Why do my ovaries hurt? This question is asked by many girls when they first understand what cramping sensations in the ovaries in women are. When a patient says that she feels pain in the ovaries, it is necessary to find out if there are other symptoms that would indicate a disease or inflammatory process. In most cases, the causative agent of painful sensations can be one of the sexually transmitted infections. Sometimes pain in the ovary can be perceived by the patient as discomfort in the pubic or flank area.

Why does the ovary hurt in women? There are several reasons. These may be inflammatory processes or hormonal imbalances. In addition, you can indicate some pathologies, such as abnormal development of the uterus and genital organs, as well as disruptions in the menstrual cycle. Pain in the ovaries has a direct connection with the menstrual cycle, and this is called ovulatory syndrome. This syndrome is present in many girls, and it does not pose any danger to the body. To make sure that there are no pathologies, when the symptoms of ovarian pain cannot be determined on your own, you need to consult a specialist.

Pain in the ovaries during ovulation and menstruation

Nagging pain in the ovary can be avoided, but to do this you need to know how they arise. Pain in the ovarian area appears in many patients after 30 years. For the most part, it can be associated with the onset of ovulatory syndrome. This is a very common occurrence. After a girl has her next period, a corpus luteum forms in place of the follicle in the ovary. It is a collection of cells that is responsible for the production of progesterone.

Can the ovaries hurt with this condition? In order to exclude any pathologies, consult a specialist. Most often, the ovary hurts after ovulation. In this case, severe pain occurs in the second part of the cycle, after two weeks. It is part of the ovulatory syndrome. In this case, aching pain in the ovaries in women is especially noticeable.

If the corpus luteum has not formed, the ovary and follicle will secrete a small amount of progesterone. As a result, damage and rejection of the uterine mucosa may occur. As a result of this, the woman’s ovaries are very painful, sometimes they are pulled, and the lower back also ache.

This manifestation of ovulatory syndrome has the following symptoms: periodic sharp pain in either the right or left ovary, weak vaginal discharge, elevated temperature, pain during discharge.

Please note: What can cause ovarian pain in women during ovulation? The ovary is pulled at the moment when the egg leaves its limits. Minimal rupture occurs and some blood spills into the abdominal cavity. The spilled blood irritates the nerve endings of the peritoneum, so aching pain in the ovary is normal. Since it occurs in the middle of the cycle, it is easy to calculate the moment of its occurrence. For example, if your cycle is twenty-eight days long, then pain in the ovaries appears on the thirteenth to fourteenth day. Most women at this time note a shooting pain that lasts for several hours. The ovaries shoot from the side where maturation and release of the egg from the ovary occurs. If it is not possible to endure the pain, then you should urgently consult a gynecologist.

A woman may also feel discomfort if the ovary ruptures. This condition leads to heavy bleeding into the peritoneum, resulting in peritonitis - a severe inflammatory process. In order to restore the integrity of the ovary, urgent surgical intervention is necessary.

During menstruation, pain in the ovarian area under normal conditions cannot bother a girl. What many patients write off as pain in the ovary is actually pain in the uterus. When the uterine lining is shed, it must get rid of its contents, so it begins to rapidly contract. If the contractions are strong, then the woman’s ovaries and lower abdomen hurt. Every year, unpleasant sensations can only intensify if the patient develops cysts, stress and psycho-emotional stress.

My ovary hurts, what should I do, many women ask. If this phenomenon occurred after menstruation, then such a picture is not characteristic of ovulatory syndrome. The girl should not lift weights or engage in physical activity. Contact your gynecologist to rule out the possibility of complications.

Pain after surgery

What to do if your ovary hurts? First, go through the diagnostics. If the doctor discovers a malignant tumor, he may prescribe urgent surgery. Since any operation traumatizes the body to a certain extent, it is not surprising that pain may appear in the ovarian area. It is a mandatory reaction of the body that appears after a puncture. Typically, women experience ovarian colitis, abdominal bloating, and vaginal discharge. These signs appear because the injection into the ovary caused minor injury. In addition, a microscopic bleeding wound appears at the injection site, which irritates the abdominal cavity. Typically, pain does not leave a woman for a week after surgery. If it is strong, then you should consult a doctor. How to understand that the ovary hurts? Pain can often be accompanied by fever, as well as dyspeptic disorders. The doctor can prescribe the main treatment, and supplement it with auxiliary treatment, which includes the mandatory use of antispasmodics.

