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Pain in the lower left abdomen can be due to common conditions like gas and constipation, or it can be the symptom of a more serious illness requiring professional diagnosis and treatment. Please continue reading to find out what can cause abdominal pain in the lower left part of the abdomen (below and to the left of your belly button).

Symptoms of Left Lower Abdomen Pain

Abdominal pain on the left lower side can be sudden, sharp, cramping, dull, aching, constant, or intermittent. Other symptoms can accompany left abdominal pain, including gas, bloating, distension, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, blood in vomit, blood in stool, rectal bleeding, and fever. The nature of the pain and the additional symptoms can provide clues about what may be causing the lower left abdominal pain.

What Organ Is In Your Lower Left Abdomen?

The organs present in the lower left abdominal cavity include gastrointestinal organs (parts of the small and large intestines), the ureter of the left kidney, organs of the female reproductive system such as the left ovary, and the iliac fossa (a part of the hip bone in the pelvis).

Common Causes: What Does Pain In The Left Lower Abdomen Mean?

Pain in the left lower abdomen can mean many different things, such as:

Gas

Excess gas in the digestive tract can cause you to feel pain in the left lower abdomen accompanied by bloating, distension, cramps, and a knotted feeling. While gas can be inconvenient and embarrassing, it is rarely a sign of a serious medical problem.

Constipation

Constipation can cause tightness and a cramping or sharp pain in the left lower abdomen. This is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as less than three bowel movements per week, lumpy or hard stools, and straining to pass stool.

Menstrual Cramps

Menstruation can cause cramping, throbbing, or a sharp pain in the left lower abdomen. It can also be a dull pain or continuous ache. The pain usually starts 1-3 days before you get your period, peaks 24 hours after you start bleeding, and goes away in 2-3 days. Left lower abdomen pain that occurs around mid-cycle is likely to be ovulation pain.

Infections and Inflammation

Infections of the digestive tract, for example, gastroenteritis (stomach and small intestine) or colitis (colon), can cause pain in the lower left abdomen. The stomach pain may be accompanied by fever, cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, body aches, and sometimes, blood in the stool. 

Conditions such as cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), and splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) are more likely to cause pain in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. Appendicitis pain typically occurs in the right lower quadrant.

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis 

Diverticular disease is a condition of the digestive system in which small pockets (diverticula) develop in the lining of the colon (large intestine). A diverticulum can become infected, causing lower abdominal pain, especially on the left side, along with other symptoms like bloating, fever, and diarrhea.

Check out 11 Early Signs of Gastrointestinal Disease.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome can cause pain in the lower left abdomen accompanied by stomach cramps, bloating, gas, and changes in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation).

Learn the Symptoms of IBS in Women.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) can cause symptoms such as pain in the lower abdomen, gas, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.

Learn more: IBD vs. IBS: What’s the Difference?

Intestinal Blockage

If something blocks the small or large intestine, for example, scar tissue or a tumor, it can cause lower left abdomen pain, cramping, bloating, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and a loss of appetite. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical care. Without timely treatment, a bowel obstruction can result in serious complications like bowel rupture. 

Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is one in which the fertilized egg attaches outside the uterine cavity, most commonly in the fallopian tube. Symptoms can include light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain, which can feel like left lower quadrant pain. If there is leakage of blood from the ectopic pregnancy, the internal bleeding can irritate nerves, causing symptoms such as shoulder pain or the urge to have a bowel movement. Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency. You should seek medical attention without delay if you have a positive pregnancy test and any of the above-mentioned symptoms. 

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a condition in which many fluid-filled sacs called cysts develop in the ovaries. The ovarian cysts can cause pelvic pain, which can feel similar to lower left quadrant pain. They can also cause cramps during menstruation, irregular periods, abnormal hair growth, darkening of the skin, acne, obesity, skin tags, and infertility.

Endometriosis 

In women with endometriosis, uterine tissue grows outside the uterus. Symptoms include severe left lower or middle pain during menstrual periods that can be sharp, stabbing, throbbing, or gnawing in character.

Ovarian Torsion

This is a condition in which the ovary becomes twisted on its supporting tissues, leading to interrupted blood supply, with the lack of blood flow causing pain in the pelvis. Other symptoms include stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. The pelvic pain is of sudden onset and can be felt as a stomach ache in the left lower quadrant if the left ovary is involved. This condition requires immediate medical attention.

Testicular Torsion

Testicular torsion is a condition in which a testicle twists or rotates on a structure called the spermatic cord which brings the blood supply to the scrotum. Symptoms may include left lower abdominal pain if the left testicle is involved. Other symptoms may include sudden, severe scrotal pain and swelling, nausea, vomiting, fever, frequent urination, and the testicle appearing to be at an unusual angle or higher position. This condition requires emergency surgery within 6-12 hours of the pain starting.

Ureteral Obstruction

The ureters are a pair of tubes in the urinary tract, one on each side, that carry urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. An obstruction of the left ureter can cause lower left quadrant pain. This may be accompanied by other symptoms such as decreased urine output, difficulty urinating, and blood in the urine.

