Localization: Left, Right, Center

In addition to the pain characteristics, the localization of the pain can also provide clues to its cause. For example, left-sided abdominal pain may indicate the inflammation of a bulge in the wall of the colon, a diverticulum. In this case one speaks of diverticulitis, which particularly often affects the part of the colon located in the left lower abdomen.

The disease, which mostly affects patients of advanced age, is favored by a low-fiber diet and constipation and can lead to perforation of the diverticulum with serious consequences. Right side abdominal pain is often the leading symptom of appendicitis. Strictly speaking, the disease is not the inflammation of the appendix itself, but the inflammation of the appendix appendix, an appendage of the colon with an average length of 15 cm, which contains lymphatic tissue and is a remnant of the human body’s physical development.

The symptoms of an inflammation of the picture intestine usually develop unspecifically in the middle abdomen and then increasingly concentrate on the right lower abdomen. In both clinical pictures, diverticulitis with left-sided abdominal pain and appendicitis with right-sided abdominal pain, the spasmodic character of the pain is not in the foreground, but an appropriate diagnosis is usually appropriate in the case of unilateral pain events. Since the ovaries and fallopian tubes are paired, diseases of these organs can cause pain on both sides.

Possible causes of unilateral abdominal pain in women include ovarian cysts and ovarian tumors. These do not necessarily cause spasmodic pain, but should be excluded by thorough examination if suspected.Unilateral, cramp-like abdominal pain in women can cause the so-called endometriosis or the ectopic pregnancy feared due to its bleeding complications. Endometriosis is the presence of endometrium outside the uterus.

It is usually found near the inner female reproductive organs in the small pelvis. There it causes, among other things, cycle-dependent pain on one or both sides, usually cramp-like. In two to eight percent of cases, the misplaced endometrium is found in the fallopian tubes, where it causes painful contractions of the smooth muscles.

Another cause of unilateral abdominal pain in women can be the so-called middle or intermenstrual pain. It can occur one or two days before ovulation or as a result of the follicle ovulation. If sexually active women of mature age suddenly experience severe unilateral abdominal cramps, an ectopic pregnancy must be considered and clarified by ultrasound diagnostics.

In this form of pregnancy, the fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus in one of the two fallopian tubes. During the subsequent cell division, the embryo‘s volume increases, which stretches the walls of the fallopian tube as it progresses. Pain and bleeding can occur on one or both sides.

Due to the unfavourable supply situation of the embryo, in many cases the pregnancy is aborted. If this does not happen, further embryonic growth can lead to tearing of the fallopian tube wall. The resulting heavy bleeding is acutely life-threatening and requires immediate surgical intervention. Get more information about ectopic pregnancy.