What Might Cause an Intermittent Pain Under the Ribs on the Right Side?

An intermittent pain under the ribs on the right side may be caused by gallbladder disease, appendicitis, kidney stones or an ovarian cyst in females. The best course of action for this type of pain is to seek the advice of a doctor.

The pancreas, gallbladder, liver, appendix, part of the large intestine and other organs are located on the right side of the body. Any of these organs might be the cause of pain.

For example, the gallbladder may act up if a gallstone is lodged in the gallbladder. This results in a dull pain that may start under the ribs and radiate to the back. This type of pain often occurs right after eating.

The appendix, although located farther down in the abdomen, may present pain that begins in the upper right side of the abdomen and quickly spreads to the lower right side.