Inguinal Hernia

A hernia occurs when tissues, for example, parts of the intestine, push through a weak area in the abdominal wall, resulting in a bulge. Symptoms of an inguinal hernia may include groin pain that is typically worse with coughing, bending over, or lifting something. Other symptoms include sensations of weakness, pressure, burning, or aching and a visible bulge on the side of the pubic bone. 

Referred Pain

Sometimes, pain present somewhere else in the body can travel to the lower left abdomen through nerves. For example, one can experience referred pain in the left lower abdomen from the testicles, pelvic organs, or kidney stones in the left kidney.

Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Osteoarthritis in the left hip can cause pain in the groin region, which may spread to the buttock, front of the thigh, and left lower abdomen. The pain is typically worse with activities. 

Colon or Rectal Cancer

Abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, and distention can be symptoms of rectal or colon cancer. You should seek medical attention if left abdominal pain is accompanied by changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, or unexplained weight loss.

When To Seek Medical Care for Lower Left Abdominal Pain

When Should I Worry About Lower Left-Side Pain?

You should worry about lower left side pain of the abdomen if it is a sudden, sharp, or severe pain that does not improve in 24-48 hours. Seeking medical care is crucial if the left abdominal pain is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, abdominal distension and tenderness, blood in vomit, blood in stool, rectal bleeding, inability to eat, unexplained weight loss, signs of jaundice, or a painful rash. 

It is also important to be evaluated by a healthcare provider if your left lower abdominal pain is a chronic pain that has been present for a while, even if it is not severe pain. 

Most of the conditions that can cause lower left abdominal pain are treatable if you seek timely medical care.

Should I Go To The ER (Emergency Room) For Lower Left Abdominal Pain?

Some causes of lower left abdominal pain are serious, and some are not. It can be hard to tell what’s going on from your symptoms alone. You should go to the emergency room if you have severe abdominal pain, worsening pain, or persistent pain that does not get better with over-the-counter pain relievers. Emergency medical care is definitely necessary if you also experience fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and lethargy.

Diagnosis of Lower Left Abdominal Pain

To diagnose the underlying cause of your lower left abdomen pain, your health care provider will listen to your symptoms, obtain a detailed medical history, and perform a physical exam. This may include a rectal exam or pelvic exam to check for problems with the gastrointestinal or reproductive organs. 

Based on their findings, your provider may order additional tests, including blood tests, urine tests, and imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI. In addition, they may request an endoscopy or colonoscopy to look at the upper and lower digestive tract, respectively.

Treatment Options

What Is The Treatment for Lower Abdominal Pain?

Treatment for lower left quadrant abdominal pain depends on the underlying cause. For example, you may experience abdominal pain due to constipation caused by a low-fiber diet. In this case, your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle modifications such as eating a high-fiber diet to manage symptoms and promote regular bowel movements. 

For a bout of stomach flu, your doctor may recommend hydration and bowel rest (clear liquids, followed by easy-to-digest bland foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast).

If you have left lower quadrant pain related to menses, your doctor might give you pain medication such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) or birth control pills to reduce uterine blood flow and menstrual cramps. 

In addition to oral contraceptives (birth control pills), other hormonal birth control methods can also be used to manage painful period cramps, such as vaginal rings, birth control patches, and hormonal IUDs (intrauterine devices). Keep in mind that there are non-hormonal IUDs, and those are not typically helpful with heavy cycle flow and menstrual cramping. Since hormonal birth control can also cause side effects, healthcare providers will determine on a case-by-case basis if using hormonal contraceptives is the best option to treat menstrual cramps.   

On the other hand, if you have severe pain in the lower left abdomen accompanied by other worrisome symptoms, it could be something more serious that requires treatment with medications or surgery.

Your primary healthcare provider or a specialist in digestive and kidney diseases will make a diagnosis based on your history, symptoms, physical exam, and test results and recommend the appropriate treatment. 

Find out How to Settle an Upset Stomach.

Home Remedies and Self-Care for Lower Left Abdominal Pain

It’s very important to find the underlying cause of your pain. Once your doctor has identified what is causing your lower abdominal pain, they will treat it appropriately. Alongside medical treatment and under your doctor’s guidance, you can try the following lifestyle changes and self-care measures to ease abdominal pain: 

• Soak in a warm bath (avoid hot water that can scald you). 

• Place a heating pad or hot water bottle on your abdomen; make sure to turn off the heating pad before you fall asleep.

• Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and clear fluids.

• Limit consumption of coffee and alcohol. 

• Follow your doctor’s advice on dietary modifications. 

• Take over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil, and Motrin (ibuprofen), if advised by your doctor. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) are very effective for menstrual cramps, but make sure to check with your doctor first. 

• While most OTC pain relievers, used as directed, are generally safe for most people, it is crucial to check with your doctor or pharmacist before self-medicating because NSAIDs are not recommended for those with kidney disease or heart failure, and people with liver problems should use caution with Tylenol (acetaminophen).