Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS Show
— Written By Healthgrades Editorial Staff Updated on November 2, 2020 What is left lower quadrant pain?Pain in the lower left side of the abdomen is called left lower quadrant pain. It is often related to the digestive tract, but can also be related to conditions of the body wall, skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, or reproductive organs. The area may be tender to the touch or the pain may be severe and the whole abdomen might be rigid. Severe pain can be a symptom of inflammation of the bowel or bowel obstruction, particularly if constipation is present. Severe pain in women may result from twisting of an ovary (ovarian torsion), rupture of an ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy, or pelvic inflammatory disease. Men may experience severe left lower quadrant pain from testicular torsion or injury. Crampy pain may be due to gas, indigestion, inflammation or infection, or it may result from menstrual cramps, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease in women. Severe pain that comes in waves may be caused by kidney stones. Trauma to the body wall, hernias, and shingles can also cause left lower quadrant pain. A hernia is a weakening of muscle or tissue that allows organs or other tissues to protrude through it. Shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox (varicella-zoster) virus involving a painful, blistering rash that usually occurs on only one side of the body. Pain that is sudden in onset, severe, persistent, recurring, or worsening, or that is accompanied by other serious symptoms is typically the most worrisome. Left lower quadrant pain can be associated with serious medical conditions. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you stop having bowel movements, have bloody stools, are vomiting blood, have severe pain or a rigid abdomen, have been injured, had a sudden onset of sharp pain, have cancer, or might be pregnant and have abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding. If your left lower quadrant pain is persistent or causes you concern, seek prompt medical care, particularly if it is worsening instead of improving. If you have bladder symptoms, fever, decreased appetite, or unintended weight loss, you should also seek prompt medical care. What other symptoms might occur with left lower quadrant pain?Left lower quadrant pain may accompany other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Typically, the symptoms are related to the digestive tract, but they may also involve other body systems. Digestive symptoms that may occur along with left lower quadrant painLeft lower quadrant pain may accompany other symptoms affecting the digestive tract including:
Other symptoms that may occur along with left lower quadrant painLeft lower quadrant pain may accompany symptoms related to other body systems including:
Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening conditionIn some cases, left lower quadrant pain may be a symptom of a life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:
What causes left lower quadrant pain?Often, left lower quadrant pain is related to conditions of the digestive tract; however, it can also be related to conditions of the body wall, skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, or reproductive organs. Digestive tract causes of left lower quadrant painLeft lower quadrant pain may be caused by conditions of the digestive tract including:
Other causes of left lower quadrant painLeft lower quadrant pain can also be caused by conditions involving other body systems including:
Serious or life-threatening causes of left lower quadrant painIn some cases, left lower quadrant pain may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. These include:
Questions for diagnosing the cause of left lower quadrant painTo diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your left lower quadrant pain including:
What are the potential complications of left lower quadrant pain?Because left lower quadrant pain can be due to a serious disease, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:
When should I worry about lower left side pain?Causes of pain in the lower left abdomen can be benign, such as gas pain, or they may be a sign of a chronic condition. People experiencing persistent or chronic pain in the lower abdomen should seek medical attention. Sudden onset of severe pain in the lower left abdomen may require immediate medical care.
What does pain in the left lower abdomen signify?Crampy pain may be due to gas, indigestion, inflammation or infection, or it may result from menstrual cramps, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease in women. Severe pain that comes in waves may be caused by kidney stones. Trauma to the body wall, hernias, and shingles can also cause left lower quadrant pain.
Why do I have lower abdominal pain that comes and goes?It can be a symptom of minor or major digestive system conditions such as gas, indigestion, constipation, colitis, diverticular disease, or appendicitis. Gynecologic conditions such as menstrual cramps or pregnancy may also be causes, as can kidney stones and urinary tract infections.
What organ is on the lower left side of your abdomen?The lower left quadrant of the abdomen contains the transverse, descending, and sigmoid sections of the colon; part of the small intestine; the ureter of the left kidney; and the iliac fossa (part of the hip bone and pelvis). The iliac fossa is a gateway to the reproductive organs in both men and women.
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