Which Doctor to Consult for Stomach Pain? And What Does a Gastroenterologist Treat

01What is a gastroenterologist?

A gastroenterologist — called "pet ka doctor" or stomach specialist — is a physician (MD Medicine) with further specialisation (DM or DNB) in the digestive system: food pipe, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. They diagnose and treat digestive diseases with medicines and perform procedures such as endoscopy and colonoscopy. They are not surgeons; if surgery is needed, a GI surgeon operates.

02What a gastroenterologist treats

• Acid reflux (GERD), heartburn and gastritis.
• Peptic ulcers and H. pylori infection.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic constipation and diarrhoea.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease).
• Liver diseases: fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis.
• Gallstones (medical aspects), pancreatitis.
• Blood in stool, black stool, anaemia from the gut.
• Difficulty swallowing and unexplained weight loss.
• Screening for colon and stomach cancer.

03Which doctor for lower abdomen pain?

The lower abdomen holds the intestines, bladder, and in women the uterus and ovaries, so the right doctor depends on accompanying symptoms:

• With bloating, constipation or diarrhoea: physician or gastroenterologist (possible IBS, infection).
• With burning urination or frequent urination: physician or urologist (possible UTI) — see which doctor for UTI.
• In women, with period changes, discharge or pain during sex: gynaecologist.
• Right lower pain with fever and vomiting: emergency — possible appendicitis.
• Pain in the groin with a bulge: surgeon (possible hernia).

04Emergency signs: go to hospital

• Sudden, severe or worsening abdominal pain.
• Pain with high fever, persistent vomiting or a rigid, tender belly.
• Vomiting blood or black stool.
• Pain in pregnancy, or pain with fainting.
• Pain after an injury.
• Upper abdominal pain with chest discomfort, sweating or breathlessness.

05What happens at the consultation

1. History: location, type and timing of pain, food link, bowel habits, weight change, medicines.
2. Abdominal examination.
3. Tests as needed: blood count, liver and kidney tests, stool tests, H. pylori test, ultrasound.
4. Endoscopy or colonoscopy when warning signs are present or symptoms persist.
5. Treatment plan and follow-up.

06Questions your doctor will ask

Answering these clearly helps the doctor reach a diagnosis quickly:

• Where exactly is the pain, and does it move?
• Is it burning, cramping, sharp, dull or colicky?
• When did it start, how long does each episode last and how often does it come?
• Is it related to food, stool, periods, urination or posture?
• Any fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, blood, weight loss?
• Which medicines, painkillers or supplements do you take?
• For women: date of the last period and any chance of pregnancy.

07Tests: what each one shows

• Blood tests: infection, anaemia, liver, kidney and pancreas function.
• Urine test: urinary infection or kidney stones.
• Stool tests: infection, hidden blood, inflammation.
• Ultrasound: gallstones, liver, kidneys, ovaries, appendix in some cases.
• Endoscopy: food pipe, stomach and duodenum — ulcers, gastritis, H. pylori biopsy.
• Colonoscopy: large intestine — bleeding, polyps, inflammation.
• CT scan: in emergencies or when other tests are unclear.

Good doctors order tests step by step instead of everything at once.

08Stomach pain in women: gynaecological causes

Lower abdominal pain in women can come from period pain, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, pelvic infection, urinary infection or pregnancy-related problems including ectopic pregnancy — which is an emergency. Pain with a missed period, vaginal bleeding, fainting or shoulder-tip pain needs urgent care. Recurring pain linked to periods should be assessed by a gynaecologist.

09Stomach pain in children

Children often get tummy aches with constipation, gastroenteritis, worm infestation, stress about school or after eating junk food. See a paediatrician for pain that wakes the child, is localised on the right side, comes with fever, vomiting, blood in stool or weight loss, or keeps recurring. Do not give adult painkillers or antacids to children without advice.

10Common causes of stomach pain by location

• Upper middle: gastritis, ulcer, acid reflux, pancreatitis.
• Upper right: gallstones, liver problems.
• Around the navel: early appendicitis, gas, intestinal infection.
• Lower right: appendicitis, ovarian problems, kidney stone.
• Lower left: constipation, diverticular disease, ovarian problems.
• Whole abdomen, cramping: gastroenteritis, IBS, gas.

11Physician first, specialist when needed

A good physician can manage most episodes of indigestion, gas, food poisoning and mild constipation, and decides when a specialist or test is needed. This saves time and cost. Our doctors manage common digestive problems and coordinate gastroenterology referral when required.

12Digestive care at Dr. Monga Medi Clinic

We treat gastrointestinal disorders, acidity, IBS, constipation and piles at Lajpat Nagar 4, Dwarka Sector 9 and DLF Phase 4 Gurugram. See also gastro and liver care in Delhi, and our guides on gastric pain relief and IBS.

13Self-care while you wait to see a doctor

For mild stomach pain without warning signs, simple measures help while you arrange an appointment. Eat small, bland meals; sip fluids regularly, including oral rehydration solution if you have diarrhoea or vomiting; avoid alcohol, tea and coffee in excess, spicy and fried foods; and rest. A warm compress can ease cramps. Avoid painkillers such as ibuprofen and diclofenac, which can irritate the stomach, and do not take antibiotics without a prescription. Keep a note of when pain occurs, what you ate and any bowel changes — it helps the doctor. Seek urgent care if pain becomes severe, you cannot keep fluids down, you notice blood, or you develop a high fever.