Pain after cyst removal may be associated with the occurrence of adhesions in the pelvic cavity, bleeding and the development of pelvioperitonitis. Do not forget that the more extensive the operation, the more pronounced the pain syndrome will be.

Pain during pregnancy

There is an opinion among women that if the ovary hurts during pregnancy, then this is normal. But statistics show that pain during pregnancy does not occur without an obvious reason. When the uterus significantly increases in size, the ovaries, along with the fallopian tubes, move above their normal location.

Often, women experience pain in their ovaries during early pregnancy due to overstretching of the ligaments that support the uterus, ovaries and tubes. Tension arises in them as they suffer from increased stress. You can get rid of this symptom by normalizing your diet and sleep patterns. Get plenty of rest and do gymnastics and breathing exercises.

Every gynecologist will tell you that during pregnancy the function of the paired glands is almost completely turned off. Therefore, pain cannot arise in them. It’s another matter if the discomfort began even before pregnancy, and only intensified during this period. A pregnant woman may suffer from inflammation as well as ovarian tumors. The best option is to take preventive measures before pregnancy. If you notice pain in the ovaries in the early stages of pregnancy, contact your gynecologist. Otherwise, complications such as abortion, hypoxia, placental abruption and others may occur.

Video: Other causes of lower abdominal pain

Purely female diseases, characterized by pain in the ovaries, often occur in women of all ages. Physiological, mild pain does not cause much concern. Others may be the result of serious pathologies of the reproductive or organs located in the pelvis. Therefore, every woman needs to know where the ovaries are located, when and why they can hurt, and what to do if certain symptoms occur.

The main questions that worry women and to which you need to know the answers so as not to miss a serious illness or complication.

When to call a doctor

You should call an ambulance in case of sharp, sudden, throbbing pain, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, and general weakness. With these symptoms, the patient requires mandatory hospitalization.

If there is throbbing pain on the side of the left or right ovary, this may indicate torsion of the cyst stalk.

An increase in temperature, spotting, pulsation in the lower abdomen after hysteroscopy or ablation (curettage) of the uterine mucosa requires immediate medical intervention.

There is throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal tension, bleeding - the main symptoms of a ruptured tube during an ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous miscarriage (abortion), ruptured appendix - you urgently need to call an ambulance.

Important: Such conditions, which doctors call “acute abdomen,” are dangerous to health and life. Therefore, you should not hesitate to see a doctor.

Pulsation radiating into the leg is a consequence of diseases such as complications of a hernia, femoral or inguinal, purulent inflammation of the appendages, acute appendicitis. The best decision is to call an ambulance for immediate hospitalization.

Which doctor should I contact for pain in the ovary?

If you experience mild pain that does not require urgent medical intervention, you need to make an appointment with your local gynecologist and undergo an examination. If there is an assumption that the symptoms are caused by other concomitant pathologies, the doctor will prescribe consultations with the appropriate specialists.

What tests can doctors prescribe for pain in the ovary?

The list of studies depends on the presumptive diagnosis, the possibilities of outpatient or inpatient treatment.

Main research:

• general or detailed blood and urine tests;
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• intravaginal gynecological examination.

If infectious inflammation of the reproductive organs is suspected, vaginal smears or bacterial culture of microflora, sexually transmitted infections (mycoplasma, chlamydia, ureaplasma, gardnerella, gonococcus, candida) are prescribed.

If syphilis or HIV is suspected, an appropriate venous blood test is prescribed.

To identify endocrine disorders of the reproductive glands, blood tests are prescribed for the following hormones:

• LH – luteinizing;
• FSH – follicle stimulating;
• testosterone, estrogen, prolactin, progesterone;
• TSH – thyroid stimulating;
• SHBG – sex hormone binding globulin;
• DEA-S04 – dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.

If a thyroid disease is suspected, additional tests for hormone levels are prescribed:

• T4-thyroxine;
• T3 – triiodothyronine;
• AT-TPO and AT-TG – antibodies to thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin.

Why does my left ovary hurt?

Accordingly, similar causes of pain in the right ovary may appear in the left. But the left ovary hurts and stings less often than the right. The reason is that on the right side there are more arteries supplying the female organ. The gallbladder and appendix are located on the same side. Pain on the left side can be caused by the sigmoid colon, which is stretched due to untimely bowel movements.

