What Causes Pain in the Lower Right Abdomen?

Many people around us experience pain in the lower right abdomen. Because the discomfort is often tolerable, most tend to ignore it. However, such pain may signal underlying health concerns requiring medical evaluation and diagnosis. So, what causes lower right abdominal pain? Below, we address this question.

Causes of Lower Right Abdominal Pain

1. Appendicitis

Acute appendicitis is a common clinical cause of abdominal pain. Initially, pain typically arises in the upper abdomen or periumbilical region before migrating to the lower right abdomen, where it stabilizes within several hours. Additional symptoms include gastrointestinal disturbances and fever. Chronic appendicitis manifests as intermittent dull or distending pain localized to the lower right abdomen—varying in intensity but remaining relatively fixed in location. Pain often occurs following physical exertion, fatigue, exposure to cold, or after eating a large meal.

2. Cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis typically causes pain after meals or during the night. Pain usually localizes to the upper right abdomen or epigastrium and may radiate to the right shoulder or scapular region. Associated symptoms include fever, vomiting, and jaundice. Patients should increase fluid intake—preferably with added sodium and potassium salts—and consume light, easily digestible foods low in fat and cholesterol but high in carbohydrates. Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is also recommended.

3. Gynecological Inflammation

Gynecological inflammation can also cause lower right abdominal pain in women—for example, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which commonly affects women of childbearing age. PID may be acute or chronic and is frequently caused by ascending bacterial infection. Clinically, it presents with abdominal pain: acute PID typically features persistent abdominal pain accompanied by fever, headache, and loss of appetite; chronic PID often manifests as lower abdominal distension or pain, sacral pain, and menstrual irregularities.

4. Gynecological Disorders

Other gynecological conditions may also cause lower right abdominal pain in women. For instance, endometriosis may form nodules or masses on the ovaries, uterus, or rectum, intensifying premenstrual and menstrual abdominal pain. Similarly, pelvic hemorrhage or blood stasis can lead to pelvic pain—often localized to the inner thigh on the affected side.

The above outlines the major causes of lower right abdominal pain. We hope this information proves helpful.