Lower Right Abdominal Pain: Causes, Symptoms andWhen to Get Help

By Anjela Jeganathan – Medical Herbalist | Herba Naturalle

Abdominal pain is one of the most common presentations in both GP surgeries and A&E departments — and its location often provides the most important diagnostic clue. Lower right abdominal pain, in particular, has a specific and clinically important set of causes that range from the entirely benign to the genuinely urgent.

This guide explains the most common causes of pain in each region of the abdomen, when symptoms require urgent medical assessment, and the lifestyle and herbal approaches that support recovery from non-urgent causes. For a comprehensive overview of abdominal pain by location, see our dedicated guide to stomach and abdominal pain — causes of lower left, lower right and central pain.

Understanding the Four Quadrants

The abdomen is divided into four quadrants. The organ(s) in each quadrant give important clues to the likely cause of pain in that region:

Lower right: Appendix, right ovary and fallopian tube (in women), right ureter, caecum and ascending colon, right inguinal region (hernia)
Lower left: Sigmoid colon, left ovary, left ureter, descending colon
Upper right: Liver, gallbladder, right kidney
Upper left: Stomach, spleen, left kidney, pancreas (tail)
Central / umbilical: Small intestine, appendix (early appendicitis), mesenteric lymph nodes

Causes of Lower Right Abdominal Pain

Appendicitis (URGENT)

The most important cause of lower right abdominal pain to recognise. Classic appendicitis presents with:

Pain that begins around the navel and migrates to the lower right (McBurney’s point)
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Low-grade fever
Pain that worsens with movement

If appendicitis is suspected, seek emergency care immediately. A perforated appendix is life-threatening.

Ovarian Cyst or Ruptured Cyst (Women)

Right-sided lower abdominal pain in women is frequently gynaecological in origin. An ovarian cyst may cause:

Dull, aching right-sided pain
Pain that worsens with movement or menstruation
Sudden, severe pain if the cyst ruptures

A ruptured ovarian cyst requires urgent medical assessment.

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

IBS commonly causes cramping pain in the lower abdomen — often right-sided — associated with changes in bowel habit, bloating, and gas. Pain typically improves after a bowel movement. The full picture of IBS and bowel conditions is explored in our guide to IBS, IBD, UC and bowel cancer.

Inguinal Hernia

A bulge in the lower right groin associated with lifting, straining, or prolonged standing. The pain is typically aching, localised, and worsened by activity.

Right Ureteric Colic (Kidney Stone)

Severe, colicky pain that comes in waves, originating in the flank and radiating to the lower right abdomen and groin. Often accompanied by nausea and sometimes blood in the urine.

Caecum and Ascending Colon

Inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, and colon conditions affecting the right side of the colon produce right-sided pain. These conditions are explored further in our post on IBS, IBD and bowel inflammation.

Stomach Cramps and Diarrhoea Together

When lower abdominal pain is accompanied by diarrhoea, the most common causes are:

Gastroenteritis — explored in our guide to gastritis and sickness bugs
IBS-D (diarrhoea-predominant IBS)
Inflammatory bowel disease
Food intolerance (particularly lactose or fructose)

The digestive system context — including how digestion works and where conditions arise — is covered in our educational post on understanding your digestive system.

When to Seek Urgent Help

Go to A&E immediately if lower right abdominal pain is:

Sudden, severe, and constant
Associated with fever above 38°C
Accompanied by vomiting and inability to keep fluids down
Associated with rigid, board-like abdomen
Accompanied by blood in stool or urine
In a woman of reproductive age (could indicate ectopic pregnancy)

See your GP within 24–48 hours if pain:

Is persistent but not severe
Comes and goes over several days
Is associated with unexplained weight loss

This article is for educational purposes only. Seek urgent medical help for severe or worsening abdominal pain.