Why do I have left lower abdominal pain?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Lower left abdominal pain is a common symptom with many possible causes. The most frequent include digestive issues such as gas, constipation, diverticulitis, or irritable bowel syndrome. In women, it may stem from ovarian conditions like cysts, endometriosis, or ovulation pain. Other causes include kidney stones, urinary tract infections, or hernias.

Because the lower left abdomen contains parts of the colon, left kidney, left ureter, and (in women) the left ovary and fallopian tube, pinpointing the exact cause requires careful evaluation of your specific symptoms. Pain that is sudden, severe, or accompanied by fever, vomiting, or blood in stool should be assessed urgently.

Since so many conditions share this symptom, the fastest way to narrow down what's happening is to review your full symptom picture in context. A free, AI-powered symptom check takes just a few minutes, is completely anonymous, and can help you understand possible causes and decide whether home care, a doctor's visit, or urgent care is your best next step.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

When you have pain on the lower left side of your belly, it might be due to a problem in your digestive system. For example, conditions like constipation and diverticulitis—where small pouches in the colon get inflamed—can cause pain here. Pain in this location could also stem from the ovaries. Ovarian cysts, which are small fluid-filled sacs, sometimes cause pain if they become large or twist. Urinary tract infections and kidney stones could also cause pain in this area. It's important to note details such as when the pain started, how long it lasts, and if you have other symptoms, like fever or changes in your bowel habits. To help identify what might be causing your discomfort, you can check your symptoms and get personalized insights in just a few minutes. If the pain gets worse or doesn't go away, it's a good idea to talk to a doctor.

(References)

Hwang JA, Kim SM, Song HJ, Lee YM, Moon KM, Moon CG, Koo HS, Song KH, Kim YS, Lee TH, Huh KC, Choi YW, Kang YW, Chung WS. Differential diagnosis of left-sided abdominal pain: primary epiploic appendagitis vs colonic diverticulitis. World J Gastroenterol. 2013 Oct 28;19(40):6842-8. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i40.6842. PMID: 24187459; PMCID: PMC3812483.
Bodmer NA, Thakrar KH. Evaluating the Patient with Left Lower Quadrant Abdominal Pain. Radiol Clin North Am. 2015 Nov;53(6):1171-88. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2015.06.005. Epub 2015 Aug 5. PMID: 26526432.
Tursi A, Elisei W, Picchio M, Giorgetti GM, Brandimarte G. Moderate to severe and prolonged left lower-abdominal pain is the best symptom characterizing symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon: a comparison with fecal calprotectin in clinical setting. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2015 Mar;49(3):218-21. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000094. PMID: 24583746.

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