Right Side Abdominal Pain: Common Causes, Home Care and When to See a Doctor

A pain on the right side of your tummy can make your mind jump straight to “Is it my appendix?”, especially late at night when there is no one to ask. Most of the time the cause is something simple, like gas, indigestion or constipation. This guide helps you work out what your pain may mean, what you can safely do at home, and which signs mean you should see a doctor today.

Quick Answer

Right side abdominal pain is most often caused by gas, indigestion or constipation and settles on its own. See a doctor quickly if the pain starts near the belly button and moves to the lower right, lasts over 30 minutes under the right ribs, or comes with fever, vomiting, yellow eyes, or a possible pregnancy.

What does pain on the right side of the abdomen mean?

Pain on the right side usually comes from one of the organs that sit there, so where it hurts gives a useful clue. Doctors split the area into upper right (below your ribs) and lower right (above your hip), according to Cleveland Clinic.

The type of pain also helps. Pain that comes and goes in waves, called colic, often comes from a hollow organ like the intestine or gallbladder squeezing. Still, symptoms alone usually cannot tell you whether a cause is serious, which is why the warning signs later in this guide matter more than guessing the cause.

What causes upper right abdominal pain?

Upper right pain is most often due to gas or indigestion, but it can also come from the gallbladder, liver or right kidney.

• Trapped gas. Gas in the intestines can cause pain that comes and goes. It often comes with bloating and passing a lot of wind.

• Indigestion. You may feel full, bloated, or have heartburn after eating. The NHS notes it is very common in pregnancy, especially from 27 weeks onwards.

• Gallstones. Gallstones often cause no symptoms. When a stone blocks a bile duct, the NHS describes severe, constant pain in the middle of the tummy or just under the right ribs, lasting from 30 minutes to several hours, sometimes with nausea or vomiting. They are more common in women, people over 40, and people living with obesity or diabetes.

• Liver problems. Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), whether from a virus, alcohol, medicines or fatty liver disease, can cause pain under the right ribs. Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice) is a key warning sign.

• Kidney stones or kidney infection. These cause pain in the side or lower back that may spread towards the groin. Kidney stone pain can come and go and be very severe. A kidney infection usually also brings a high temperature or shivering.

What causes lower right abdominal pain?

Lower right pain is often from gas or constipation, but appendicitis is the cause doctors most want to rule out here.

• Constipation and gas. Hard or infrequent poo and trapped wind are very common causes of lower tummy pain.

• Appendicitis. According to the NHS, appendicitis pain usually starts around the belly button and, over a few hours, moves to the lower right side and gets worse. It often hurts more when you move, cough or press on the area, and may come with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite or fever. It is most common in children over 10 and young adults, and usually needs surgery.

• Kidney stones. A stone moving down from the kidney can cause pain in the side that spreads to the lower tummy and groin.

Important: Cleveland Clinic advises going to the emergency department straight away if you have severe pain in the lower right area. Do not wait to see if appendicitis pain settles. If it suddenly eases and then becomes severe and spreads across the tummy, the appendix may have burst, which is an emergency.

What causes right side pain in women?

In women, the right ovary and fallopian tube sit in the lower right of the abdomen, so the menstrual cycle and pregnancy add a few more possible causes.

If you are tracking your cycle, the Mylo ovulation calculator can help you see whether a mid-cycle twinge lines up with ovulation. If there is any chance you could be pregnant and you have one-sided pain, contact a doctor even before you take a test, as the NHS advises.

Is right side pain in pregnancy normal?

Mild pain that eases when you rest, change position, pass wind or open your bowels is usually nothing to worry about in pregnancy. Pain that is severe, does not settle, or comes with other symptoms needs a call to your doctor or maternity hospital.

Common, harmless causes listed by the NHS include:

• Ligament pain, a sharp cramp on one side of the lower tummy as the ligaments supporting your growing womb stretch

• Constipation, which is very common in pregnancy. Eating enough fibre and drinking plenty of fluids helps, and the Mylo pregnancy diet chart can help you plan fibre-rich meals

• Trapped wind

Call your doctor or maternity hospital straight away if you are pregnant and have:

• pain that is severe or does not go away after resting for 30 to 60 minutes

• vaginal bleeding

• regular cramping, like period pains coming and going

• pain or burning when you pee

• pain just below the right ribs with a severe headache, blurred vision or sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet, which can be signs of pre-eclampsia

Appendicitis can also happen in pregnancy, and the NHS notes the pain may be milder or in a different place than usual, so do not dismiss pain that keeps getting worse.

When should you see a doctor for right side abdominal pain?

Most right side pain can be watched at home for a short while, but some signs mean you need help today, and a few mean you should go to a hospital emergency department straight away. Use this as a guide, based on NHS advice.

