15 Reasons You Feel Pain in Lower Right Abdomen

2. Hernia

You can feel lower right abdominal pain if you have a hernia. A hernia happens when part of your bowel or fatty tissue pushes through a weak spot in your abdominal wall. This weak area allows tissue to bulge out and form a lump that you can sometimes see or feel.

Hernias can develop in different areas, including the groin (inguinal), upper thigh (femoral), or around the belly button (umbilical), depending on where the abdominal wall is weakest. Pain may feel dull, aching, or heavy and can worsen with lifting, coughing, or prolonged standing.

In some cases, the bulge may come and go or become more noticeable during physical strain. If the lump becomes firm, very painful, or cannot be pushed back in, seek urgent medical care.

3. Kidney Infection

A kidney infection is a type of urinary tract infection that spreads to one or both kidneys. You can feel pain in your lower right abdomen if the right kidney is involved. The pain may also spread to your lower back or side, just below your ribs.

Other symptoms may appear at the same time. These include fever or chills, nausea or vomiting, pain or burning during urination, frequent or urgent urination, and urine that looks dark, cloudy, or bloody. Some people feel very tired or shaky. Young children may only have a high fever or seem unusually sleepy.

Bacteria often cause this infection. The germs usually begin in the bladder and move upward to the kidneys. Risk may be higher if you have kidney stones, a weak immune system, or past urinary tract infections.

4. Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard pieces of material that form in your kidney from minerals in your urine. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pea. Small stones may pass out of your body without you noticing. When a stone moves into the ureter, which is the tube that carries urine from your kidney to your bladder, you may feel pain in your lower right abdomen.

The pain often begins in your side or back and can travel toward your groin. It may come in waves and feel sharp or cramping. Other symptoms can include blood in your urine that looks pink or red, nausea or vomiting, a strong urge to urinate, burning during urination, and fever or chills if an infection develops.

Right-sided pain can occur if the stone is in your right kidney or ureter. Imaging tests are often used to locate the stone. Treatment depends on its size and position and may include pain medicine, drugs that relax the ureter, or a procedure to break the stone into smaller pieces.

5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a common condition that affects your large intestine. It can cause pain in your lower right abdomen, especially if that part of your colon becomes sensitive or tight. You may notice cramping, bloating, or changes in your bowel habits.

Some people have diarrhea, while others have constipation, and some switch between both. Pain often feels worse after meals and may improve after a bowel movement. You may also feel that your bowels do not fully empty. Gas and a swollen belly are common.

Certain triggers, such as stress, hormonal changes, or specific foods, can influence how symptoms appear and vary from day to day. IBS does not damage your intestines and differs from inflammatory bowel diseases, which cause visible swelling and injury in the digestive tract.

6. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a long-term condition that causes swelling in your digestive tract. The two main types are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both can cause pain in your lower right abdomen, especially when the end of your small intestine becomes inflamed.

You may feel cramping pain that comes and goes. Pain may worsen during flare-ups and improve during remission. Ongoing diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, or blood in the stool can also occur. Other symptoms include urgent or frequent bowel movements, loose stool, nausea, and loss of appetite.

Inflammation on the lower right side of your abdomen often relates to Crohn’s disease, which can affect any part of your digestive tract and may extend deep into the bowel wall. Over time, IBD can lead to poor nutrient absorption, anemia, joint pain, and skin or eye problems.

7. Inguinal Hernia

An inguinal hernia happens when part of your intestine or fatty tissue pushes through a weak spot in your lower abdominal wall. This weak area sits in your groin, where your abdomen meets your thigh. If it forms on your right side, it can cause pain in your lower right abdomen.

You may notice a small lump in your groin that stands out more when you stand, cough, lift something heavy, or strain during a bowel movement. The lump may flatten when you lie down. Common signs include a visible or felt bulge, pain or burning in the lower abdomen, a feeling of heaviness in the groin, and discomfort that worsens with lifting or long periods of standing.

In some cases, you can gently push the bulge back in, but the hernia will not heal on its own. If the trapped tissue loses blood supply, sudden severe pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, or a firm bulge that cannot be pushed back may occur.

8. Testicular Torsion

Testicular torsion happens when a testicle twists inside your scrotum, cutting off blood flow to the testicle. Without steady blood supply, the tissue can suffer damage within a few hours. This condition can lead to serious harm if it is not treated quickly. You may feel sudden, severe pain on one side of your scrotum, and the pain can spread to your lower right abdomen.

Nausea, vomiting, or dizziness may also occur. Your scrotum may swell quickly, and one testicle may sit higher than normal or at an unusual angle, with the area often feeling very tender. Testicular torsion most often affects teenagers and young men, but it can occur at any age. It may start after exercise or a minor injury, or it may begin without a clear reason.

9. Appendicitis

Appendicitis happens when your appendix becomes blocked and inflamed. The appendix is a small pouch attached to your large intestine on the lower right side of your abdomen. It does not have a clear function, but when it becomes infected, it can cause serious pain.

