What Causes Pain In the Lower Left Abdomen?
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Medically reviewed by Angela Ryan Lee, MD
Pain in the lower left abdomen is a common symptom that can stem from a variety of underlying causes. Some common causes of lower left abdominal pain include irritable bowel syndrome, kidney stones, diverticulitis, and ovarian cysts.
Identifying the specific cause of your lower left abdominal pain requires a careful assessment of associated symptoms, medical history, and possibly diagnostic tests. Consulting with a healthcare provider can mean getting an accurate diagnosis and receiving the right treatment, if needed.
What Organs Are In the Lower Left Abdomen?
The specific placement of organs can vary person to person, and the presence or absence of certain organs might differ depending on individual anatomical variations. Typically, the organs located in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen include the following:
Left kidney: The left kidney is situated in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, but its lower part can extend into the lower left quadrant as well.
Left ureter: The ureters are tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The left ureter passes through the lower left quadrant of the abdomen.
Small intestine: While most of the small intestine is located in the central and right upper quadrants of the abdomen, a portion known as the ileum may extend into the lower left quadrant.
Descending colon: This part of the large intestine passes down the left side of the abdomen, eventually leading to the rectum.
Sigmoid colon: The S-shaped portion of the colon located in the lower left abdomen connects the descending colon to the rectum.
Left ovary and fallopian tube: These are part of the female reproductive system. The ovaries produce and store your eggs, and the fallopian tubes are the tubes eggs travel down when making their way to the uterus.
Related: Why You May Have Abdominal Pain—And How to Make It Go Away
What Can Cause Left Lower Abdominal Pain?
Many conditions can impact different areas of your abdomen. The following conditions can cause symptoms to the lower left section of your abdomen.
Diverticulitis
Diverticular disease refers to the formation of small bulges or pockets, known as diverticula, within the intestinal lining. When these pouches become inflamed or infected, it is referred to as diverticulitis.
The pain that is associated with diverticulitis is severe and usually located on the lower left side of the abdomen. Other diverticulitis symptoms may include constipation or diarrhea, fever, and nausea.
Kidney Stone
Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form in the kidneys. If they get stuck, the stones can obstruct the passage of urine. The back-up of urine is what can cause pain in your side, groin, or lower abdomen.
Besides abdominal pain, other symptoms of kidney stones may include:
Nausea and vomiting
Severe pain on either side of the lower back
Fever and chills
Ectopic Pregnancy
When a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tubes, it is called an ectopic pregnancy. At first, the pregnancy may have the same signs of a typical pregnancy, such as a missed period and tender breasts. You might also experience mild pain in the lower abdomen and mild cramping on one side of the pelvis.
As the growing embryo stretches and distorts the surrounding tissues, symptoms can become more serious—especially if the fallopian tube ruptures. The lower abdominal pain can become sharper and more severe. you might also experience shoulder pain, weakness, dizziness, or fainting.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a group of symptoms that include bowel movement changes and abdominal pain—usually in the lower abdomen. The abdominal pain is related to bowel movements, with the pain often decreasing or going away after a bowel movement. You might also experience abdominal pain when you have a change in how often you make bowel movements.
The bowel movement changes can come in the form of diarrhea, constipation, or a mix of both. Besides abdominal pain and bowel changes, other symptoms of IBS include bloating and stool with white mucus.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
There are two types of inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Both conditions cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. If you have either condition, you can experience abdominal pain due to inflammation, ulceration, and muscle contractions in the affected areas. Other symptoms may include diarrhea and bloody stool.
Ovarian Cyst
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on the ovaries. They are common, but they are usually small and don't cause any symptoms. However, if ovarian cysts grow, rupture, or twist, they can irritate and stretch the ovarian tissue. When this happens, you may feel a sharp or dull pain in your lower abdomen on whichever side the cyst is. So if the ruptured ovarian cyst is on your left ovary, you may feel pain in your lower left abdomen. The pain may come and go.
You may also feel pressure, bloating, or swelling on whichever side of the lower abdomen the cyst is affecting.
Ovarian Torsion
Ovarian torsion is when an ovary—and sometimes the connecting fallopian tube—twists over the ligaments that support it. This causes lower abdominal pain due to reduced blood flow and potential tissue damage.
The pain can be sharp or dull. The pain may be constant or come and go. The pain in your lower abdomen may spread to your back, side, or other parts of your abdomen.
Besides pain, ovarian torsion might cause nausea and vomiting.
Testicular Torsion
Testicular torsion is when a testicle rotates, twisting the spermatic cord. This cuts off the blood supply to the testicle, resulting in severe pain due to reduced blood flow to the tissues. The pain is usually felt in the scrotum or testicle. However, some people might also feel pain in their lower abdomen. Sometimes pain in the lower abdomen is the first symptom.
Lower abdominal pain may also be the only symptom, which is why healthcare providers may consider testicular torsion when someone with testicles says they have pain in their lower abdomen.
Inguinal Hernia
An inguinal hernia is where tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal wall near the groin. This causes pain as the protruding tissue puts pressure on surrounding nerves and tissues.
Small Bowel Obstruction
Your small bowel, or small intestines, can become blocked and make it so that food and stool can't pass through. Most often, it is adhesions (bands of scar-like tissue) you get after surgery that cause the blockage.
The pain may come and go or get worse over time. In addition to pain, you may experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, and bowel sounds.
Related: What Can Cause Lower Abdominal Pain?
When Should You Worry About Lower Left Abdominal Pain?
Some causes of lower left abdominal pain are chronic conditions that can be improved with treatment. Some causes of the pain are acute and might need more immediate medical attention. Knowing when to see a healthcare provider for lower left abdominal pain can help you get any care care you might need.
If your pain doesn't improve within 24 to 48 hours, worsens in intensity and frequency, and is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, consider reaching out to a healthcare provider. You should also consider contacting your healthcare provider if you have pain as well as a fever above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit for children).
You should seek immediate medical help if you have sudden and intense abdominal pain. You should also get immediate medical care for your pain if you recently had an abdominal injury, are unable to pass stool, or are vomiting blood.
The healthcare provider will take into account the location of your pain as well as what the pain feels like and how intense it is when making a diagnosis. They'll also ask about any history of pain as well as your medical history in general.
A Quick Review
Lower left abdominal pain is characterized by pain below the belly button on the left side of the abdomen. This type of pain can stem from various factors, including gastrointestinal issues, urinary and kidney conditions, and ovarian and testicular complications. If you experience lower left abdominal pain, consider reaching out to a healthcare provider for evaluation. Prompt medical attention can help determine the underlying cause and ensure appropriate treatment, as certain conditions related to this type of pain may require swift intervention for effective management.
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