Right Side Abdominal Pain

Pain on the right side of your abdomen means discomfort anywhere on the right half of your belly between your ribs and pelvis. In other words, the pain is on the right side of your body when you look down.

Healthcare providers organize your abdomen into four parts, or quadrants. If you have upper or lower right abdominal pain, it can tell your provider which organ(s) may be involved. For instance, pain on the right side under your ribs may mean you have a problem in your liver or gallbladder.

What organs are on your right side?

The organs on the right side of your body include:

• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Bile ducts
• Small intestine
• Large intestine (colon)
• Right kidney
• Appendix

Your upper right abdomen is home to your liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, small intestine and large intestine. Your right kidney is in the back. Your appendix is in your lower right abdomen.

What does right abdominal pain feel like?

People have many different descriptions of what right-sided abdominal pain feels like. It may be mild or severe. The sensation can be dull or sharp. Or you might use words like “burning,” “achy” or “crampy.”

The type of pain you feel and the area you feel it in can clue your healthcare provider into a possible cause. So, be sure to mention it when you see your provider.

Why does my pain come and go?

Right-sided pain that comes and goes like waves is called colic. This happens when hollow organs like your colon or gallbladder squeeze (contract). You feel the pain when it’s contracting and get relief when it releases.

Why does the right side of my abdomen hurt?

Causes of pain in your right side depend on where it’s located. Pain in different areas can mean that different organs are involved.

Upper right quadrant

Upper right abdominal pain is often related to liver disease or gallbladder disease. These include many types of hepatitis, including:

• Alcohol-induced hepatitis
• Toxic hepatitis (liver toxicity)
• Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
• Viral hepatitis
• Autoimmune hepatitis

Other causes of upper right abdominal pain in your liver or gallbladder include:

• Gallstones
• Gallbladder inflammation
• Bile duct cancer
• Gallbladder cancer
• Liver cancer

The pain could also be affecting your duodenum, right kidney or colon. Conditions in these areas include:

• Duodenitis
• Kidney infection
• Kidney stone
• Bowel obstruction

Another common cause of upper right abdominal pain is gas filling up your small or large intestine. This type of pain often comes and goes. You likely wouldn’t have it every day.

Lower right quadrant

Pain that’s specifically in your lower right abdomen can be related to your appendix. If you have severe pain in this area, go to the emergency room right away. It could be:

• Appendicoliths
• Appendicitis
• Appendix cancer (rare)

Pain on the right side of the body in females may mean:

• Menstrual cramps
• Ovulation pain
• Adenomyosis
• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS)
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Ovarian cancer

How is right side abdominal pain treated?

Treatment for right side abdominal pain ranges from a liquid diet to surgery. It depends on what’s causing it. For some conditions, your provider may recommend “watching and waiting.” That means they’ll keep an eye on it and begin treatment if it gets worse. Other conditions are more serious and need immediate medical attention. Treatment may include:

• Pain medication
• Antibiotics or antivirals
• IV fluids
• Corticosteroids
• Immunosuppressants
• Surgery
• Cancer treatment

Can right side abdominal pain be prevented?

You can’t prevent all causes of right abdominal pain. But there are certain factors that can help reduce your risk of developing it. To prevent pain on your right side:

• Maintain a weight that’s healthy for you
• Drink plenty of water
• Limit how much alcohol you drink, or quit altogether
• Quit smoking
• Avoid recreational drugs
• Increase your daily fiber intake to prevent constipation
• See your primary care provider for regular checkups
• Get vaccinated to prevent certain diseases

When should right side pain be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?

Right side abdominal pain is common. But if you have any of the following symptoms, see your provider or go to the nearest emergency room:

• Severe pain
• Pain that doesn’t go away or keeps coming back
• Pain that started mild but is getting worse
• Vomiting blood or shortness of breath with the pain
• Pain that spreads upward toward your chest, neck or shoulder
• Blood in your pee or poop
• Yellow skin or whites of your eyes (jaundice)
• Fever or chills
• Unexplained weight loss

How to know if right abdominal pain is serious

Some causes of right side abdominal pain are serious, and some aren’t. You usually can’t tell by your symptoms alone. If you’re having severe pain or your pain doesn’t go away, see your healthcare provider. They can figure out what’s going on and start you on the appropriate treatment.