For the last month and a half I've been constipation, acompanied by left lower quadrant dull pain. I don't like to use laxatives too often because I know that they might cause other GI problems. I'm currently going to medical school in Mexico and got some phenolphtalein laxative pills that were working for me, but i discontinued them b/c I read they increase colon cancer risk. I've taken 3 doses of another laxative over the past week and still haven't felt significant relief. I had a bowel movement yesterday and felt somewhat better, but today, after having sexual intercourse with my boyfriend, I woke up with a stronger pain in my left lower quadrant that radiates to my back and on ocassions to my left knee. I'm super nervous thinking that I have some sort of perforation or a diverticulitis for chronic constipation. What could be the cause of this pain??