What’s Causing Pain in My Lower Left Abdomen?

Diverticulitis, hernias, endometriosis, and testicular torsion are just a few possible causes of lower abdominal pain. Get medical help if your pain comes on suddenly or is accompanied by symptoms such as fever or vomiting.
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The lower left side of your abdomen is home to the last part of your colon, and for those who have them, the left ovary. Minor pain in this area is usually nothing to worry about. It may clear up on its own in a day or so.
If your lower abdominal pain is related to an accident or injury, or you feel pressure or pain in your chest, call 911 or your local emergency services.
Ask someone to help you get to an urgent care facility or an emergency room if you have:
fever
severe tenderness in the affected area
swelling of the abdomen
bloody stools
persistent nausea or vomiting
unexplained weight loss
skin that looks yellow (jaundice)
Read on to learn more about lower left abdominal pain, several causes and treatments, and when to speak with a doctor.
A note on sex and gender
We use the terms “female” and “male” in this article to reflect the anatomy and chromosomes of sex assigned at birth.
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Common causes

Common causes
Diverticulitis
In many cases, persistent pain specific to the lower left side of the abdomen is caused by diverticulitis.
Diverticula are small pouches created from pressure on weak spots in the colon. Diverticula are common and even more so after age 65. When a pouch tears, swelling and infection might cause diverticulitis.
Other symptoms may include:
fever
nausea or vomiting
diarrhea or constipation
abdominal tenderness
Treatment for diverticulitis depends on the severity of your symptoms. For mild diverticulitis, a doctor might recommend rest, a change in diet, and antibiotics. If the condition is severe or continues to return, surgery might be needed.
Gas
Passing gas and burping are normal digestion processes. Gas is found throughout your digestive tract, from your stomach to your rectum. Too much gas may cause pain, bloating, and discomfort.
Gas usually isn’t serious. Talk with a doctor if it’s persistent or goes along with other symptoms, such as:
vomiting
diarrhea or constipation
unintentional weight loss
heartburn
blood in the stool
Indigestion
Indigestion usually happens after eating. Your stomach makes acid when you eat, which may irritate your esophagus, stomach, or bowel. The pain is usually in the upper part of the abdomen, but in rare cases, it might also affect the lower abdomen.
Common symptoms of indigestion include:
heartburn
burning sensation in the stomach
feeling full or bloated
belching or passing gas
nausea
Speak with a doctor if indigestion continues or worsens.
Hernia
A hernia is the result of an internal organ pushing through the muscle or tissue surrounding it. This may cause a lump or bulge to appear in the lower abdomen, groin, or upper thigh areas.
Other symptoms may include:
increasing size of the bulge
increasing pain at the site
pain when lifting
a dull ache
a feeling of fullness
Different symptoms accompany each type of hernia. For example, hiatal hernias do not produce a bulge.
The specific cause depends on the type of hernia, but they do not disappear on their own. Speak with a doctor if you suspect you have one, as untreated hernias may cause serious problems.
Inguinal hernia
An inguinal hernia is the result of fat or a portion of the small intestine pushing through a weak area in the lower abdomen. This type of hernia is more common in males, but it can also occur in females.
Symptoms include:
a bulge in the pubic or groin area that may get larger over time and usually goes away when lying down
pain that worsens when straining, lifting, coughing, or during physical activity
weakness, heaviness, burning, or aching in the groin
a swollen or enlarged scrotum
This type of hernia might cause serious problems. Get medical help right away if you have:
extreme tenderness or redness at the bulge site
sudden pain that gets worse and continues
problems passing gas or having a bowel movement
nausea and vomiting
fever
Kidney stones
A kidney stone is a solid mass of crystals that develops in your urinary tract. It causes pain when it moves inside your kidney or into your ureter, which is the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder.
You may experience severe pain on one side of your abdomen or back, under your ribs. This may come in sporadic waves as the stone moves through your urinary tract.
You may also experience:
urine that’s pink, red, brown, cloudy, or smelly
painful or more frequent urination
nausea or vomiting
fever or chills
There’s no single cause for kidney stones, but estimates suggest that 10% of the U.S. population will have them at least once in their life.
Shingles
Shingles is a skin rash caused by varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once you’ve contracted it, the varicella-zoster virus remains dormant in your body. It may then reappear as shingles, usually after age 50.
The most common symptom is a painful rash around one side of your body. It looks like a stripe of blisters. The rash sometimes appears on the neck or face. You may also experience pain without a rash.
Other symptoms include:
burning, numbness, itching, or tingling
sensitivity to touch
blisters that break open, ooze, and form scabs
The shingles vaccine can help lower your chances of developing shingles. If you have shingles, speak with a doctor right away. Early treatment may help ease symptoms and minimize the chances of other problems.