Why do ovaries hurt in women?

Ovarian pain can be a natural physiological reaction of the body that occurs before and after menstruation, or it can be caused by pathological processes. Another reason is the abolition of long-term use of oral contraceptives. After stopping the medications, the functioning of the glands is restored, which is accompanied by aching symptoms, tingling, and nagging pain. Discomfort also occurs after surgery, which goes away after complete healing of the operated organ.

What to do if your ovaries hurt

Whatever pain you experience, you should definitely consult a gynecologist.

After the examination, the doctor will determine the causes, establish a diagnosis, give recommendations for therapeutic exercises, and prescribe medication or surgical treatment.

Please note: Many gynecological pathologies do not always have a clearly defined clinical picture. And it very often happens that when visiting a doctor, the gynecologist notes with regret that the disease is advanced. This is especially tragic for ovarian cancer pathologies.

Where do the ovaries hurt?

Paired organs are located in the lower abdomen, in the iliac region. Accordingly, pain occurs there.

Read also: Is it necessary to remove an ovarian cyst along with teeth and hair?

Adnexit

Pain, constant, aching, with inflammation of the ovaries most often occurs on the right side, does not depend on the female cycle. Differentiation from appendicitis is necessary, especially if fever, nausea, and vomiting occur.

Ectopic pregnancy

Sharp pain radiating to the hypochondrium and shoulder occurs when the fallopian tube ruptures. Accompanied by bleeding, weakness, dizziness, loss of consciousness. History: delayed menstruation, weakly positive pregnancy test. Help must be urgent.
Apoplexy

If ovulation is too rapid, damage to the ovary occurs, followed by bleeding. The main symptoms are severe pain, weakness, cold sweat, and poor health. Surgical treatment may be necessary.

Cancer

The first stages are asymptomatic or with subtle manifestations. Sometimes a woman consults a doctor when the cancer has already reached the third or fourth stage. Therefore, if pain occurs, it is better to receive qualified advice and the necessary treatment than to later suffer from complications or end your life with premature death.

Primary diagnosis and pain relief

Pain that occurs once, or its mild manifestations, often does not require medical intervention, as it is caused by natural physiological processes in the ovaries.

Recurrent pain syndromes require a thorough examination of the patient:

• external and intravaginal gynecological examination;
• Ultrasound of the reproductive organs, bladder, intestines;
• clinical and biochemical tests of blood and urine;
• diagnostic laparoscopy or puncture of the abdominal cavity followed by histological examination.

Important: In no case should you use a heating pad if you have pain, so as not to aggravate the disease. Pain can be relieved with analgesics, which are usually prescribed by a doctor, based on the individual characteristics of the body.

Pain whose causes require treatment

If you experience severe, prolonged, sharp pain, you should not self-medicate; you should definitely consult a doctor. The following diseases require competent medical treatment:

• inflammatory diseases of female organs;
• benign or malignant tumors;
• cysts, endometriosis;
• miscarriages, ectopic pregnancy;
• concomitant diseases that cause pain in the gonads.

With an ovarian cyst

The pain, depending on the type of cyst and its progression, is of a different nature and appears at different times. May occur during sexual intercourse or physical activity. When the leg is twisted or an ovarian cyst ruptures, paroxysmal, severe pain occurs.

The patient is concerned about:

• heaviness, feeling of fullness;
• aching pain in the lower abdomen, perineum, radiating to the lower back, sacrum, rectum;
• menstrual irregularities;
• bloody, spotting discharge;
• difficulty urinating, with frequent urge;
• nausea, fever, fainting.

Painful symptoms are caused by gynecological diseases such as adnexitis, salpingoophoritis (simultaneous inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes), apoplexy (rupture of ovarian tissue), polycystic disease, and ovarian endometriosis.

Untreated, neglected cysts lead to serious complications - their ruptures, pedicle torsion, development of neoplasms, infertility, adhesions. Women undergoing IVF may develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, associated with an excessive amount of medications that increase ovulation.

To avoid these complications, doctors, based on the type of cyst or cystic formation, prescribe medication or surgical treatment. One of the treatment methods that is not often used is puncture, which removes aspirate (contents) from the cystic ovarian cavity.

