Why Does My Belly Button Hurt? 10 Possible Causes
Health ConditionsPain Management

10 Reasons Your Belly Button Might Hurt

10 Reasons Your Belly Button Might Hurt
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Updated on April 14, 2026
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Belly button pain can range from a dull ache to severe agony.

The “belly button” area is known as the umbilicus. It’s the spot where the umbilical cord (a tube that provides nutrients and oxygen to a fetus during pregnancy) was attached. So, you may hear your doctor refer to your belly button as the “umbilicus” and pain around the belly button as “periumbilical.”

Although it’s often harmless, belly button pain that doesn’t improve or worsens might indicate something more serious.

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Seek immediate medical attention if you have severe pain, pain that worsens, or pain that accompanies symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or weight loss. These may be signs of appendicitis, a strangulated hernia, or another condition that may cause complications, says Qin Rao, MD, a gastroenterologist at Manhattan Gastroenterology in New York City.

“When the pain is mild, self-resolving, and the patient is young, they can usually monitor the situation to see if it improves,” Dr. Rao says.

Knowing the potential cause of your pain can help you decide whether you can treat it at home or need a doctor’s care.

Graphic chart titled, belly button pain, some illustrated points include a torso diagram pointing to the abdomen and highlighting the periumbilical region and umbilicus. Everyday Health logo bottom left.

1. Digestive Issues

Belly button pain is sometimes the result of digestive issues and may include other symptoms like heartburn, gas, and bloating. Bloating and gas can create pressure, leading to a feeling of fullness. Eating something that didn’t agree with you might cause indigestion, which sometimes causes abdominal pain.

These symptoms can be part of a condition known as chronic indigestion, or functional dyspepsia. It can also cause cramp-like pain that comes and goes, especially after meals or when you’re constipated.

Treatment might involve lifestyle changes, such as eating smaller meals to prevent bloating, as well as eating more high-fiber foods to help soften stools, which makes them easier to pass. Over-the-counter medications, such as antacids or gas relievers, can help, too.

See your healthcare provider if your symptoms worsen or don’t improve after two weeks of home treatment.

2. Infections

Some infections can cause pain around the belly button.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), for example, can cause pain when they irritate your bladder. This can happen when bacteria, usually E. coli, get into the urinary system.

Call your healthcare provider if you experience UTI symptoms, such as frequent urination, a burning feeling when you urinate, or cloudy, foul-smelling urine.

Although antibiotics may treat the infection, emergency care is needed if fever, back pain, or vomiting develop, too.

Skin infections, such as yeast or bacterial infections, can also develop in the belly button because of its moist, damp environment. The folds of skin in this area often trap sweat, oils, and moisture, making it easier for bacteria and fungi to grow. These infections can cause swelling, pain, and sometimes a foul odor or discharge. Call your healthcare provider if you notice symptoms of a belly button skin infection.

3. Hernia

An umbilical hernia occurs when abdominal tissue bulges through an opening in the abdominal muscles around the belly button. This can cause pain or pressure, says David D. Clarke, MD, an internal medicine and gastroenterology physician in Portland, Oregon, and president of the nonprofit Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms.

Pain from a hernia can be the result of increased pressure from pregnancy, obesity, or frequent heavy lifting, which strain the area around the belly button.

 This pain is usually sharp and sudden, and you may have swelling around your belly button. See a doctor if you notice a bulge that’s changing color or getting bigger, darker, or firmer, or if you have nausea, vomiting, constipation, or bloody stool.
An umbilical hernia that causes symptoms often requires surgery to repair the weak spot in the abdominal wall, particularly if the hernia becomes strangulated. This occurs when blood flow is cut off to the bulging tissue.

4. Surgical Complications

Belly button pain can be a side effect of abdominal surgery, such as laparoscopic surgery or C-section (cesarean section).

Laparoscopic surgery involves making small incisions in the abdomen to insert tools and perform procedures, which can cause temporary discomfort near the navel. This pain resolves on its own as your body heals, usually within a few weeks.

Similarly, after a C-section, you may have some temporary pulling near the belly button as your incision heals.

Keep in mind that belly button pain may worsen if an incision doesn’t heal properly. It’s important to follow your doctor’s postsurgery instructions for a smooth recovery. These may include temporarily not wearing tight clothing around the navel area and avoiding strength training, heavy lifting, and scratching the wound.

Call your healthcare provider if you have fever, chills, redness, or swelling around your incisions as well as abnormal discharge or bleeding, vomiting, or trouble urinating. These are signs of infection.

