Ovarian Pain - 9 Possible Causes: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Many women experience ovarian pain throughout their lives. If you've ever experienced this, it's normal to worry. And to help you understand what it is and what you need to do, we have prepared an article full of useful information for you when you have ovarian pain.

Ovarian pain during ovulation - Mittelschmerz

Ovarian pain is not unusual, on the contrary. It can appear during menstruation, but not only: it is also common during ovulation, when the ovarian follicle breaks and is eliminated.

Mittelschmerz symptoms & diagnosis

Although quite common, the condition has a less common name: mittelschmerz. The name comes from the German words for "middle" and "pain".

Ovulation generally occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, so you may feel the pain most around day 14, when the egg bursts from the ovary and reaches the fallopian tube.

Different theories explain why ovulation might hurt. One theory is that because there is no opening in the ovary, the egg must pass through the wall of the ovary, which can take time.

Ovarian pain - Ovarian cyst

When the pain persists outside of menstruation or ovulation, you may be dealing with an ovarian cyst.

Ovarian cyst - Symptoms & diagnosis

Ovarian cysts appear in the form of round sacs with liquid, which are produced as a result of changes during ovulation. These cysts can rupture, twist or bleed and cause extreme pain.

In the vast majority of cases, ovarian cysts do not generate symptoms and can be treated with medication. In the acute phases of the disease or when they break or twist, surgical treatment is needed. If ovarian pain persists, it is recommended to go to a gynecologist for diagnosis.

Most cysts are asymptomatic and do not cause pain or complications, but some of the symptoms of problematic ones can be abdominal pain and the need to urinate more often. Your doctor can recommend treatment and monitoring the evolution of the cysts. In rare cases, a minor, laparoscopic intervention is required to remove the cysts. Your gynecologist may also recommend birth control pills.

Pain from Ovarian Cancer

There are several types of ovarian cancers that can lead to ovarian pain, including epithelial ovarian cancer, germ cell ovarian cancer, stromal cell ovarian cancer, and small cell carcinoma. Although all are classified as "ovarian" because they concern the ovaries, they vary in origin, treatment, and diagnosis.

Ovarian Cancer symptoms & diagnosis

Symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:

• Ovarian pain that is severe or more persistent than the discomfort associated with a menstrual cycle
• bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

A gynecologist can help you determine the causes of the pain and establish a diagnosis.

Ovarian pain - Endometriosis

Common among women aged 25-35, endometriosis is the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain. But what is disease, exactly?

Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus (endometrium) and similar tissue fragments are found outside the uterus. The tissue fragments are also called "endometriosis lesions" and vary in size; they are found inside the abdominal cavity and can spread throughout a menstrual cycle.

Endometriosis - Symptoms & diagnosis

People with endometriosis describe the pain as more severe than usual. Moreover, over time, the pain may worsen and may also manifest itself during sexual contact, which will be painful. When we say more severe pain, we also include bed rest and acute pain between periods.

Symptoms therefore include:

• Dysmenorrhea - or painful periods - when pain and cramps are also accompanied by lower back and abdominal pain, and can extend before and after menstruation.

• Pain during intercourse

• Abdominal pain during urination and/or sitting on the toilet

• Heavy bleeding and bleeding between periods

• Infertility

• Fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, diarrhea and other symptoms

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the genitals in people with ovaries. It can affect the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries and can be sexually transmitted – but this is not the rule. In some cases, BIP can lead to permanent damage to the genitals and serious complications, such as infertility and the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

Symptoms & diagnosis Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

The most common manifestation and symptom of pelvic inflammatory disease is ovarian pain, which can become almost permanent. But it is not excluded to have BIP without symptoms or with symptoms that are confused with other conditions, such as:

• burning during urination

• frequent urination

• irregular periods

• changes in vaginal secretions

• pain during sex

• fever, with or without chills

Moreover, if you wear an IUD as a method of contraception it can also cause pain.

For the diagnosis, it is important to consult the doctor and after some tests you will find out what triggered the condition, in order to receive the appropriate treatment.

Pain caused by ovarian torsion

Ovarian torsion happens when an ovary twists around the ligaments that hold it in place. This can cut off the blood supply to the ovary and cause ovarian tissue to die. Most often, ovarian torsion happens because of a mass on the ovary, caused by:

• an ovarian cyst

• polycystic ovary syndrome

• a tumor on the ovary

Pregnancy or fertility treatments are also risk factors for ovarian torsion. Recent studies show that between 8 - 15% of people diagnosed with ovarian torsion were pregnant.

Symptoms & diagnosis Ovarian Torsion

Symptoms of ovarian torsion may include:

• sudden, severe pelvic pain that may radiate to the abdomen, back, or side

• Nausea, vomiting

You may also have symptoms that come and go over a period of days or weeks. Diagnosing ovarian torsion will involve blood and urine lab tests to help rule out other conditions and, at the doctor's recommendation, an ultrasound and/or pregnancy test.

Ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS)

Ovarian remnant syndrome is the presence of residual ovarian tissue after a woman has undergone surgery to remove one or both ovaries.

Symptoms & diagnosis Ovarian remnant syndrome

Signs and symptoms of ovarian remnant syndrome may include pelvic pain, a pelvic mass, or the absence of menopause after surgery. In addition, you may have symptoms similar to endometriosis, such as pain during sex, pain during urination or stool, or digestive symptoms.

To diagnose ORS, your doctor will note your history of previous ovarian surgery and recommend an ultrasound. Definitive diagnosis is made by laparoscopy.

Ovarian pain during pregnancy

Ovarian pain can be one of the first signs that you are pregnant . A sign of pregnancy can be bloating, in addition to digestive problems such as constipation and abdominal cramps. When you become pregnant, progesterone levels rise and can cause digestion to slow down, leading to constipation. Abdominal cramps and ovarian pain can also occur during menstruation, so it is recommended to take a pregnancy test if you are not sure !

What is the pain referred to the ovaries - the connection with other conditions

The ovaries are located near other organs and parts of your body, so you may have pelvic and ovarian pain caused by other medical conditions. For example, if you have pain in one part of your body that is actually due to pain in another area, it is called referred pain.

Symptoms & diagnosis for Referred Pain

Doctors are still trying to figure out why the referred pain is happening! It is likely that the referred pain occurs because of the way the nerves are connected in your body. A pain sensation felt in one area must reach the brain through the network of nerves, and when these nerves overlap, they can cause pain in another location.

What to do when your ovaries hurt? Remedies and treatment methods:

While there's no single cure and what works for you varies from person to person (and the intensity of your cramps), you can try some natural treatment methods when ovarian pain is bothering you.

Our recommendations for cramp relief:

• Natural menstrual patches : stick the patch where it hurts and enjoy up to 8 hours without cramps!

• Analgesic and anti-inflammatory

• Avoiding excessive consumption of salt, sugar, red meat, alcohol

• Proper hydration

• Dietary supplements or increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds for vitamins and minerals.

When should you go to the doctor?

If you have other symptoms besides ovarian pain or you suspect a condition such as those mentioned above in the article, we recommend that you definitely consult a doctor. Because treatments can be different: pelvic inflammatory disease may require antibiotics, and ovarian torsion is a medical emergency!

Last but not least, because ovarian pain and dysmenorrhea are closely related to premenstrual syndrome, we recommend our article on all things PMS : what it is, what are the physical and emotional symptoms, how does it affect your health, what are the causes and factors of risk.