Due to the complexity of the lower left quadrant of the abdomen, many of its structures are vulnerable to inflammation, blockage, or damage. To know what causes pain in left side of lower abdomen, read this blog post!!
Table of Contents
An overview of the abdominal pain in left side
There are four quadrants in the abdomen. In the lower-left quadrant of the abdomen, there are transverse, descending, and sigmoid parts of the colon (a portion of the small intestine), the left kidney’s ureter, and the iliac fossa (part of the hip bone and pelvis).
Due to this complexity, the lower left abdomen is prone to a wide range of pain-causing disorders. The pain may be localised to the lower left quadrant of the abdomen or it may spread to other abdominal quadrants.
The pain may be slow and achy or sudden and intense.
Constipation or too much gas are the usual causes of pain in left side of the stomach. This is particularly true if the pain is not severe or if it has a stabbing sensation and comes and goes.
However, abdominal pain on left side may also indicate a medical disease that has to be treated, such as kidney stones, endometriosis, or diverticulitis.
Also, get to know about the causes of pain under the left rib cage.
Causes of abdominal pain on left side
Here are some of the common causes of pain in left side of lower abdomen.
1- Diverticulitis is the most common cause of abdominal pain
One of the most typical causes of abdominal pain on left side is diverticulitis.
Diverticula are tiny pouches that form when pressure is applied to vulnerable areas of the colon. Diverticula are typical and increasingly prevalent after age 50.
Diverticulitis results from an inflamed pouch that tears and infection. Additional signs include nausea, abdominal tenderness, fever, and vomiting.
2- Gas
Passing gas is natural. Gas gets retained in the digestive tract when a person swallows air when eating, smoking, chewing gum, overeating, or through normal digestion processes.
Gas usually passes through the rectum or oesophagus without causing any problems. However, a gas that is momentarily stowed away in the digestive tract can hurt and be uncomfortable until it leaves the system.
3- Constipation
Constipation is another factor that contributes to pain in left side of stomach. Some of the causes of constipation are physical inactivity, dehydration, or an excessively low-fiber diet.
You can easily treat constipation at home by moving about often and drinking enough water. But in certain instances, the severe pain may necessitate a trip to the emergency hospital.
Consult a doctor if the pain does not go away after taking over-the-counter remedies or altering your lifestyle.
4- Indigestion
Usually, indigestion occurs after eating. As you eat, your stomach produces acid. This acid may cause irritation of your stomach, bowels, or oesophagus. It results in pain in the upper section of the abdomen and even pain in the left side of the abdomen which is very rare.
Normal indigestion is mild. It may accompany pain, burning sensation, heartburn, bloating, blenching, and nausea.
5- Hernia
A hernia occurs when an internal organ or other body part press through the muscle or tissue around it. With some hernias, a lump or protrusion may develop in the groin or abdomen. This protrusion may be painful or uncomfortable.
Usually, hernias are frequent in the groin region and typically result in severe pain making it one of the causes of pain in left side of lower abdomen.
6- Kidney stones
Calcium accumulation in the kidney causes kidney stones formation. The left and right sides of the abdomen each contain two kidneys for each us. However, kidney stones that have formed in the left kidney can cause abdominal pain on left side.
Get to know about facts of kidney stones from energy drinks.
7- Lactose intolerance
Another cause of abdominal pain on left side is lactose intolerance. When someone has lactose intolerance, they have problems digesting dairy items like cheese and yoghurt. This is because the person doesn’t have enough of the lactase enzyme.
The simple sugars galactose and glucose make up lactose, which is broken down by the enzyme lactase in milk. A person may experience the symptoms of lactose intolerance if there are excessive quantities of lactose in their system. These signs consist of abdominal pain, bloating, loose stool, nausea, and a growling stomach.
8- Celiac disease
When a person’s digestive system is unable to break down gluten, the celiac disease develops. Wheat contains a protein called gluten, which is present in many foods and pharmaceuticals.
