Identifying the Cause of Lower Left Abdominal Pain

A common reason for misdiagnosis of diseases and disorders is the lack of specifics when a patient describes his or her condition to a doctor. A set of symptoms frequently has more than one possible cause, which means that patients must strive to describe their symptoms as thoroughly as possible for correct diagnoses. If you're suffering from lower left abdominal pain, for example, the cause will be different than if the discomfort were centered in your upper right abdomen. Lower left abdominal pain is associated with several illnesses, many of which are listed below.

Constipation

Not particularly a disease or illness, constipation is nonetheless annoying and can lead to other problems, such as bowel obstructions. Lower left abdominal pain is often indicative of constipation, especially with it has progressed for longer than a week or two. It will be accompanied by fewer than three bowel movements in any seven-day period, and fecal matter may be hard and dry, causing difficulty in passing bowel movements. If you experience constipation for an extended period of time, see your doctor.

Lactose Intolerance

If your lower left abdominal pain occurs whenever you consume dairy products (such as milk, ice cream, eggs and yogurt), you could be lactose intolerant. The pain will be dull and "crampy" in the lower left quadrant of your abdomen, and will usually subside after 24 hours of not eating dairy products. In severe cases, vomiting may occur as the body tries to expel the lactose. This type of illness requires that you avoid dairy products, so see your doctor for a diagnosis.

UTI

A urinary tract infection also comes with lower left abdominal pain, often increasing during urination or sexual intercourse. The urethra may be inflamed when you have a UTI, and infections can occur, so diagnosis by a physician is necessary for treatment. You'll be prescribed antibiotics and other medication to control it, though the lower left abdominal pain may last for several days after you start a drug regimen.

Ulcerative Colitis

If you're experiencing lower left abdominal pain in addition to loose and bloody stool, ulcerative colitis may be the culprit. Although the pain frequently migrates to the upper left quadrant of the abdomen, it will frequently start in the lower quadrant as a dull, "crampy" pain. You may experience nausea, fatigue and other symptoms, but the pain should be sufficient to send you to your doctor for a diagnosis.

Colon Polyps

Colon polyps are generally not dangerous, but they can, in some cases, develop into colorectal cancer. A colon polyp is an extra flap of tissue that generates in the lower large intestine, sometimes causing obstructions or infections. The symptoms frequently start with lower left abdominal pain, and may increase to pain in the entire abdomen. Again, these polyps are rarely dangerous, but a diagnosis from your doctor can determine if there are indications that it might be growing into something less benign.

Other Possible Causes

There is nearly an infinite number of possibilities with lower left abdominal pain, but specifying the type of pain (crampy, dull, sharp, ongoing, comes and goes) will help your doctor to narrow it down. Furthermore, lower left abdominal pain should not be ignored, as there are several serious conditions for which it might be a symptom.