When women are dealing with frequent upper stomach pain, nausea, or that progressive “gnawing” sensation, it’s easy to brush it off as stress or simple heartburn. However, peptic ulcers in women can be sneaky, and the symptoms don’t always look the same from person to person.
At Prima Medicine, patients are never rushed, and the team takes the time to connect the dots and identify the root cause of your issues. With offices in Fairfax, South Riding, Merrifield, and Tysons, VA, Prima Medicine offers coordinated primary care led by Washingtonian magazine’s Top Doc, Chethana Rao, MD.
In this blog, you’ll learn 5 common peptic ulcer warning signs in women.
What Are Peptic Ulcers?
Peptic ulcers are open sores that typically form in the lining of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) or the stomach. 
Duodenal ulcers are more common in men than women, especially in adults ages 30–50. Gastric ulcers (stomach ulcers) tend to show up later in life and affect women more often than men.
Warning Signs of Peptic Ulcers in Women
Here are some indicators of peptic ulcers in women.
1. Upper Stomach Pain That Gets Worse After Eating
With gastric ulcers, discomfort often shows up soon after meals because food can irritate the sore area in the stomach lining. Some women describe it as burning, gnawing, or aching in the upper abdomen.
Duodenal ulcer pain may improve after eating and return later when the stomach is empty.
2. Feeling Full Quickly (Even After Small Meals)
If you’re eating less because you feel “too full” too fast, an ulcer could be aggravating your stomach lining. Fullness and bloating can happen even when you haven’t eaten much.
3. Belching or Indigestion That Won’t Quit
Frequent burping or uncomfortable indigestion can be easy to dismiss. However, they’re particularly common with peptic ulcers.
4. Nausea, Especially After Meals
Women with gastric ulcers may develop nausea that’s most noticeable after eating, even if the meal wasn’t heavy. In some cases, vomiting can occur, too.
5. Heartburn or Acid Reflux
Heartburn can overlap with ulcers, especially if acid irritation is part of what’s driving your discomfort. If reflux is frequent and paired with stomach pain, it’s worth getting checked out.
Call Prima Medicine for Ulcer Relief
If you think you may be experiencing peptic ulcers, don’t wait for symptoms to “just go away.” The team at Prima Medicine can help you figure out what’s going on and recommend the right next steps.
Call (703) 870-3750 or schedule an appointment online at our Fairfax, Merrifield, South Riding, or Tysons locations today.
