Published on: 3/5/2025
Left lower abdominal pain can come from several different causes, ranging from common issues with your digestive system to problems with your ovaries or other conditions.
Pain on the left side of your belly can be associated with a number of issues. Issues in the colon can present with pain in this area. A common cause is constipation. Another relatively common cause is a condition called diverticulitis which happens when small pouches in the colon become inflamed and infected. For people with ovaries, ovarian cysts or even twisting of the ovary (called ovarian torsion) can cause pain on that side. For people with testicles, problems associated with the left testicle can cause pain in the left lower abdomen. Urinary tract infections and kidney stones can also cause pain on the left side. If pain is severe, persists, or is associated with other symptoms like fever or change in stool, it is important to get checked out by a healthcare provider for a more complete evaluation.
(References)
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Siosaki MD, Costa MM, Figueiredo HF, da Silva Junior MF, da Silva Junior RA. A differential diagnosis in chronic lower abdominal pain. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2012;3(10):504-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2012.06.005. Epub 2012 Jul 7. PMID: 22858791; PMCID: PMC3421139.
Yew KS, George MK, Allred HB. Acute Abdominal Pain in Adults: Evaluation and Diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2023 Jun;107(6):585-596. PMID: 37327158.
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