Related to the menstrual cycle

Ovulatory syndrome - pain in the ovaries before menstruation, after ovulation, is often associated with an insufficiently mature corpus luteum. In this case, partial detachment of the uterine epithelium occurs, which causes discomfort.

The period during which the egg leaves the follicle is characterized by micro-tears of the membrane and micro-hemorrhages. This period occurs during ovulation in the middle of the monthly cycle and is also characterized by a slight pain syndrome. Pain usually occurs on the side on which the egg matures. The occurrence of severe, sudden pain may be a signal of ovarian rupture. And in this case, immediate medical assistance cannot be avoided.

If your ovaries start to hurt, there is a reason for it. Tingling, dull or sharp pain in one or both glands can develop both with hormonal imbalances and with the progression of pathologies that threaten infertility or become incurable.

Suffering from ovulatory syndrome, women consider this painful condition to be a variant of the norm. When taking painkillers, it is important not to miss the body’s signals about a more serious pathology: adnexitis, ectopic pregnancy, tumor development and many other diseases that require immediate treatment.

Pain in the ovaries associated with the menstrual cycle

Menstruation is the most common cause of discomfort in the lower abdomen in women of reproductive age (15-44 years). In the literature you can find the concepts of “algomenorrhea” or “dysmenorrhea”, but the essence of the concepts is the same - painful menstruation. In mild form, ovulatory syndrome periodically appears in 60-70% of women. Pain that causes cramps and fainting is experienced by 10-15% of women.

There may be several reasons why discomfort occurs during menstruation:

• hormonal disorders in the body;
• neurological disorders;
• congenital structural features of the reproductive organs;
• dysplasia (impaired functioning) of ovarian tissues, due to congenital characteristics, previous infectious diseases of the pelvic organs.

By conditionally dividing the menstrual cycle into several phases, you can understand why the ovaries hurt and the lower abdomen ache during menstruation.

During your period

The first phase of the cycle is follicular. Its countdown begins on the 1st day of the onset of menstruation and continues until the onset of ovulation. The duration of the phase is on average 2 weeks.

During menstruation, the ovaries do not hurt. Discomfort arising in the lower abdomen, aching pain radiating to the lower back, anus is the result of the rejection of “old” cells of the uterine mucosa. It is they that come out in the form of menstrual bleeding with systematic muscle contractions. There is nothing unusual in this process; mild spasms are normal. But there are other causes of malaise.

With primary algodismenorrhea, the symptom begins to bother you from the first days of menstruation until adulthood. The reason is the structural features of the uterus.

Secondary dysmenorrhea appears at any age after suffering gynecological diseases, due to organ dysfunction, surgical interventions, or the installation of an intrauterine device.

During this period, it is important to maintain moderate physical activity, drink more fluids, relax your muscles with a warm shower, and drink painkillers and sedatives.

After menstruation before ovulation

After menstruation, the process of egg maturation begins. The follicle increases in size and reaches 15-20 mm before rupture. Normally, only one is dominant, from which the egg is subsequently released. Along with it, about 10 more follicles grow, which significantly increases the size of the organ. During the process of maturation, the ovary may hurt on the right or left, but after ovulation the discomfort goes away.

During ovulation

Ovulation is the process of releasing an egg. It determines the ability of a woman of reproductive age to conceive. With a cycle duration of 28 days, ovulation occurs on day 14, but if hormonal levels are unstable, the date may shift by several days.

When a mature follicle bursts, a woman experiences sharp pain in the ovary. This happens for several reasons:

• entry of blood and follicular fluid into the abdominal cavity and irritation of pain receptors;
• drop in estrogen and progesterone levels;
• contraction of the muscles of the fallopian tubes through which the egg passes.

Tingling in the ovaries may last only a few seconds, or may last 1-2 days.

Discomfort occurs on the side where the follicle burst. An additional sign of ovulation is slight spotting.

In rare cases, organ rupture occurs during ovulation. This is facilitated by previously carried out stimulation of follicle growth.

In addition to unbearable pain, weakness, nausea or vomiting, fever, tachycardia are observed, and the development of peritonitis is possible. The only correct measure is to urgently call an ambulance.