Pain often starts near your belly button. Within hours, it usually shifts to the lower right side of your abdomen. The pain becomes sharper and more constant. It may worsen when you walk, cough, or press on the area. Swelling, loss of appetite, and nausea can also occur.

Other signs include vomiting, mild fever, constipation, diarrhea, or trouble passing gas. Not everyone has all symptoms, and signs may be less clear in children, older adults, and pregnant women. Appendicitis is a medical emergency because a burst appendix can spread infection in your abdomen.

10. Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps can cause pain in your lower right abdomen during your period. The pain often feels like a dull ache or a tight, cramping feeling. It may begin a day or two before your period and last for several days after bleeding starts.

Your uterus tightens and relaxes to shed its lining each month. Your body makes chemicals that trigger these muscle movements. Higher levels of these chemicals can lead to stronger cramps. You may also notice lower back pain, nausea, loose stools, or headaches. Pain may stay in the center of your lower belly or feel stronger on one side.

There are two main types of menstrual cramps. Primary cramps are common in teens and young adults and are not caused by another condition. Secondary cramps often begin later and may relate to problems such as endometriosis or uterine growths.

11. Endometriosis

Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the lining of your uterus grows outside of it. This tissue can attach to your ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowels, bladder, or the lining of your pelvis. It acts like uterine lining, so it thickens and bleeds during your period. Because this tissue has no way to leave your body, it can cause swelling, irritation, and scar tissue. If it affects the lower right side of your pelvis, you may feel pain in your lower right abdomen.

Severe cramps before or during your period, pain during sex, pain with bathroom use, low back pain, heavy periods, spotting, or trouble getting pregnant can occur. Endometriosis affects about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Risk may be higher if your periods started early, last more than seven days, occur often, or if a close family member has it.

12. Ovarian Torsion

Ovarian torsion happens when your ovary twists around the tissues that support it. This twist can cut off blood supply to the ovary. When this occurs, you may feel sudden and severe pain in your lower right abdomen, especially if the right ovary is involved.

The pain often begins quickly and feels sharp or stabbing. It usually affects one side of your lower belly. Nausea or vomiting may occur at the same time. Some people notice swelling in the lower abdomen. Pain may come and go at first if the ovary twists and untwists, but it often becomes steady and more intense if blood flow remains blocked.

Risk may be higher if you have an ovarian cyst, since a cyst can make the ovary heavier and more likely to twist. Ovarian torsion can also occur during pregnancy or after fertility treatments.

13. Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg grows outside your uterus. In most cases, it develops inside a fallopian tube. If the right tube is affected, you may feel pain in your lower right abdomen. This condition cannot continue normally and can become life threatening.

Early signs may include light vaginal bleeding and mild cramping on one side of your pelvis. A missed period or steady lower belly pain can also occur. Pain may begin slowly or appear suddenly. As the pregnancy grows, the tube cannot stretch enough to hold it, which can cause sharp abdominal pain.

If the tube tears, internal bleeding can occur. Shoulder pain, rectal pressure, dizziness, or fainting may develop. Risk factors include past pelvic infections, prior ectopic pregnancy, fallopian tube surgery, infertility treatment, pregnancy with an intrauterine device in place, and smoking.

14. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is an infection of your female reproductive organs. It can affect your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This infection can cause pain in your lower right abdomen, although pain may occur on both sides.

Bacteria can travel from your vagina or cervix into deeper reproductive organs. Sexually transmitted infections are a common cause. Risk is higher if you are under 25, have more than one sexual partner, or have had a prior infection. Procedures such as childbirth, miscarriage, or insertion of an intrauterine device may also increase the risk by allowing bacteria to enter the reproductive tract.

Lower abdominal pain is the most common symptom. The pain may feel dull and steady or sharp and severe. Other signs include fever, unusual vaginal discharge with a bad smell, pain during sex, bleeding between periods, and pain during urination. If left untreated, PID can lead to long-term complications such as scarring of the fallopian tubes, which may affect fertility.

15. Ovarian Cyst

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms on or inside your ovary. Your ovaries sit on each side of your lower abdomen. If a cyst develops on your right ovary, you may feel pain on the lower right side of your abdomen.

Many cysts form during your monthly cycle. These are called functional cysts, and they often go away within a few weeks without treatment. You may not notice any symptoms. Pain can occur if a cyst grows large, bleeds, breaks open, or twists the ovary. Symptoms may include dull or sharp lower right abdominal pain, bloating, swelling, pain during sex, pain around your period, or sudden severe pain with nausea or vomiting if torsion occurs.

Large cysts can press on your bladder or bowel, which may cause frequent urination or discomfort with bowel movements. A cyst is often found during a pelvic exam or ultrasound. Hormonal birth control may be recommended to reduce new cyst formation if cysts happen often.