5. Pregnancy-Related Pain

In addition to a C-section, pregnancy itself can also cause pain around the belly button. An expanding uterus can put pressure on surrounding tissue and lead to discomfort in the navel area. This creates a stretching or pulling sensation, especially during the second trimester.

Called round ligament pain, this is generally harmless and goes away by the third trimester. But see your doctor if you don’t find relief from resting or changing positions, if you experience vaginal bleeding or contractions, or if the pain becomes severe.

6. Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a serious condition that occurs when the appendix (a small organ attached to the large intestine) becomes inflamed and infected. This often happens when excess stool or a tumor blocks the opening inside the appendix. The blockage traps bacteria, resulting in swelling and pain.

The infection can initially cause pain around the belly button before it moves to the lower right side of the abdomen, Dr. Clarke says. Appendicitis usually accompanies nausea, vomiting, and a loss of appetite.

Seek immediate medical care if you suspect appendicitis. Left untreated, the appendix can burst and cause a life-threatening infection called sepsis. You may need surgery to remove the appendix.

7. Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is painful inflammation of the pancreas, an organ in the abdomen. It can have several causes, but the most common include a blockage in the bile duct caused by gallstones (hardened deposits of bile in the gallbladder) and alcohol use.

Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis lasts for a short time, causing pain in the upper belly that may radiate to the back, fever, upset stomach, vomiting, and rapid pulse.

On the other hand, chronic pancreatitis is inflammation that comes and goes over time. It causes pain in the upper belly that may feel worse after you eat.

Call your doctor if belly pain suddenly appears or doesn’t improve. If the pain is severe, seek immediate medical attention.

Treatment may involve a hospital stay to allow your pancreas time to rest and heal. You may receive pain medication, intravenous (IV) fluids, and instructions for dietary changes.

8. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic conditions that cause inflammation of the digestive tract and potentially pain around your belly button. The two most common types are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Their symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue.

Treatment usually includes prescription medications to reduce inflammation and plans to reduce flare-ups.

9. Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that occurs when tissue normally lining the uterus grows outside of it. It can cause sharp, cramp-like pain around your belly button that gets worse during menstruation.

An estimated 11 percent of U.S. women between 15 and 44 years old may have the condition.

In addition to cramping and pelvic pain, endometriosis symptoms include bleeding or spotting between periods, gastrointestinal issues, and infertility. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about these symptoms.

Treatment often involves pain management with medications and hormonal birth control or another type of hormone therapy to slow the growth of endometrial tissue. In some cases, surgery is needed to remove abnormal tissue.

10. Diverticulitis

Sharp pain in the lower left area of the abdomen is a common symptom of diverticulitis. This condition develops when small pouches form in the wall of the large intestine and become inflamed.

Many people develop small pouches known as diverticula as they age, though most don’t have issues. But sometimes, the diverticula can get infected and potentially tear, causing moderate to severe abdominal pain that’s sudden or grows over time. You may have other symptoms, including fever, nausea and vomiting, constipation, and rectal bleeding.

If you suspect you have diverticulitis, call your doctor. Mild cases may go away on their own or with medications. More severe cases may require a hospital stay to avoid complications.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Functional Dyspepsia. Cleveland Clinic. March 18, 2025.
  2. Foods for Constipation. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  3. Indigestion. Mayo Clinic. July 3, 2025.
  4. Urinary Tract Infections. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  5. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Cleveland Clinic. April 6, 2023.
  6. Belly Button Yeast Infection. Cleveland Clinic. April 29, 2022.
  7. Umbilical Hernia. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  8. Umbilical Hernia. Cleveland Clinic. November 18, 2024.
  9. Laparoscopy. Cleveland Clinic. August 28, 2023.
  10. Postpartum Pain Management. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. August 2022.
  11. Incision Care. Cleveland Clinic. April 25, 2023.
  12. Round Ligament Pain. Cleveland Clinic. March 29, 2024.
  13. Appendicitis. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  14. Symptoms & Causes of Appendicitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. July 2021.
  15. Pancreatitis. Mayo Clinic. October 31, 2025.
  16. Pancreatitis. Mayo Clinic. October 31, 2025.
  17. Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Cleveland Clinic. May 20, 2024.
  18. Endometriosis. Office on Women’s Health. October 24, 2025.
  19. Endometriosis. MedlinePlus. March 27, 2025.
  20. Diverticulitis. Cleveland Clinic. April 10, 2023.
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