What Are the Possible Causes of Sharp Lower Abdominal Pain?

When you feel a sharp pain in your lower belly, there are many things that might be causing it. One possibility is a problem with the intestines or appendix. For example, appendicitis—a sudden inflammation of the appendix—often causes intense, sharp pain that might start near the belly button and then move to the lower right side. Other issues in the intestines like an infection or blockage may also result in sharp pain. Sometimes, the pain could be due to a hernia, where a part of an organ pushes through the muscle, or a muscle strain from overusing or injuring the muscles in your belly. In some cases, the pain might come from other organs in that area, such as problems with the reproductive system in females or kidney stones in the urinary tract. Because many conditions can cause lower abdominal pain, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider who can ask questions, perform exams, and possibly do tests like imaging to help find out what is causing the pain and decide how to treat it.