Go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call an ambulance now if:

• the pain came on very suddenly or is severe

• your tummy hurts when you touch it

• you are vomiting blood, or your vomit looks like coffee grounds

• your poo is bloody, or black, sticky and very smelly

• you cannot pee, or cannot poo or pass wind

• you have chest pain or difficulty breathing

• your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow

• the pain spreads to your back with vomiting, or you have a very high temperature or feel hot, cold and shivery

• you might be pregnant and have sudden, sharp pain with dizziness, fainting or looking very pale

• you have diabetes and are vomiting, or someone has collapsed

Do not drive yourself. Ask someone to take you, or call an ambulance.

See a doctor the same day if:

• the pain has moved from around your belly button to the lower right, or is slowly getting worse

• pain under the right ribs lasts longer than 30 minutes

• you have side or back pain with fever or shivering

• you have sudden, severe pelvic pain

• you are pregnant and have tummy pain that does not settle

Book a doctor’s appointment soon if:

• the pain keeps coming back

• bloating does not go away

• you are losing weight without trying

• you have diarrhoea that lasts more than a few days

• peeing has become painful or you are peeing much more or less often

• you notice bleeding from your bottom, or unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge

What can you do at home for mild right side pain?

If your pain is mild, you have none of the warning signs above, and it seems linked to gas, indigestion, constipation or your period, simple home care often helps. These tips come from NHS guidance on each condition.

A few cautions:

• The NHS advises against taking ibuprofen or aspirin for indigestion unless a doctor has prescribed them, as they can make it worse. A pharmacist can suggest a suitable option.

• If you are pregnant, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.

• If you use traditional remedies such as ajwain or jeera water, keep to normal kitchen amounts, and do not let them delay a doctor’s visit if any warning sign appears.

• If the pain gets worse, moves, or new symptoms appear, stop home care and get checked.

What should you tell the doctor?

Doctors find the cause faster when you can describe the pain clearly. Before your visit, note down:

• where the pain started, and whether it has moved

• whether it came on suddenly or slowly

• whether it is constant or comes in waves

• what makes it worse, such as moving, coughing, eating or pressing on it

• any fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, or changes in your pee or poo

• the date of your last period, and whether you could be pregnant

• any medicines you have taken, and carry them with you

Treatment depends entirely on the cause. Cleveland Clinic notes it can range from simply watching and waiting, to fluids, medicines or antibiotics, to surgery for conditions such as appendicitis or troublesome gallstones.

Frequently asked questions

What causes right side abdominal pain?

The most common causes are gas, indigestion and constipation. Other causes include gallstones and liver problems in the upper right, appendicitis in the lower right, kidney stones or infection in the side or back, and, in women, ovulation pain, period pain, ovarian cysts or ectopic pregnancy.

When to worry about pain in the right side?

Worry, and get checked the same day, if the pain is severe, keeps getting worse, moves to the lower right, or lasts over 30 minutes under the right ribs. Go to an emergency department straight away if it comes with fever and shivering, vomiting blood, or yellow skin or eyes, or if you might be pregnant and have sudden sharp pain or feel faint.

What are some natural remedies for stomach pain?

For mild pain from gas, indigestion, constipation or periods, the NHS suggests eating smaller meals slowly, drinking peppermint tea, taking a gentle walk, adding fibre and water to your diet, and using a heat pad or warm bath. These help only mild, everyday tummy pain, not pain with warning signs.

What causes gas pain?

Gas pain happens when wind builds up in the intestines. The NHS lists swallowing air and eating foods that are hard to digest as the main causes, such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, beans and lentils (like rajma and chana), dried fruit, fizzy drinks and the sweetener sorbitol. Constipation, IBS, lactose intolerance and some medicines can also cause it.

Why does my right side pain come and go?

Pain that comes and goes in waves is often colic, which happens when a hollow organ like the intestine or gallbladder squeezes. Trapped gas, constipation and kidney stones commonly cause this pattern, but pain that keeps returning should still be checked by a doctor.

Can gas cause pain only on the right side?

Yes. Gas can collect in any part of the intestines, including the upper or lower right, and cause sharp or cramping pain on that side. It usually eases after passing wind or opening your bowels. If the pain does not ease, gets worse, or comes with fever or vomiting, see a doctor.

References

1. Cleveland Clinic. Right Side Abdominal Pain. Reviewed October 2025.

2. NHS. Stomach ache and abdominal pain.

3. NHS. Appendicitis.

4. NHS. Gallstones.

5. NHS. Kidney stones.

6. NHS. Kidney infection.

7. NHS. Ovulation pain.

8. NHS. Period pain.

9. NHS. Ovarian cyst.

10. NHS. Ectopic pregnancy.

11. NHS. Stomach pain in pregnancy.

12. NHS. Pre-eclampsia.

13. NHS. Flatulence.

14. NHS. Indigestion.

15. NHS. Constipation.