Cause for Left Side Abdominal Pain in Females

There are several pathologies which can cause left side abdominal pain in a female. They can be mainly divided in to two categories. They are pathologies limited to females and pathologies affecting both males and females. The pain can arise from any structure that is situated in the left abdomen. These structures include the abdominal wall, peritoneum, colon, small intestine, omentum, left kidney, left ureter, spleen, and pancreas. Sometimes pathologies in the left lung and the heart can also present as left side abdominal pain. All the above mentioned pathologies are common to both females and males. Pathologies restricted to females are those arising from the female reproductive organs. Female reproductive organs which can give rise to left side abdominal pain are left ovary, left fallopian tube, and the uterus.

Ovarian diseases causing left side abdominal pain are mid cycle pain, benign and malignant ovarian cysts, ruptured ovarian cyst, twisting of the ovary, chocolate cyst, and ovarian carcinoma.  Mid cycle pain occurs at the midpoint of the woman’s menstrual cycle. This occurs as a result of ovulation. During ovulation, the ovarian capsule is broken and the ovum is released in to the peritoneal cavity. This can cause little amount of bleeding which gives rise to abdominal pain. In a woman who has 28 day cycles, ovulation occurs at the 14th day. This is the middle of the menstrual cycle. So, pain arising at the middle of the menstrual cycle is referred to as mid cycle pain. As a rule, ovulation occurs in every woman 14 days prior to the next expected day of menstruation. If you are having left side abdominal pain on this particular day, it can be due to ovulation. This is a physiological phenomenon and therefore, does not require special treatment. If the pain is disturbing, you can take simple analgesics. Ovarian cysts and tumors are major causes of abdominal pain. When they occur in left ovary, they cause left side lower abdominal pain.   There are many types of ovarian cysts. Chocolate cysts arise from the presence of endometrial tissues in the ovary. These endometrial tissues undergo cyclical bleeding in to the ovary. As there is no pathway for blood to drain, they accumulate within the ovary, causing abdominal pain during menstruation. The accumulated blood looks exactly like chocolate, hence the name chocolate cyst.

Diseases of the fallopian tube causing abdominal pain are ectopic pregnancies, fallopian tube tumors, infection etc. Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the blastocyst implants within the fallopian tube. The embryo slowly grows and becomes larger. Finally, the fallopian tube ruptures when it cannot accommodate the enlarging embryo, giving rise to severe abdominal pain and circulatory collapse. This is a gynecological emergency and therefore need immediate surgical intervention.

Diseases of the uterus causing abdominal pain are fibroids, Braxton Hicks contractions during pregnancy, labour pain etc. There are several types of fibroid. They are sub-mucosal, intramural, sub-serosal, pedunculated and parasitic fibroids. They cause pain when they become very large. Pedunculated fibroids can give rise to severe pain if they become twisted. The blood supply to the fibroid is cut off when it gets twisted. This causes ischemia to the fibroid, which ultimately give rise to pain.

Two of the common diseases involving the pelvic cavity are pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis. Pelvic inflammatory disease is inflammation of the pelvic cavity and it can be either acute or chronic. This occurs mainly due to infection. Chlamydia and gonococci are the commonest organisms causing pelvic inflammatory disease. Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial tissue in places other than the endometrium of the uterus. Chocolate cyst is also a type of endometriosis. Same as in chocolate cyst, the endometrial tissues in all other places undergo cyclical bleeding and give rise to abdominal pain.

Above mentioned are the commonest causes of abdominal pain specific to females. Apart from that abdominal pain also occur due to other common pathologies such as bowel diseases (irritable bowel syndrome), urinary tract infections, urinary tract stones, pancreatitis, pneumonia, musculoskeletal pain, etc.