Things to note when having lower right abdominal pain in women

Lower right abdominal pain is a common symptom that many women often experience. This condition leads to anxiety and negatively affects the quality of life. In addition, the level of pain also varies from mild to severe, accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea or pain when urinating. So what causes this pain?

The article was professionally consulted with Master. Doctor Nguyen Ngoc Khanh - Head of the Department of Gastroenterology - Hepatobiliary - Urology, Department of Gastroenterology - Hepatobiliary - Urology - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

1. Anatomy of the lower right abdomen

To make it easier to understand, we draw two perpendicular lines intersecting at the navel, dividing the abdomen into 4 regions. The horizontal line divides the abdomen into the upper and lower parts, while the vertical line divides the abdomen into the left and right parts.

• Upper right region: Contains the liver, gallbladder, part of the colon.
• Upper left region: Contains the stomach, spleen, part of the colon.
• Lower right region: Contains the appendix, part of the small intestine, and the right ovary in women.
• Lower left region: Contains the small intestine, bladder, and left ovary in women.

To better understand the causes of right lower abdominal pain, people first need to learn about the organs in this area. In the lower right abdomen, there are many important organs such as:

• Appendix: This is a part of the large intestine, which is the most common cause of right lower abdominal pain.
• Colon: A part of the large intestine, which can become inflamed or irritated, causing pain.
• Ovary: One of the two female sex glands, which can become inflamed or cystic.
• Fallopian tube: Connects the ovary to the uterus, which can become inflamed or blocked.
  
   

2. Causes of lower right abdominal pain in women

In women, lower right abdominal pain comes from many different causes, including appendicitis, a medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Common symptoms of appendicitis include abdominal pain that starts from the navel and moves down to the lower right abdomen, accompanied by fever, nausea, loss of appetite, and constipation or diarrhea. If left untreated, appendicitis can lead to the following dangerous complications:

• Appendicitis rupture: This is the most serious complication. When appendicitis becomes severely inflamed, this condition can lead to the appendix rupturing, causing toxic substances to leak into the abdominal cavity and causing peritonitis. Peritonitis is a severe infection of the peritoneum that can cause septic shock, multiple organ failure, and even death.
• Appendicitis abscess: When the appendix ruptures, bacteria can gather and form a pus pocket in the abdomen, forming an abscess. Treatment of an abscess requires surgery to remove it.
• Fistula: Fistulas that form when the appendix ruptures can communicate with other organs in the abdomen, causing widespread infection and other complications.

In addition, lower right abdominal pain can also originate from other causes, including:

• Diverticulitis: Small pouches that protrude from the wall of the colon when infected will lead to diverticulitis. The disease often causes lower right abdominal pain along with the possibility of fever, nausea and some other symptoms.
• Meckel's diverticulitis: When a small pouch protrudes from the wall of the small intestine, Meckel's diverticulitis occurs. This pouch contains tissue similar to the stomach or pancreas, causing many problems if infected.
• Colitis: Abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation are symptoms of colitis.
• Irritable bowel syndrome: This is a functional disorder of the digestive tract, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel habits.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): The female reproductive organs are often infected with sexually transmitted bacteria. Symptoms of this condition include abnormal vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain and fever.
• Ovarian cysts: Although ovarian cysts are usually asymptomatic, they can sometimes cause abdominal pain, especially if the cyst is twisted or ruptured.
• Ectopic pregnancy: A fertilized egg usually implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. This condition is very dangerous and can cause internal bleeding and be life-threatening.
• Menstrual cramps: Before or during menstruation, many women often experience lower abdominal pain called dysmenorrhea.
• Other causes: Liver and bile diseases, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, food allergies, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, cholecystitis.
   

3. Symptoms of the disease

Other symptoms that accompany right lower abdominal pain include:

• Fever occurs mainly in cases of inflammation such as appendicitis or pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Nausea and vomiting occur due to inflammation or abdominal pain.
• Diarrhea or constipation is often seen in problems related to the digestive tract.
• Loss of appetite, loss of appetite.
• Abnormal vaginal discharge is a common condition in pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Pain during sexual intercourse, occurs due to ovarian cysts or pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Urinary disorders are manifested by symptoms of frequent urination, burning pain when urinating, blood in the urine or cloudy urine.
• Back pain, especially in cases of pelvic inflammatory disease or kidney stones.

4. When to see a doctor?

If you have the following symptoms, see a doctor immediately:

• Severe pain that does not subside.
• High fever.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding.
• Painful urination.
• Abdominal pain accompanied by other symptoms such as jaundice or swollen legs.
   

5. Diagnosis of lower right abdominal pain

The doctor will perform a clinical examination and ask about medical history and symptoms to determine the cause of lower right abdominal pain, and order necessary tests such as:

• Blood tests to assess inflammation and anemia.
• Ultrasound to examine the organs in the abdomen, detecting the presence of cysts and inflammation.
• CT scan or MRI provides detailed images of the organs inside the abdomen.
• Urine tests to assess kidney function and detect urinary tract infections.
• Stool tests to check for the presence of blood in the stool and parasites.
• Endoscopy to directly assess the condition of the lining of the digestive tract.

6. Treatment 

Depending on the cause of right lower abdominal pain, treatment methods will be different. Some cases can be treated with medication, while others will require surgery:

• Appendicitis: The patient needs to have surgery to remove the appendix. The treatment process will be more difficult and dangerous if appendicitis is detected late, leading to complications.
• Colon diverticulitis: Treatment includes the use of antibiotics and surgery in some cases. To prevent, patients should build a diet rich in fiber, drink enough water and exercise regularly.
• Meckel diverticulitis: Surgery to remove the diverticulum is the main treatment. In some cases, the patient may need to use antibiotics to treat the infection.
• Colitis: The main treatment is the use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and dietary changes.
• Irritable bowel syndrome: To treat, the patient needs to use pain relievers, drugs to regulate bowel movements and change the diet.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease: Treatment with antibiotics.
• Ovarian cysts: Monitoring or surgery if necessary.
• Ectopic pregnancy: Surgery is necessary to remove the ectopic pregnancy.
• Other cases: Treatment will be based on the cause of the disease.

7. Prevention of lower right abdominal pain

People should do some of the following to limit the possibility of lower right abdominal pain:

• Take care of reproductive health: Have regular gynecological examinations and treat sexually transmitted diseases.
• Maintain a healthy diet: Limit spicy, hot foods, carbonated drinks and stimulants.
• Do regular physical activity: Improve overall health.
• Keep personal hygiene clean: Wash hands regularly, especially before meals and after going to the toilet.
• Practice safe sex: Use condoms and have regular health check-ups.
• Vaccination: Get vaccinated against sexually transmitted diseases.

In women, lower right abdominal pain comes from many different causes. Self-diagnosis and treatment at home is very dangerous. To clearly identify the cause and have an effective treatment method, patients should see a doctor as soon as unusual symptoms appear.

Note: This article is for reference only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
 

To arrange an appointment, please call HOTLINE or make your reservation directly HERE. You may also download the MyVinmec app to schedule appointments faster and manage your reservations more conveniently.