Lower abdominal pain in females can have a wide range of causes involving reproductive, urinary, gastrointestinal, and other systems. Common causes include: Reproductive system causes:

• Menstrual cramps (period pain) which cause crampy, dull, or tight pain in the lower abdomen and sometimes the lower back

• Ovulation pain (mittelschmerz), occurring mid-cycle due to irritation from fluid released when an egg is released from the ovary

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries causing pain and sometimes fever

• Endometriosis, where uterine tissue grows outside the uterus causing chronic pelvic pain

• Uterine fibroids or uterine cancer can also cause lower abdominal pain

• Ovarian cysts or ovarian cancer

• Pain during sexual intercourse due to infections, vaginal dryness, or other causes

• Pelvic organ prolapse in older women causing discomfort and pressure

Urinary system causes:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs), including cystitis (bladder infection) causing dull lower abdominal pain

• Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) causing pain radiating from the back to the abdomen

• Interstitial cystitis, a chronic bladder inflammation causing pelvic pain and urinary symptoms

Gastrointestinal causes:

• Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)

• Diverticulitis, inflammation of pouches in the colon wall, often causing lower left abdominal pain

• Appendicitis, inflammation of the appendix causing sharp lower right abdominal pain and is a medical emergency

• Gastroenteritis or food poisoning causing crampy pain with nausea and diarrhea

Other causes:

• Abdominal bloating from diet, stress, or swallowing air

• Some cancers and serious diseases affecting abdominal organs

Because lower abdominal pain can signal a variety of conditions, some serious, women experiencing persistent, severe, or unusual pain should seek medical evaluation for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment