Abdomen – pain on the left

Abdominal pain on the left is often associated with the onset of an inflammatory process in the large intestine, more precisely in its lower part. At the same time, a number of other symptoms appear – constipation, bloating.

Pain on the left side in women often indicates problems with the genitourinary system. If severe pain occurs, which is accompanied by a feeling of nausea, sometimes vomiting, and high fever, then this may be due to an ovarian cyst, and the resulting pain on the left can spread throughout the lower abdomen. In principle, any pain in the lower abdomen for a woman should be a reason to visit a gynecologist.

Causes of abdominal pain on the left

Abdominal pain on the left most often occurs in the following cases:

• inflammatory process in the lower intestine. Usually with this pathology other symptoms appear: bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Most often, this disease occurs in women susceptible to dysbiosis, enthorocolitis and some other pathologies of the digestive system. If the pain on the left side of the abdomen is caused by inflammation in the intestines, then a few days of following a diet will help reduce the discomfort, but if even after this the pain does not go away, but on the contrary, intensifies, you need to seek qualified help;
• diseases of the genitourinary system. In women, pain on the left side can occur due to inflammation of the internal organs. With inflammation of the appendages and fallopian tubes, sharp pain appears in the ovarian area, radiating to the groin area. Often this condition is accompanied by high fever. Also, sharp pain accompanies an ovarian cyst, especially with severe inflammation or rupture. In this case, the temperature rises, vomiting, severe pain, and lightheadedness may occur. If such symptoms occur, you should immediately call an ambulance;
• ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the pain is cramping in nature. If you suspect an ectopic pregnancy, you should immediately contact a specialist. In such cases, surgical treatment is indicated. If the fallopian tube ruptures, severe complications can occur, including infertility;
• pain on the left side of the abdomen may appear for physiological reasons. For example, during ovulation, when the egg ruptures the follicle. Typically, such pain goes away on its own after a few days. The reason for consulting a gynecologist should be very painful menstruation with the release of clots, which may indicate inflammation of the appendages.

Left abdominal pain in men

Abdominal pain on the left in men occurs for a variety of reasons.

This kind of pain may indicate inflammation of the testicles, the formation of a cyst, or hernia. Often, in addition to pain, fever, general weakness, and nausea may bother you. Also, pain on the left side may appear after shaking that is unusual for the internal organs, especially after physical exercise. Abdominal pain in this case has a pulling or tingling character.

In any case, if the pain does not go away for several days, intensifies, or is accompanied by other symptoms, you need to consult a specialist and determine the cause of the pain in order to avoid serious complications. For example, when the inflammatory process in the testicles is advanced, the reproductive function of a man is disrupted. Often the inflammatory process in the testicles begins after a cold or infection.

Most often, pain is associated with diseases of the genitourinary system. Inflammation of the bladder, as a rule, is accompanied by aching or nagging pain on the left; when urinating, the unpleasant sensations often intensify; in addition, the frequency of urination per day increases. It is extremely rare that inflammation of the bladder is accompanied by fever.

Also, one of the most common causes of pain on the left side is inflammation of the prostate gland, in which case the pain has a pulling or cutting character. The pain may spread to the groin or testicles, and there may also be pain when urinating. The main sign of inflammation of the prostate gland is erectile dysfunction.

Left abdominal pain during pregnancy

Abdominal pain in a pregnant woman is conventionally divided into gynecological, i.e. those that are associated with the possibility of spontaneous miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, and non-gynecological, i.e. associated with impaired digestive function, displacement of internal organs and stretching of the muscles of the growing uterus.

Typically, abdominal pain is the result of the body’s reaction to the growing fetus. Pain may also appear due to infections of the genitourinary system, constipation, and digestive problems.

Pain in the left abdomen in a woman during pregnancy should be a reason to consult a gynecologist. This condition may be associated with inflammation of appendicitis, despite the fact that the appendix is ​​on the right side, changes in the internal organs caused by the growing fetus may be the cause of pain on the left side.

Pain may also indicate inflammation of the appendages. If you experience nagging, cramping pain radiating to the sacrum, you should urgently consult a doctor, as this may indicate a threat of miscarriage. Often, with the pain that occurs during fetal rejection, bloody discharge appears. In a pregnant woman, if the body moves unsuccessfully or changes position, the ligaments that support the uterus can stretch, and the woman may feel pain, but this condition does not pose a threat to the health of the mother and child.

How does abdominal pain on the left manifest itself?

Abdominal pain on the left, depending on the cause, can be constant or periodic. In terms of severity, they can be intense or weak. Pain can also manifest itself in the form of stabbing, cutting, cramping, and pulling.

Nagging pain in the left abdomen

Nagging pain in the left abdomen is often caused by inflammation of the internal organs located in this part of the peritoneum – the internal genital organs, the left kidney, the lower intestines. Nagging pain in the left side of the abdomen appears due to a variety of problems: spasms, inflammation of the genitourinary or digestive system, adhesions or inflammatory processes in the peritoneum, etc.

First of all, nagging pain occurs when:

• adhesive processes;
• intestinal spasms;
• adenoma, prostatitis;
• gynecological problems;
• oncology, etc.

Severe pain in left abdomen

Severe pain in the left abdomen usually appears in conditions requiring immediate surgical treatment (bleeding, ruptures or twisting of internal organs, inflammation of the peritoneum, etc.)

Severe pain in a woman during pregnancy may be associated with the threat of premature birth, uterine rupture, or early placental abruption. In such conditions, both the woman and her child are at risk. Also, severe pain can bother a woman during an ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, the fertilized egg cannot penetrate the uterus and attaches to the fallopian tube. In this case, the woman may experience all the signs of pregnancy (lack of menstruation, malaise, etc.) or may not even be aware of her situation. After some time, the growing embryo threatens to rupture the fallopian tube and the woman experiences severe pain.

Also, severe pain on the left side can occur when the ovary ruptures (apoplexy). Often this condition is preceded by too intense sex or physical stress. Severe pain can radiate to the lower back, rectum, accompanied by nausea, weakness, and possible loss of consciousness.

Aching pain in the left abdomen

Inflammation in the peritoneum can cause aching pain in the lower abdomen.

In women, pain of this kind often occurs with diseases associated with gynecology; sometimes the pain that appears on the left can spread throughout the abdomen, radiate to the lower back, and other symptoms of the disease may also appear.

Often, aching pain appears due to inflammation of the appendages, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and cystitis. In men, aching pain in the lower abdomen on the left may indicate prostatitis or inflammation of the seminal vesicles.

Sharp pain in the left abdomen

Sharp pain in the left abdomen often appears due to intestinal disease (obstruction, intestinal infection, flatulence, rectal cancer, hernia), inflammation of the genitourinary system, or disruption of the left kidney.

It is worth noting that sharp pain that does not stop for quite a long time is a good reason to consult a doctor. This kind of pain can be associated with a ruptured cyst or tumor. In men, such pain may indicate the onset of prostatitis. If the cause of pain is the intestines, then other symptoms usually occur: indigestion, nausea, bloating, fever.

Weight loss in a person complaining of sharp pain on the left side of the abdomen may be associated with the development of a malignant tumor.

Stitching pain in left abdomen

Pregnant women, especially in the first months of pregnancy, may experience abdominal pain on the left or right. This condition is in most cases associated with restructuring of the body and muscle strain. This kind of pain is more common in women whose menstruation was too painful before pregnancy.

Also, stabbing pain can occur with hypertonicity of the uterus. If the pain is minor, after a short rest everything should return to normal, but if the pain is severe and any discharge appears, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Stitching pain may appear with certain digestive disorders (constipation, flatulence, etc.). In some cases, stabbing pain occurs during an attack of acute appendicitis.

Acute pain in the left abdomen

Abdominal pain on the left can have different causes. If acute pain occurs, you should seek medical help as soon as possible, since such pain is almost always associated with severe pathologies of internal organs. Often acute pain occurs during an ectopic pregnancy, when there is a risk of rupture of the tube in which the embryo began to develop. This condition requires urgent surgical treatment, otherwise the risk of infertility in the future increases. Also, acute pain often accompanies various inflammatory processes of internal organs (appendages, ovaries, etc.). Only a specialist can determine the exact cause of pain.

Pain on the left side of the lower abdomen often occurs due to inflammatory processes in the fallopian tubes, intestinal obstruction, and malignant formations in the intestines. In men, acute pain may indicate inflammation of the internal genital organs (inflammation of the testicle, spermatic cord, testicular torsion, etc.)

Dull pain in left abdomen

Dull pain in the abdomen on the left often indicates an inflammatory process in the abdominal cavity. Only a specialist can determine the exact cause of such pain. In most cases, ultrasound will help determine the disease.

Women who experience dull pain should consult a gynecologist. If the disease is not related to the female genital organs, the doctor will write a referral for consultation with another specialist.

In a pregnant woman, dull pain may be associated with muscle strain due to the increasing size of the uterus; it may also indicate the onset of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) or an ectopic pregnancy. But in any case, an accurate diagnosis can be made after examination.

Dull pain in the lower abdomen on the left may not be associated with the genitals. This kind of pain occurs when muscles are strained or due to constipation.

Cutting pain in left abdomen

Cutting pain in the abdomen on the left is most often associated with inflammation of certain parts of the intestines, genital or urinary organs, as well as with malignant tumors.

When such pain appears in women, it may also be a disease of the reproductive organs; if the pain radiates to the area above the pubis, most likely the pain is associated with gynecological problems.

In case of sharp pain that does not go away for a long time, you should seek medical help, since in this case the pain can be caused by a rupture of a cyst, ovary, etc. In men, sharp pain indicates problems of the genitourinary system, usually the onset of the development of prostatitis.

With intestinal pathology, sharp pain in the abdomen may be accompanied by upset stool, nausea, bloating, and fever.

Cramping pain in the left abdomen

With cramping pain, a strong spasm of the smooth muscles of the hollow organs usually occurs. The source of pain can be the fallopian tubes, uterus, intestines, bladder, ureters. The natural contraction of the smooth muscles of the hollow organs occurs constantly, which contributes to the normal movement of the contents. For example, a person does not feel when contractions of the intestines, ureter, and bladder occur. If there are no pathologies, the muscles contract painlessly.

