Differential Diagnosis for Urinary Frequency and Lower Abdominal Pain

Single Most Likely Diagnosis

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): This is the most common cause of urinary frequency and lower abdominal pain, especially in women. The symptoms are consistent with cystitis, which is an infection of the bladder.

Other Likely Diagnoses

• Overactive Bladder: A condition characterized by a sudden, intense urge to urinate, often accompanied by urinary frequency and nocturia. It can cause lower abdominal discomfort.
• Interstitial Cystitis: A chronic condition causing bladder pressure, bladder pain, and sometimes pelvic pain. The symptoms can include urinary frequency and urgency.
• Kidney Stones: Small, hard mineral deposits that can cause severe pain, urinary frequency, and discomfort in the lower abdomen or back.
• Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate gland, common in men, which can cause urinary frequency, pain while urinating, and lower abdominal or pelvic pain.

Do Not Miss Diagnoses

• Appendicitis: Although it primarily causes right lower quadrant pain, appendicitis can sometimes present with lower abdominal pain and urinary symptoms if the appendix is located near the bladder or ureter.
• Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy in which a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often causing severe lower abdominal pain and other symptoms. Urinary frequency might not be a primary symptom but can occur.
• Ovarian Torsion: A condition where the ovary twists around its ligaments, cutting off blood supply. It causes severe pelvic pain and can lead to nausea, vomiting, and sometimes urinary symptoms due to the proximity of the ovaries to the bladder and ureters.
• Diverticulitis: Inflammation of the diverticula in the digestive tract, which can cause lower abdominal pain. If the affected diverticula are near the bladder or ureters, it might lead to urinary symptoms.

Rare Diagnoses

• Bladder Cancer: Can cause urinary frequency, pain while urinating, and blood in the urine. It's less common than other causes of these symptoms but should be considered, especially in smokers or those with a family history.
• Tuberculosis of the Urinary Tract: A rare condition in many parts of the world, which can cause chronic urinary symptoms, including frequency and pain, along with systemic symptoms like weight loss and fever.
• Endometriosis: A condition where tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus grows outside of it, leading to pain and other symptoms. It can cause urinary frequency if the endometrial tissue grows near the bladder or ureters.