After ovulation

The appearance of a symptom after ovulation is a rare occurrence. In place of the burst follicle, a corpus luteum is formed - a gland that synthesizes hormones, mostly progesterone. When progesterone production is suppressed, the endometrium may partially exfoliate, which causes discomfort. A woman experiences tingling in the left or right ovary and observes slight discharge a few days before the onset of menstruation. If the egg is not fertilized, the gland dissolves and a new menstrual cycle begins.

If there is discomfort in the lower abdomen after ovulation, there is a high probability of developing diseases of the reproductive organs.

During and after intercourse

Normally, sexual intercourse does not cause discomfort. Pain during intercourse can be caused by:

• development of inflammation of the pelvic organs;
• the occurrence of cystic formations;
• too intense sexual intercourse;
• organ rupture;
• changes in organ size caused by drug stimulation;
• the appearance of cysts, malignant and benign tumors on the glands;
• hormonal disorders;
• strong tension of the vaginal muscles.

This problem should not go unnoticed. Discomfort during sex is a threat not only to health, but also to relationships with your partner.

After surgery

Surgical treatment is a necessary and preferable treatment measure for polycystic disease, the occurrence of neoplasms, and rupture of the ovarian organ.

Laparoscopy

Most operations are performed through small incisions in the lower abdomen, preserving the organs. Postoperative pain persists for several days. If the rehabilitation period is delayed, the reasons may be as follows:

• development of adhesive and inflammatory processes;
• non-compliance with the terms of sexual rest;
• lifting weights;
• internal bleeding due to suture dehiscence.

A deviation from the norm is considered to be pain lasting more than 2-3 days, accompanied by tension of the uterus and ovaries, nausea, and vomiting.

Puncturing

Another type of mechanical impact on organs is puncture. It is carried out when it is necessary to take biomaterial for IVF, collect cells for histological examination, or eliminate a cyst.

After a puncture, the following is considered normal:

• moderate pain;
• mild cramps in the lower abdomen;
• scanty discharge;
• increase in body temperature to subfebrile level.

During pregnancy

Intrauterine development of the fetus is not the cause of the unpleasant symptom, but in the early stages a woman may feel some discomfort in the lower abdomen. After the implantation of the egg into the uterine cavity, which may be accompanied by slight bleeding and soreness (implantation pain), the corpus luteum continues to perform its functions for some time. By producing progesterone and oxytocin, it supports pregnancy and relaxes the uterus. Due to the growth of the gland, its capsule is stretched, and the woman begins to feel pain. If the right or left ovary is slightly pulled, do not worry. The larger the corpus luteum, the more successful the first trimester of pregnancy will be. Later, the placenta takes over the function of producing hormones.

In case of termination of pregnancy

Signs indicating the development of an ectopic pregnancy:

• sharp, intensifying pain radiating to the anus;
• irregular spotting; drop in hCG hormone levels;
• dizziness; decrease in blood pressure.

Any discharge during pregnancy should cause concern. Accompanied by intense pain, they can mean spontaneous termination of pregnancy. Timely consultation with a doctor increases the chance of saving the child.

Another pathology during pregnancy is fetal freezing. In this case, the woman experiences mild pain or does not feel it at all, but notices heavy discharge from the uterine cavity.

Pain radiating to the leg

The female reproductive organs react acutely to hypothermia, as they are most susceptible to infections, so pain is often caused by the development of inflammatory processes.

If the left ovary hurts, the cause may be unilateral oophoritis. It is possible that the pathological process develops only on the right side or that all reproductive organs are involved in the process. In this case, adnexitis is diagnosed - inflammation of the appendages, salpingitis - inflammation of the fallopian tubes.

The following symptoms are characteristic of oophoritis:

• the ovary pulsates, the pain radiates to the leg, lower back;
• difficulties urinating are noted: pain, incomplete emptying of the bladder;
• the intensity of discharge from the genitals increases;
• body temperature rises;
• before the onset of menstruation, scanty bleeding is observed for 3-5 days;
• sexual intercourse causes discomfort.

With an advanced form of the inflammatory process in the ovaries a woman regularly observes leucorrhoea (scanty whitish discharge) and experiences mild aching pain that intensifies before the start of the monthly cycle. Oophoritis can cause infertility, and the accompanying salpingitis leads to the occurrence of ectopic pregnancy due to the development of adhesions.

