There are many causes of pain in the ovaries, including ovarian cysts, ovarian tumors, ovulation, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or ovarian cancer.
Some of these are more cause for concern than others, but all ovary pain should be taken note of and discussed with a healthcare professional so you can treat it effectively.
What does it feel like?
In addition to a variety of causes, there is also a wide variety of sensations associated with ovary pain. It can feel like a consistent, dull pain or a sharp burst of pain. It can be felt in the lower abdomen and pelvis, and it might only appear on one side.
It may also be accompanied by other symptoms depending on the root cause.
Causes and treatments of ovary pain
Endometriosis
When tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, it can cause monthly pain that coincides with menstruation. Because the tissue is similar, it breaks down and bleeds outside of the uterus along with the other tissue each month. This is called endometriosis.
But this tissue can build up and create a blood blister surrounded by a fibrous cyst. This is called an endometrioma, and it’s what causes pelvic pain and an abnormally heavy menstrual flow.
Other symptoms include pain during intercourse and urination or gastrointestinal problems.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it affects around 190 million people worldwide.
Though there is no cure for endometriosis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Naprosyn) can help manage the pain. Hormonal medications and birth control are often also prescribed to help keep symptoms at bay, but this would impact fertility for people trying to get pregnant.
Other treatments can include surgery to remove lesions, adhesions, and scar tissues that build up as a result of the disease.
Ovarian cysts
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled masses that grow on the ovaries. They can grow on one or on both. Most ovarian cysts are not harmful and don’t cause symptoms, but those that do result in pain and bloating.
Ovarian cysts can also cause pain if they rupture (burst). Other symptoms include:
- pain during sexual intercourse
- changes to your menstruation
- pain in your pelvis
If you have sudden, intense pain, you should contact a healthcare professional immediately.
Most cysts disappear on their own — research suggests that this is the case for 70–80% of cases. Still, cysts that are causing symptoms may need to be surgically removed. This is usually only done when the cyst is at risk of becoming cancerous, though ongoing consultation with a doctor can provide clarity.
Ovarian tumors
Ovarian cancer happens when tumors grow on the ovaries. Like cysts, tumors can grow on one or on both ovaries, but unlike cysts, they are solid and not benign in nature. The problem is that symptoms typically do not present until the tumor growth has advanced.
Symptoms include:
- ovary pain
- bloating
- pelvic or abdominal pain
- feeling full quickly
- urinating urgently or frequently
Most women with ovarian cancer will have some type of surgery to remove the cancerous tumor. Radiation, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy can also be used to treat the cancer locally or systemically.
Individual treatment plans will depend on general health, fertility plans, and personal preference.
Ovulation
When an ovary releases an egg, it can cause pain. If the pain typically happens about 14 days before your period begins, that is an indication that the pain could be due to ovulation. Note that ovary pain has a wide range of sensations, and typically happens only on one side of the pelvis at a time.
Simple remedies like a hot bath or painkillers are the usual pathways to treat ovulation pain. The birth control pill, which stops ovulation, can stop the pain, but this method does affect fertility while you are taking the pill.
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease refers to an infection in the reproductive organs. It can be caused by a sexually transmitted disease, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, but the infection can happen without the presence of an STD.
In addition to pain in the lower abdomen, symptoms include fever, unusual discharge with a bad odor, pain during sex, burning during urination, or bleeding between periods.
Treatment with antibiotics can heal the infection. It can generally be treated with one injection of a type of medication called cephalosporins (such as cefazolin), and then taking an antibiotic, doxycycline, by mouth for 14 days.
Still, antibiotic treatment can’t address scar tissue. That’s why it’s important that you get treated for pelvic inflammatory disease as quickly as possible.
An abscess that cannot be resolved with antibiotics may need to be removed surgically.
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