool
- Hernias
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Diverticular disease
- Adhesions (stuck-together tissues) caused by abdominal surgery
- Colon cancer
A bowel obstruction requires immediate emergency care. Medications and procedures like bowel decompression may help clear the obstruction. If these don’t work, open surgery may be needed.19
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Any persistent pain should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Seek emergency care when abdominal pain is severe, sudden, and accompanied by:
- Vomiting or diarrhea that won’t stop
- Blood in the vomit
- Bloody stool
- Fainting or dizziness
- Bloating but with the inability to pass gas
Summary
There are many possible causes of belly button pain. The pain may occur (or initially occur) on its own in people with indigestion, constipation, appendicitis, pregnancy, or an umbilical hernia. Or, it may occur with other symptoms in people with Crohn’s disease, urinary tract infections, stomach flu, H. pylori infection, gallstones, pancreatitis, or bowel obstruction.
Whatever the cause, see a healthcare provider if the pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other unusual symptoms.