Read also Treatment of inflammation of female ovaries with antibacterial drugs

Pain in the ovaries with a cyst

A cyst is a cavity formation filled with fluid. Most ovarian cysts are false (functional). They are formed when the follicle does not rupture, but remains in the body of the organ. There is also a corpus luteum cyst; hemorrhagic, which occurs when blood vessels rupture inside the corpus luteum or follicle.

Small cysts resolve with the onset of a new menstrual cycle without causing discomfort. An increase in tumor of more than 2 cm causes:

• heaviness in the stomach;
• urinary disturbance.

The pain with an ovarian cyst reaching a size of 5 cm is more intense and has a stabbing and cutting nature. The pressure of the formation on neighboring organs causes constant pulling sensations in the lower abdomen. With further growth, the ovarian cyst may rupture. Provoking factors: sports, sexual intercourse, injuries.

When a rupture occurs:

• stool disorders:
• tension in the anterior abdominal wall;
• sharp unilateral pain radiating to the sacrum and thigh;
• bleeding.

Large cysts, reaching 7 cm and having an elongated stalk, can twist.

Symptoms of torsion:

• discomfort that forces you to take the “embryo” position and spreads to the back, groin, and legs;
• the appearance of perspiration;
• increased body temperature;
• bloody discharge;
• nausea, vomiting;
• pallor, decreased blood pressure.

Sharp but short-term pain is the rupture of a follicular cyst, which does not require hospitalization.

It is necessary to distinguish between a cyst and polycystic ovary syndrome. The latter is the result of endocrine disorders. Polycystic disease is the cause of constant low-intensity pain due to enlarged ovaries covered with small cystic formations. The main problem of women with polycystic disease is infertility caused by hormonal imbalance. The disease can be corrected with proper nutrition and hormonal therapy.

Pain in the ovaries caused by pathologies of other organs and systems

Pain that occurs in the lower abdomen is often associated with pathologies of other organs. By giving pain to the lower back and leg, it makes it difficult to understand what exactly triggered it. The causes of discomfort may be:

• aneurysm of the femoral artery, manifested by throbbing pain and swelling in the groin area;
• inguinal or femoral hernia;
• kidney disease (urolithiasis, pyelonephritis);
• inflammation of the appendix;
• development of pathological processes in the rectum or bladder;
• the occurrence of adhesions as a result of inflammation, previous operations.

Only high-quality diagnostics will help resolve the issue of further treatment.

Acute pain in the ovaries

The ovaries often hurt greatly if there is a threat of their rupture, in advanced forms of the disease.

Hyperstimulation

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome occurs in the treatment of infertility due to lack of ovulation, the use of IVF. The process consists of prescribing hormonal drugs in the form of tablets, injections, sprays that promote follicle growth. Hyperstimulation is the result of incorrect dose selection or excessive individual sensitivity of the body to the drug.

Conventionally, hyperstimulation is divided into 3 stages:

1. Easy. At the same time, the volume of the abdomen increases, swelling and slight nagging pain in the groin are observed.
2. Average. Nausea, diarrhea appear, shooting in the ovary, the stomach protrudes significantly, and body weight rapidly increases.
3. Heavy. The listed symptoms are accompanied by shooting, stabbing, pulling pains that are observed at the slightest change in body position. At the same time, the pressure decreases, the heart rhythm is disturbed, and shortness of breath occurs.

At stage 3, there is a high probability of ovarian rupture. The incidence of grade 3 hyperstimulation during pregnancy ranges within 10%.

Apoplexy

Rupture of the ovary, accompanied by acute severe pain, is called apoplexy. Synonyms for this concept are hematoma or ovarian infarction.

Most often it is the right ovary that hurts and radiates to the leg. This is due to the fact that the blood supply to the right-sided organ is provided by the ovarian artery coming from the aorta, while the left-sided organ is supplied by the renal artery. As a result, the gland on the right is larger in size. On the left, ruptures are less common.

Women of reproductive age are at risk.

Apoplexy is an emergency condition requiring emergency medical care.

Factors that increase the likelihood of apoplexy are:

• inflammatory processes occurring in the pelvic organs;
• sclerotic changes in the tissues of the glands, taking drugs that affect blood clotting.

