What could be the cause of sharp lower left abdominal pain?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Sharp pain in the lower left side of your abdomen is often caused by inflammation in the colon, such as diverticulitis or diverticular disease. Other potential causes include constipation, gas, kidney stones, ovarian cysts, or a urinary tract infection. In some cases, less common conditions affecting that area may also be responsible.

Because the lower left abdomen contains multiple organs—including part of your colon, left kidney, and reproductive organs—identifying the exact cause on your own can be difficult. That's why taking a free, instant, online symptom check is a smart next step. It helps you understand what may be going on and guides you toward the right care, faster.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Sharp pain in the lower left abdomen has several common causes including:

Diverticulitis - inflammation of small pouches in the colon wall
Constipation or bowel obstruction
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Less common but nonetheless important causes include:

Ovarian cysts or other gynecological conditions
Kidney stones or urinary tract infections
Muscle strain or injury in the abdominal wall

Associated symptoms can help pinpoint the underlying cause of the pain. For example, pain associated with fever could be indicative of diverticulitis or another infection in the colon.

If pain is ongoing or worsening, you should discuss with a healthcare provider. To help identify what might be causing your symptoms, you can check your symptoms and get personalized guidance on next steps.

(References)

Abboud B, Daher R. An exceptional cause of left lower quadrant abdominal pain. World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Jul 21;15(27):3451. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.3451. PMID: 19610153; PMCID: PMC2712913.
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.
Sim SS, Sun JT, Huang SY. Elderly Man With Left-Sided Abdominal Pain. J Acute Med. 2020 Dec 1;10(4):165-166. doi: 10.6705/j.jacme.202012_10(4).0007. PMID: 33489742; PMCID: PMC7814206.

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