The abdomen, the region between the chest and the pelvis, contains many organs, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas and kidneys. With so many organs concentrated in one area of the body, abdominal pain is common, according to Medline Plus. Paying attention to the specific area of the abdomen affected by the pain can help provide a diagnosis.
Mittleschmertz
Mittleschmertz literally means "middle pain" in German. Mittleschmertz describes the pain felt on one side, sometimes the left side, of the lower abdomen caused by ovulation. Ovulation, the release of an egg, occurs halfway through a woman's menstrual cycle, approximately 14 days before the start of menstruation. Approximately one in five women experience ovulation discomfort, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although lower abdominal pain may occur due to many conditions, tracking the pain can help determine the cause. Pain that occurs the same time in the menstrual cycle and subsides without treatment is likely due to mittleschmertz. Lower left abdominal pain caused by ovulation occurs due to the growth of the follicle stretching the surface of the ovary or by an increase of fluid and blood to the area irritating the lining of the abdomen.
Inguinal Hernia
An inguinal hernia occurs when the intra-abdominal fat or a portion of the small intestine protrudes through a weak area of the lower abdominal muscle. More common in males than females, an inguinal hernia can occur anytime from infancy to adulthood, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. An inguinal hernia may produce a visible bulge on one or both sides of the groin. An inguinal hernia on the left side produces discomfort or sharp lower left abdominal pain that worsens when straining, lifting or exercising and improves during times of rest. Other symptoms include a feeling of weakness or pressure in the groin and a burning or aching feeling at the bulge.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulosis, a condition in which small pouches form in the lining of the large intestine, affects approximately 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 and about 50 percent of those over the age of 60, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The condition worsens to diverticulitis when the pouches, called diverticula, become inflamed. Diverticulitis causes abdominal pain in the lower left side of the abdomen, which can be severe. In addition to the pain, diverticulitis causes cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and changes in bowel habits.