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What causes lower abdominal pain in females?

What causes lower abdominal pain in females?
Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea)
Cramps usually occur before and during your menstrual period. Although the pain may vary, menstrual cramps aren’t usually serious.
Speak with a doctor if:
your cramps interfere with your daily activities
pain worsens over time
you’re older than age 25 and your cramps have started to get more severe
Endometriosis
With endometriosis, tissue similar to that which typically lines the inside of your uterus also grows outside the uterus. This might cause abdominal pain.
Some other symptoms are:
painful menstrual cramps that may worsen with time
pain with sex
painful bowel movements or urination
heavy menstrual periods
spotting between periods
The cause of endometriosis is unknown. If you develop endometriosis, work with a doctor to monitor your condition.
Ovarian cyst
An ovarian cyst is a sac filled with fluid inside or on the surface of an ovary.
Most cysts don’t produce symptoms and go away without treatment in a few months. However, a large cyst may cause discomfort, press on your bladder, and cause you to urinate more often.
A cyst that ruptures (breaks open) might cause some serious problems, such as severe pain or internal bleeding.
Seek immediate medical help if you’re experiencing:
sudden, severe abdominal pain
pain with fever or vomiting
signs of shock, such as cold and clammy skin, rapid breathing, lightheadedness, or weakness
Ovarian torsion
Large ovarian cysts may cause the ovary to change position in the body. This raises the risk of ovarian torsion, a painful twisting of the ovary that can cut off blood supply. The fallopian tubes may also be affected.
Ovarian torsion is not common. When it does happen, it’s usually during the reproductive years, with pregnancy or hormonal use to promote ovulation.
Surgery is often needed to untwist the ovary or remove it. See a doctor if you feel sudden, severe pain in your abdomen with vomiting.
Ectopic pregnancy
With ectopic pregnancy, a fertilized egg implants itself before reaching the uterus. This usually happens inside the fallopian tubes connecting the ovary to the uterus.
You may not always feel symptoms. But in addition to abdominal pain, you may also experience:
nausea and breast soreness
a missed period and other pregnancy signs
vaginal bleeding or watery discharge
discomfort with urination or bowel movements
pain in the shoulder, abdomen, neck, or pelvis
See a doctor if you have these symptoms and believe you may be pregnant, even if a pregnancy test is negative and it’s still early.
An ectopic pregnancy that ruptures (breaks open) is serious. Surgery is required to repair the fallopian tube. Get medical help right away if you’re:
feeling sick or dizzy
feeling faint
looking very pale
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
PID is an infection of the female reproductive system. It’s commonly caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, but other types of infections can also lead to PID.
In addition to abdominal pain, symptoms may include:
fever
vaginal discharge with a bad odor
pain or bleeding with sex
a burning sensation with urination
bleeding between periods
Speak with a doctor if you think you have been exposed to an STI or if you have any genital symptoms like an unusual sore.

What causes lower abdominal pain in males?

What causes lower abdominal pain in males?
Testicular torsion
In testicular torsion, the testicle rotates, which lowers blood flow to the testicles and causes severe pain and swelling. There are different causes of this rotation. The condition most commonly occurs in males after birth and between ages 12 and 18 ears.
Some symptoms include:
sudden, severe scrotum pain and swelling
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
painful urination
fever
Testicular torsion is very serious. If you experience sudden or severe testicular pain, get medical emergency assistance even if the pain subsides. Surgery may be needed to help prevent damage to the testicle.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions
What organ is in the lower left abdomen?
The organs in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen include:
parts of the small intestine
the distal descending and sigmoid colon
the ureter of the left kidney
parts of the reproductive organ system
for some, the left ovary and the uterine tube
When should I worry about lower left side pain?
Mild lower left abdominal pain is common and will often go away on its own. However, get medical help if the onset of pain is sharp, sudden, and severe or if you develop other symptoms such as:
fever
nausea
dizziness
vomiting
diarrhea or constipation
bloody stools and urine
unexplained weight loss
signs of shock, such as cold and clammy skin, rapid breathing, lightheadedness, or weakness
Why does my lower left abdomen hurt when I take a deep breath?
Lower left abdominal pain that arises after taking a deep breath may be caused by:
a hernia
kidney stones
testicular or ovarian torsion
diverticulitis
a diaphragm injury
Get medical attention if your pain worsens or you develop other symptoms such as fever, nausea, or vomiting.

Takeaway

Takeaway
Lower left abdominal pain may come and go. It isn’t something to generally worry about.
However, if the pain is sudden and sharp or is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea, or vomiting, it’s important to get medical attention right away.