The symptoms of a stomach ulcer in people assigned male at birth may differ in some circumstances from people assigned female at birth. But across genders, stomach ulcer symptoms are largely the same.
Stomach ulcers (also called peptic or gastric ulcers) happen when stomach acid or bacteria wear away the mucus lining that protects the inside of your stomach, causing painful sores.
Read on to learn what symptoms of a stomach ulcer might be different in people assigned male at birth, what can increase your risk of developing a stomach ulcer, and when to contact a doctor.
Language matters
In this article, we talk about stomach ulcer symptoms in people assigned male at birth. Your gender identity may not align with the sex you were assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.
People assigned male at birth have no additional symptoms of stomach ulcers than people assigned female at birth.
Burning abdominal pain between your chest and belly button is the most common symptom of a stomach ulcer or
Other common symptoms of a stomach ulcer include:
- mild pain lower in your abdomen
- feeling sick
- vomiting (which may include fresh or older blood)
- feeling bloated
- getting full easily
- acid coming up your throat
- heartburn
- anemia, which can cause you to feel tired or short of breath
All genders are
A
The biggest risk factors for stomach ulcers in males include:
- being older than age 60
- having close family members who have also had stomach ulcers
- overusing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products
- overusing alcohol over a long period of time
- getting injured in the stomach or abdominal area
- using blood thinners like clopidogrel (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin)
- using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), especially for major depressive disorder
- chemotherapy
Stomach ulcers happen when the natural mucus lining of the stomach is worn away.
This can allow stomach acid or infections to irritate the stomach tissue or even wear a hole completely through the stomach, a process also known as
There are two
- overgrowth of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), bacteria that live in the stomach but can become infectious when they grow uncontrollably
- using NSAIDs for a long period of time
Other possible causes of stomach ulcers include:
- getting surgery on your stomach
- stomach or intestinal cancer
- Crohn’s disease or other inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)
- blockage in your intestines that affects your stomach
- liver damage or cirrhosis
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
A condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome can also cause stomach ulcers because of increased acid production in the stomach, but it’s incredibly rare.
Abdominal pain and other stomach ulcer symptoms can be signs of other conditions, including:
- food poisoning
- food allergies
- ulcerative colitis
- gastritis
- peritonitis
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- gallbladder diseases
- hepatitis
- diverticulitis
- intestinal parasites
Get immediate medical attention if you have
- experiencing unexplained weight loss
- having
trouble swallowing food or liquids - passing black or dark red poop
- throwing up blood
- throwing up frequently
- feeling lightheaded
- fainting
Some tests doctors use to help diagnose stomach ulcers include:
- physical exam
- medical history
- esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
- upper endoscopy
- barium swallow
- blood tests
- liver function tests
- testing for H. pylori, including a breath test or stool antigen test
- stomach tissue biopsy
Treatments for stomach ulcers depend on the cause and can include:
- taking antibiotics for H. pylori infections
- taking proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H2 receptor blockers to help reduce stomach acid
- stopping NSAID use
- taking probiotics to help curb H. pylori infections
- having an endoscopy to check for improvement in the ulcer
- having surgery to treat severe or perforated ulcers, such as gastrectomy (in rare cases)
Here are questions commonly asked about identifying and treating stomach ulcers.
How do I know if I have an ulcer in my stomach?
Abdominal pain that gets better after you eat and worse a few hours after you eat is the most distinct symptom of a stomach ulcer.
What is the fastest way to cure a stomach ulcer?
Reduce or stop any activities that harm your stomach lining, such as taking NSAIDs or drinking alcohol.
If you have an H. pylori infection, rest and take the antibiotics that your doctor prescribes.
People assigned male at birth have no additional stomach ulcer symptoms than people assigned female at birth. Most symptoms are similar.
