Abdominal pain in the adolescent female

There are a variety of unique and challenging problems that can present with abdominal pain in the adolescent female. A history of sexual activity or the concerns of physical or sexual abuse are often concealed, difficult to confirm, and frequently present with only a complaint of abdominal pain. Intrauterine or extrauterine pregnancy and their complications must be considered in the differential diagnosis of every adolescent female with abdominal pain. This article reviews the myriad of clinical problems that can present with abdominal pain in the adolescent female with special emphasis on those issues that can be associated with high morbidity and/or mortality if not promptly recognized and treated.