Cramping pain in the abdomen on the left may indicate a malfunction of a hollow organ (blockage of the intestine, ureter), it may also be associated with functional disorders in the functioning of internal organs (spastic colitis, inflammation of the intestines, etc.), in this case it is necessary to: you can consult a doctor faster.

Cramping pain is not always associated with functional disorders. Sometimes such pain in the lower abdomen in women can indicate a serious pathology (spontaneous abortion, formation of a myomatous node due to fibroma).

Throbbing pain in left abdomen

Pulsating pain in the lower abdomen on the left often appears with increased cavity pressure inside the hollow organs.

Periodic pain in the left abdomen

Periodic abdominal pain on the left can appear for a variety of reasons and most often it signals some kind of disease. Pain of this kind occurs as a result of irritation of the sensitive endings of the membranes of internal organs.

Periodic pain can be sharp, aching, throbbing, etc. If you experience severe pain that occurs from time to time, you should urgently consult a doctor, as most often this is associated with serious diseases of the internal organs.

Periodically occurring pain may indicate a chronic inflammatory process or the onset of a disease.

Periodic dull or aching pain occurs with chronic cholecystitis, infectious-inflammatory kidney disease, and urolithiasis. If pain persists from time to time, we can talk about an ectopic pregnancy, inflammation of the appendages, or ovaries. In men, this kind of pain is usually associated with urethritis, cystitis, and prostatitis.

Constant pain in left abdomen

Constant pain in the left abdomen is most often a concern during progressive inflammatory processes (ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, malignant tumors in the intestine, protrusion of the intestine, hernial protrusion of the intestinal wall, polyps on the intestinal walls, etc.).

Stitching pain in left abdomen

Stitching pain in the left abdomen may indicate various diseases. In some cases, women feel a slight stabbing pain before the onset of menstruation, at the moment the egg leaves the follicle. Usually, a doctor’s help is required when other symptoms (fever, nausea, vomiting) appear along with pain. An infectious disease is indicated by pain, which is accompanied by general weakness and high fever. If the pain is caused by pathology of the intestines or stomach, the person is also often bothered by nausea and vomiting. Frequent urination and sharp stabbing pain in the lower left abdomen may suggest cystitis or other diseases of the urinary system.

Diagnosis of abdominal pain on the left

When a patient complains of pain in the abdomen on the left, first of all, the doctor finds out the nature of the pain, the specific location of its occurrence and duration, and finds out the medical history (illnesses in the past).

After the interview, the specialist conducts an examination (palpation, gynecological examination), which will help establish the location of the pain and identify neoplasms. After this, the doctor prescribes additional research methods (to confirm or establish a diagnosis). As a rule, the doctor prescribes ultrasound, MRI, laparoscopy, smears, general blood and urine tests.

Treatment of abdominal pain on the left

Treatment of abdominal pain on the left depends, first of all, on the disease. It is quite difficult to determine on your own the exact reason for the pain in the lower abdomen, so it is best to immediately consult a specialist. You should not take painkillers on your own, since in this case it is difficult for the doctor, due to the blurred clinical picture, to determine the cause of the disease.

For intestinal inflammation (irritable bowel syndrome), it is recommended to follow a diet that includes more liquid foods and porridge. Solid foods and carbohydrates should be excluded from the diet. If the pain is caused by colitis, it is recommended to completely eliminate dairy products from the diet. If the disease is accompanied by frequent constipation, then the diet should include a sufficient amount of boiled or grated fruits and vegetables.

Neoplasms in the abdominal cavity (polyps, cysts) must be treated under the supervision of a specialist, otherwise the likelihood of transformation into a malignant tumor increases. Pain caused by gynecological diseases should be treated after consultation with a gynecologist and establishment of an accurate diagnosis.

If you experience severe, frequently recurring, prolonged pain, you should seek medical help as quickly as possible.

Prevention of left abdominal pain

Abdominal pain on the left can appear suddenly or increase gradually and can be triggered by various diseases.

The most common cause of left abdominal pain is irritable bowel syndrome. With this disease, the intestinal wall becomes inflamed as a result of nervous strain and poor nutrition. In this case, for prevention, it is recommended to adhere to a nutritious and healthy diet, get more rest, and lead a healthy lifestyle.

To prevent gynecological diseases, it is recommended not to overcool and wear comfortable underwear made from natural fabrics. It has been established that when wearing clothes that are too tight (especially jeans), blood circulation in the pelvis is impaired, which provokes diseases of the female genital organs. It is also recommended to undergo an annual examination by a gynecologist in order to early detect possible diseases. Some inflammatory processes can occur at the initial stage completely without symptoms (or with minor manifestations).

To prevent prostatitis, it is recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle, give up alcohol, smoking, and engage in moderate physical activity.

Abdominal pain on the left is a fairly common symptom that can be associated with a variety of diseases. Pain can have a different character and for the same disease, symptoms can differ depending on the individual properties of the body. As a rule, pain is caused by inflammatory processes of internal organs or functional disorders.