Apoplexy can be triggered by trauma in the abdominal area, the process of irrigating the uterus with a syringe, examination by a gynecologist, or intense sexual intercourse. If the rupture occurs at rest, endogenous factors take place: abnormal location of the uterus, tumor development, adhesions and other disorders.

The main sign of a glandular infarction is a sharp, sudden pain in the ovarian area caused by the effect of blood on pain receptors.

There are 2 forms of apoplexy:

1. Painful, or pseudoappendicular. It is often mistaken for an attack of appendicitis. In addition to unbearable acute pain, nausea begins, blood pressure drops sharply, which is expressed in pale skin and loss of strength.
2. Hemorrhagic or anemic. The main signs are lightheadedness, pallor and nausea as a result of blood loss (up to 150 ml in mild cases and more than 500 ml in severe cases).

It can be different: sharp, aching, pulsating or barely noticeable. It haunts you, interferes with your usual way of life, and takes you by surprise. Any girl is familiar with these sensations, but not everyone rushes to ask a competent specialist with questions. Let's figure out why pain in the ovarian area occurs, what its causes are, what symptoms you should pay special attention to, and what is normal. And the main thing: what to do if a woman’s ovaries hurt badly and add a lot of problems to her.

The pelvic organs contain paired female sex glands - the ovaries. This gland is the place where female reproductive cells undergo their stages of development and produce hormones that affect fertility.

If a woman sees a gynecologist when her ovaries hurt, the doctor first begins to find out the totality of information on the basis of which he will choose additional diagnostic methods. If the ovaries and lower back hurt, long-term hypothermia is first ruled out or confirmed. It is the main provocateur of severe pain in the ovaries. In other cases, we may be talking about the development of one or more pathologies, the recognition of which is carried out on the basis of anamnesis only by the attending physician.

Let's look at the most common reasons.

Consequences of surgical interventions

If a woman has recently undergone a puncture, then the pain after it is completely justified and is explained precisely by this intervention. You need to be patient, everything will heal very soon, there will be no trace of pain left. Therapy consists of the doctor prescribing painkillers and antispasmodics.

If you had a cyst removed or other surgery on the organ, then during the rehabilitation period you should pay special attention to your body if pain in the ovaries occurs, since they can be associated with quite serious and unpleasant reasons:

• The formation of an adhesive process began in the pelvic cavity.
• Development of pelvioperitonitis (infectious and inflammatory lesion of the peritoneum)

A short-term increase in temperature immediately after surgery and the appearance of moderate pain in the lower abdomen is considered normal. The optimal use of painkillers and/or anti-inflammatory, sometimes antibacterial agents.

For women, everything that is somehow connected with the sexual and reproductive system is a subject of special attention. Usually, if you have severe pain in the lower abdomen, emergency doctors advise you to see a surgeon or gynecologist, and if the pain is acute, hospitalization in surgery cannot be avoided. If tests and ultrasound examination do not confirm the need for surgical intervention, the woman must see a gynecologist. The most common cause of pain in the abdominal area in women is ovarian disease, and this may be one of the symptoms of chronic inflammation of another organ.

What usually causes pain in the ovaries?

How to determine exactly where it hurts, and what to do if there seems to be a “lump of pain” of an undetermined nature in the navel area? Do not self-medicate, even if the “experienced neighbor” knows “everything” about gynecological diseases. Take a light pain reliever - and immediately make an appointment with the gynecologist who is observing you! The causes of the pain may be completely innocent, but this can only be determined by a gynecologist after appropriate tests and examinations.

The most common causes of aching pain in the pelvic area are ovulation and menstrual changes in the ovaries and uterus. The pain is physiological, understandable and most often does not require treatment. Rupture of the follicle when the finished egg is released can be very painful for women with a high sensitivity threshold.

There are many nerve endings in the human peritoneum that give an “echo” when irritated by even a small amount of blood. Since the release of the egg is cyclical, pain may be felt either on the right or on the left, and spotting may appear, which is also normal. You need to tell your gynecologist about this, but you should not take painkillers uncontrollably.

Pregnant women often complain of malaise and pain in the lower abdomen, but this is not due to the condition of the ovaries, but to the tension of the ligaments that support the growing uterus. In addition, during pregnancy, eggs are not produced, so there can be no pain due to this. If a pregnant woman eats right, gets plenty of rest, walks, and does permitted exercise, no health problems will arise. However, if pain in the ovaries bothered you even before pregnancy, it is better if the woman is under close medical supervision for the entire period of bearing a child.

