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Published on: 7/15/2026

What could cause pain in the lower right abdomen near the hip bone in a pregnant female?

Lower right abdominal pain near the hip bone during pregnancy is often caused by round ligament stretching, pelvic joint changes, or growing uterus pressure. However, it can also signal serious conditions like appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cyst complications, or urinary tract infections that require prompt medical attention.

Because pregnancy symptoms overlap with signs of serious conditions, self-diagnosis is risky and delays in identifying issues like appendicitis can harm both you and your baby. A free, AI-powered symptom check takes only 3 minutes, is developed with physicians, and helps you understand possible causes and urgency—so you know whether to rest, call your doctor, or seek emergency care right away.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

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Explanation

When you are pregnant, your body changes in many ways. One common reason for pain near the hip bone is due to the growing baby and hormones that help soften your joints and ligaments. This can lead to pelvic instability or stress on the muscles around your hip and lower abdomen. Sometimes, this kind of pain is called pelvic girdle pain or hip pain in pregnancy and is usually a tractable musculoskeletal problem. However, it is important not to ignore such pain. In some cases, the pain may be caused by more serious conditions like appendicitis. During pregnancy, the growing uterus can shift the location of the appendix, and pain might be felt lower and closer to the hip. If the pain becomes very strong, is accompanied by fever, nausea, or changes in your general health, you can use a free symptom checker to help understand your symptoms and reach out to your healthcare provider immediately. They can help check if the pain is due to normal pregnancy changes or if further tests are needed to ensure your health and your baby's safety.

(References)

  • Rao H, Banerjee S, Jain N, Gupta R, Modi JN, Kapoor A, Biswas R. Hip pain in pregnancy. BMJ Case Rep. 2009;2009:bcr01.2009.1521. doi: 10.1136/bcr.01.2009.1521. Epub 2009 Sep 28. PMID: 21954400; PMCID: PMC3027389.

  • Zachariah SK, Fenn M, Jacob K, Arthungal SA, Zachariah SA. Management of acute abdomen in pregnancy: current perspectives. Int J Womens Health. 2019 Feb 8;11:119-134. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S151501. PMID: 30804686; PMCID: PMC6371947.

  • Daume DL, Becker PM, Linke K, Ries JJ, Fourie L, Klasen JM. Differential diagnoses of right lower quadrant pain in late pregnancy. J Surg Case Rep. 2022 Jul 25;2022(7):rjac200. doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjac200. PMID: 35903664; PMCID: PMC9322997.

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