A person with celiac disease experiences gastrointestinal issues and vitamin deficiencies as a result of their immune system’s interference with the intestine. Along with abdominal pain, other celiac disease symptoms are weight loss, fatigue, gas, and diarrhoea.
Causes of pain on left side of stomach that affect females
Only women may experience certain causes of lower left abdominal pain.
These ailments might be more severe or need medical intervention.
In these circumstances, the right side of the abdomen may also experience pain.
These include:
9- Menstrual cramps
Cramps typically happen prior to and during your menstruation. Menstrual cramps are typically not significant, despite the fact that the discomfort can range from simple irritation to something that interferes with your regular activities.
However, you need to consult your doctor if:
- Cramps prevent you from performing your daily chores
- With time, your symptoms worsen
- You’re older than 25, and your cramps have started to get more intense
Get to know about home remedies for painful periods.
10- Endometriosis
Similar to the tissue that normally lines the lining of your uterus, endometriosis causes growths of tissue outside the uterus. As a result of this, internal lower abdominal pain may happen.
Other signs include:
- Throbbing menstruation cramps that could worsen over time
- Sexual discomfort
- Uncomfortable urination or bowel motions
- Intense menstrual cycles
- In-between-period spotting
11- Ovarian cysts
A fluid-filled sac inside or on top of an ovary is known as an ovarian cyst. The majority of cysts don’t cause symptoms and disappear on their own in a few months.
However, large cysts can be uncomfortable. It could also put pressure on your bladder, making you urinate more frequently. When a cyst ruptures (breaks open), it may result in life-threatening issues including excruciating pain or internal bleeding.
12- Ovarian torsion
Ovarian torsion is another cause of lower abdominal pain. The position of the ovary in the body may change as a result of large ovarian cysts. Ovarian torsion, a painful ovarian twisting that can cut off blood supply, is made more likely as a result. Pregnancy or the use of hormones to stimulate ovulation increase the risk of ovarian torsion.
13- Ectopic pregnancy
In an ectopic pregnancy, a fertilised egg inserts itself before it enters the uterus. Normally, this takes place inside the fallopian tubes that connect the ovary and the uterus.
An ectopic pregnancy may or may not cause you to experience symptoms including stomach pain, vaginal bleeding, fluid discharge, missed periods, etc.
Cause of lower abdominal pain in males
Here, we are going to mention some causes of lower left abdominal pain only in males. This condition can require medical care or be more serious. Additionally, the right side of the abdomen may also experience pain.
14- Testicular torsion
During testicular torsion, the testicle gets spun. Because of the reduced blood flow to the testicles, there is excruciating discomfort and swelling.
Any age can experience testicular torsion, however males under the age of 18 are more frequently affected. Several signs include abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, severe scrotum pain, and swelling.
NOTE: Torsion of the testicles is highly dangerous. If you have sudden or severe discomfort in your testicles, seek medical attention straight once.
15- Inguinal Hernia
When fat or a section of the small intestine pushes through a weak spot in the lower abdomen, it causes an inguinal hernia. Although it can happen to women as well, this type of hernia is much more common among men.
Several signs include a tiny protrusion on the side of the groin that may grow larger over time and generally disappears when you lie down, pain in the groin that worsens when you cough, lift, or strain, and weakness in the groin or a swollen or enlarged scrotum.
When to consult with your doctor?
Are you concerned about your stomach aches? Does it continue after a few days? Call your doctor right away if you indicated yes to either or both of the questions. In the interim, be aware of your discomfort and see if anything helps.
In general, left side pain that comes and goes is an indication of gas or indigestion and should go away on its own.
However, it’s time to consult a physician if you experience significant stomach pain on the left side of your body along with any of the following signs:
- Fever
- Blood in stools
- Vomiting/nausea
- Rapid breathing
- Abdominal pain that lasts more than a week
To consult with the best physicians near you you can make an appointment via Healthwire.
