Why does my belly button hurt?

Belly button discomfort is often caused by poor hygiene. Cleaning your belly button well and drying it properly post-wash can help reduce pain caused by bacterial build-up.

However, in some instances, belly button pain is caused by more complex conditions. In this article, we’ll discuss what medical complaints cause belly button pain – and how to treat them. Finally, we’ll explain instances when belly button pain is severe enough that you must visit a doctor.

Causes of belly button pain

Belly button pain that’s related to other medical complaints is typically accompanied by other symptoms. Common causes of belly button pain include:

Indigestion

Overeating can result in indigestion that makes your abdomen and stomach bloat, increasing sensitivity throughout the whole lower body region. This sensitivity can result in belly button pain. Indigestion will resolve itself with time and rest.

Hernia

Sharp or shooting pains in the belly button may be caused by a hernia. You can often see if you’re suffering from a hernia because a lump protrudes under the skin of your stomach.¹

Hernias are internal body parts emerging through weak muscle or tissue. Laughter and coughing can both cause hernias to appear. Sometimes hernias disappear when you lie down.² 

Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a gastrointestinal illness which often goes undiagnosed until patients are in their late twenties to mid-thirties.³ In addition to belly button pain, people suffering from Crohn’s may experience diarrhoea, abdominal pain, a frequent need to defecate, and extreme weight-loss. ⁴

Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes the ligament that connects the uterus with the groin to stretch. As this ligament stretches, it can contract during episodic coughing, laughter, or movement, and cause pain in the vicinity of the belly button.

How to treat belly button pain

Most belly button pain is brief and harmless. However, belly button pain can be caused by medical conditions which require treatment.

Treatment for hernias

Hernia treatment is decided in consultation with a medical professional. Often your doctor will send you for a scan to see what kind of hernia you’re suffering from. Once they know which internal body part is coming to the surface, they will decide on a treatment course, which in some cases includes surgery.⁵

Treatment for Crohn’s disease

Unfortunately, there’s no existing cure for Crohn’s. However, symptoms are alleviated by medical interventions, including medicinal treatment, enteral nutrition, or surgery if other treatment options have failed to relieve symptoms.⁶

Treatment for pregnancy-related ligament pain

Stretching and resting can help to relieve pain caused by an overstretched ligament. Try to move slowly or rotate your hips in a rhythmic circular motion whenever you feel you might laugh or cough.⁷

When to see a doctor with belly button pain

Most instances of belly button pain and discomfort are nothing to worry about.

However, you should visit a doctor if belly button pain is accompanied by any of these symptoms:

• Blood in your stool
• Extreme weight loss
• Exhaustion
• Vomiting episodes
• Pain during/after eating

These symptoms are indicative of severe conditions, including ulcers and appendicitis.⁸

Last updated: 19 March 2021