During their reproductive years, many women may notice that their ovaries hurt after ovulation. Many people are unsure if their discomfort is normal or indicative of a more serious condition because it can range in intensity from a slight ache to more intense sensations.
Knowing the potential causes of post-ovulation pain can help allay anxieties and help you decide if you really need to see a doctor. We’ll look at the typical causes of this pain in this post, along with indications for when to see a doctor.
| Possible Causes | Description |
| Normal Ovulation Pain | Mild discomfort or cramping can occur as the ovary releases an egg, usually lasting a few hours to a day. |
| Cyst Formation | A small cyst may form on the ovary after ovulation, causing pain that may persist for several days. |
| Endometriosis | Tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, potentially causing pain after ovulation. |
| Ovarian Torsion | A rare condition where the ovary twists, cutting off blood flow, leading to severe pain and requiring immediate medical attention. |
| Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) | An infection of the reproductive organs that can cause pain, especially after ovulation. |
Reasons
The human body is designed in such a way that any processes associated with a violation of the integrity of any tissue are associated with pain of varying intensity. From a biological point of view, during ovulation, nothing more than a rupture of the follicle membrane occurs. And it is this fact that can be perceived by a woman"s brain as a pain impulse. Ovaries are paired organs, sex glands. In each of them, from birth, a girl has a supply of follicles with immature eggs inside. In one menstrual cycle, starting from puberty and ending with menopause, one follicle matures, which increases and ruptures, which makes possible the release of the germ cell and, which is not excluded, its subsequent fertilization. Rarely, double maturation occurs, and then two eggs are released, which significantly increases the likelihood of multiple pregnancies.
- Menstruation
- Ovulation
- High probability of conception
14 days prior to the beginning of your menstrual cycle, or on the 14th day of a 28-day cycle, is when ovulation takes place. Because average values frequently deviate from one another, the computation is imprecise.
In addition to using the calendar method, you can check cervical mucus, measure your basal temperature, use special tests or mini-microscopes, and test for progesterone, estrogens, LH, and FSH.
Folliculometry (ultrasound) can undoubtedly be used to determine the day of ovulation.
- Losos, Jonathan B.; Raven, Peter H.; Johnson, George B.; Singer, Susan R. Biology. New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 1207-1209.
- Campbell N. A., Reece J. B., Urry L. A. e. a. Biology. 9th ed. — Benjamin Cummings, 2011. — p. 1263
- Tkachenko B. I., Brin V. B., Zakharov Yu. M., Nedospasov V. O., Pyatin V. F. Human Physiology. Compendium / Ed. B. I. Tkachenko. — M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2009. — 496 p.
- https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Овуляция
Under the influence of luteinizing hormone, the mature follicle, which has grown to 22–24 mm, becomes thinner in the middle of the cycle. Its membrane ruptures, releasing an egg into the abdominal cavity. It is rapidly taken up by the fallopian tube’s villi, which draw it into the ampullar region of the oviduct. The oviduct muscles contract rhythmically to help the clumsy and immobile female reproductive cell move along the fallopian tube towards the uterus.
The corpus luteum, a gland that will supply progesterone to the female body in the second half of the cycle, starts to form from the remnants of the ovary’s membrane in place of the follicle. In the absence of pregnancy, the gland In 11–13 days, this one will pass away, and her menstruation will start.
When one understands the fundamentals of female physiology, it becomes clear why the ovary hurts after ovulation:
- due to a violation of the integrity of its membrane, which has its own nerve endings;
- due to injury to blood vessels during rupture;
- due to irritation of the peritoneum, which causes the outpouring of free fluid (the oocyte developed inside the bubble), as well as a small amount of blood in the abdominal cavity at the time of rupture.
Women may confuse a number of other pains, such as contractions of the fallopian tube muscles that function to move the egg, for ovarian pain that is also connected to the ovulation process. Women describe this pain as pulling, similar to what happens during menstruation.
It goes without saying that some types of pain, such as those caused by infections, tumors, or inflammatory gynecological processes, are not at all related to ovulation. As a result, it’s critical to develop the ability to discern between different types of pain and to recognize the signs that indicate a medical emergency.
Crucial! Even though everyone experiences the same ovulation mechanism, not everyone has pain in the ovary region. They are more common in women who have high central nervous system excitability and a low pain threshold.
Many women frequently experience pain in the ovaries following ovulation, which is frequently related to physiological changes in the body that occur during the menstrual cycle. Even though it is typically benign and a natural part of ovulation, it’s crucial to know the potential causes and when to see a doctor if the pain is severe or ongoing.
Learning to understand sensations
We can safely state that, given our understanding of how ovulation works, some pain in the vicinity of the right or left ovary is typical during this unique period in a woman’s life. Which ovary the egg matured in this cycle can be determined by the location of the pain. If both sides hurt at the same time, it’s possible that two separate sex glands were involved in the double ovulation.
The time of occurrence and duration of discomfort is a crucial characteristic that sets ovulation pain apart from other disorders. Typically, normal physiological sensations start the day after ovulation or the following day and go away in a day or two at most. You should see a doctor if the pain develops later in life or persists for more than two days, as it may indicate a number of different pathologies.
Pain and a high temperature that lasts longer than a day are very concerning signs. Seeking medical attention is also warranted if unusual discharge appears along with discomfort.
You should call for an ambulance if the pain is accompanied by a significant decrease in pressure or a weakness; this could indicate that a follicular cyst has burst.
Generally speaking, pain is not a sign of pregnancy because there are typically no painful sensations at this early stage. It is acceptable to experience mild pulling girdle pains in the lumbar region approximately one week following ovulation, when the embryo is implanted. The ovaries do not ache simultaneously.
However, stabbing pain in the ovarian region prior to the menstrual cycle starting or following a postponement is a concerning indication of a potential ectopic pregnancy.
A woman may misdiagnose pain in her lower abdomen as pain in her ovaries. In actuality, the appendages may become inflamed or experience adnexitis. Torsion of the stalk or rupture is a rare but potentially fatal complication of a follicular cyst. Dystrophic morphological changes, as well as ovarian dysfunction, may accompany pain. Pain could even be coming from old adhesions from prior surgeries. A physician can provide you with more information about the actual causes of your pain.
After ovulation, many women frequently experience pain in the ovaries. Hormonal fluctuations, mild irritation, or the regular release of an egg are just a few of the possible causes. Even though pain is usually not harmful, it’s crucial to pay attention to your body and know when it could be a sign of something more serious.
Most of the time, there is nothing to be concerned about if the discomfort is minor and transient. However, it’s best to see a doctor to rule out any underlying conditions if the pain is severe, ongoing, or accompanied by other symptoms like fever or unusual discharge.
Managing these symptoms more effectively can be achieved by being aware of your body’s signals. Your doctor can benefit from knowing details about your cycle and any patterns in your pain or discomfort. Maintaining your reproductive system is crucial to your general health.
