Published on: 4/7/2025
Lower abdominal pain can happen for many reasons, from problems in your intestines or urinary system to issues with muscles or, in females, the reproductive organs.
Your lower abdomen is home to many organs, so pain in this area can come from different sources. One possibility is a problem with your digestive system, like constipation, inflammation, or even infections that affect the intestines. Sometimes, conditions that cause pain on one side of your abdomen, like appendicitis or diverticulitis, may also be felt more generally. Infections of the urinary tract or kidney stones can also cause pain in the lower belly area. For women, issues with the reproductive system such as ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, or even menstrual cramps can be the cause of the discomfort. Additionally, muscle strains from exercise or injury can lead to lower abdominal pain as well. Since lower abdominal pain can be caused by so many different factors, it is important to monitor other symptoms like fever, changes in bowel habits, or pain that gets worse. If the pain is severe, persistent, or is accompanied by other concerning signs, it’s a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional to figure out what is causing the pain and to get appropriate treatment.
(References)
Sherman R. Abdominal Pain. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 86. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK412/
Purysko AS, Remer EM, Filho HM, Bittencourt LK, Lima RV, Racy DJ. Beyond appendicitis: common and uncommon gastrointestinal causes of right lower quadrant abdominal pain at multidetector CT. Radiographics. 2011 Jul-Aug;31(4):927-47. doi: 10.1148/rg.314105065. PMID: 21768232.
Carlberg DJ, Lee SD, Dubin JS. Lower Abdominal Pain. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2016 May;34(2):229-49. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2015.12.003. PMID: 27133242.
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