A painful feeling in the ovaries, which may occur during and after sexual intercourse, is not a sign of physiological disorders. This is usually due to existing diseases of the genital organs, the presence of a cyst or tumor, adhesions after surgery, overstrain of the vaginal muscles or excessive activity of the partner. If you experience frequently recurring pain, you should consult a gynecologist who will find out the cause of this condition.

What sensations indicate danger?

A sharp stabbing pain of a paroxysmal nature in the suprapubic region indicates a possible rupture of the ovary, which may result in severe bleeding into the peritoneum and immediate development of peritonitis. To restore the integrity of the ovary, surgical intervention will be required.

Only a gynecologist can determine what treatment is required. Even when a woman is aware of the existing ovarian pathology, active pain syndrome may be a consequence of new changes. An increase in temperature and constant pain for a long time are signs of negative changes in the course of the disease.

Pain in the ovaries can occur due to certain diseases:

1. During the inflammatory process in the ovaries (adnexitis), there may be pain radiating to the lower back. The disease affects neighboring organs, so even in the absence of a clinical picture of the development of the disease, a thorough examination is necessary to identify the source of infection. Drug treatment is mandatory; untreated disease can cause infertility.

The symptoms are similar to the condition that occurs during an ectopic pregnancy:

• pain pulsating in the navel area when moving, becomes a tugging pain at rest, but does not completely subside;
• upon examination, a return to the sacrum is revealed, it is difficult to identify the painful focus;
• urination is difficult, the urge is painful, there is a feeling of release into the ovaries themselves;
• the temperature rises sharply, lasts a long time, and is not relieved by medications;
• severe chills interspersed with fever.

The consequence of an untreated disease can be a disruption in the cyclicity of menstruation, and the release of hormones responsible for sexual desire is reduced. A state of depression worsens a woman’s well-being; rapid fatigue causes irritation and even aggression.

2. Hypothermia, severe physical or psycho-emotional fatigue, chronic diseases, weak immunity - all these disorders can provoke inflammatory phenomena in the ovarian appendages, which is also accompanied by pain with dual localization. Simultaneously with oophoritis, disturbances in performance appear, insomnia and irritability appear. The disease requires drug treatment.

3. The presence of an ovarian cyst, torsion of its legs, rupture of the cyst is accompanied by inflammation of the peritoneum, necrosis of its tissues, and therefore in most cases leads to surgery to remove the tumor. Even a benign tumor can cause peritonitis and other life-threatening consequences. Sometimes there is a more complex condition - ovarian torsion due to physical activity and weak pelvic muscles. The pain is usually acute, increasing with palpation. Surgical treatment is recommended.

4. A complex disease that is sometimes confused with a simple cyst is polycystic disease, the symptoms of which are associated with endocrine pathology. Constant pain occurs due to the appearance and growth of cystic formations in the ovarian tissue, as a result of which neighboring organs experience pressure. Due to improper functioning of the ovaries, the menstrual cycle is disrupted, although signs of PMS are present. During the course of the disease, infertility develops; a woman cannot conceive even with regular intimacy. Conservative treatment does not always help, so surgical treatment is often resorted to.

5. When treating infertility with hormones, hyperstimulation syndrome may occur, when several follicles mature in the ovaries at the same time. This condition quickly turns into cystic, the ovaries become massive. The stomach swells, the woman’s weight increases. By normalizing the amount of hormones, you can eliminate this condition, and the pain disappears. The severe form is expressed in the appearance of shortness of breath, changes in electrolyte balance, renal failure, and decreased blood supply to the ovaries. This condition can only be normalized in a hospital.

6. Severe pain is caused by ectopic pregnancy, both in the state of termination and with a completed tubal abortion. Bleeding is profuse, blood accumulates in the abdominal cavity, its pressure is felt in the rectum. If urgent operational measures are not taken, the prognosis is unfavorable.

7. Malignant ovarian tumors in the early stages are not always accompanied by pain, so regular examinations by a gynecologist will help maintain health.

This list is far from complete - the number of diseases that can be accompanied by pain in the ovarian area is enormous. In order not to aggravate your condition, when the first symptoms appear, it is better to immediately consult a doctor - this will save your own health, and in some cases, life!