Ovarian pain
Women have two of them: ovaries are small oval-ish glands, one on each side in the lower abdomen below the belly button. Ovarian pain can be felt on either side, or in the pelvis in general as well as in the lower back.
Like other types of pain, ovarian pain can be acute (it started recently or comes and goes) or chronic (it happens frequently or lasts several months)[i]. It can be an ongoing dull ache, or a sudden stabbing pain.
There are many organs in the abdomen, including the kidneys, appendix and intestines and pain can be “referred” to an area that’s not affected, so the location of the pain does not always tell you what the problem is. Even constipation can be mistaken for ovarian pain[ii].
First steps if you have ovarian pain
There are many potential reasons why you might have ovarian pain. A diagnosis is important so that you can first rule out the more serious of these.
Your primary care provider will typically do a physical exam to see if something unusual can be felt. A pelvic ultrasound might also be recommended in order to have an accurate image of what’s there. As well, a urinalysis may be done to see if the pain is being caused by an infection of some kind.
What causes ovarian pain?
While it’s rare, ovarian pain can be caused by ovarian cancer. In addition to ovarian pain that’s typically more severe than menstrual pain, symptoms of ovarian cancer can include an ongoing bloating sensation in the lower abdomen. There are several types of ovarian cancer, so blood tests and other diagnostic tools are typically used to rule out this possibility.
For women who are sexually active, another explanation of ovarian pain can be an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted outside of the uterus, typically in the fallopian tube. Symptoms can be very similar to those of an early normal pregnancy, but can include vaginal bleeding and pain in the lower abdomen. An ectopic pregnancy is typically diagnosed in the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy and is considered a medical emergency.
Another more serious cause of ovarian pain is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), often caused by a sexually transmitted disease. Symptoms include lower abdominal pain, irregular bleeding and painful sex. It’s typically diagnosed by means of a physical exam along with other tests and is treated with antibiotics. But PID can have long-term consequences, so early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Women with endometriosis can also have ovulation pain. Endometriosis is a condition notoriously difficult to diagnose that causes endometrial tissue to grow outside of the uterus, causing heavy vaginal bleeding along with severe pain in the abdomen (including the ovaries) and even elsewhere. See the separate blog on endometriosis for more information on this condition.
Ovarian cysts, or small fluid-filled noncancerous sacs, can also cause pain in the ovaries, as well as painful sex, irregular periods and many other unpleasant symptoms such as facial hair and high blood sugar. Occasionally, a cyst can burst, causing sudden severe pain. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (or PCOS) is typically diagnosed with a pelvic exam, a pelvis ultrasound and blood tests. See the separate blog on PCOS.
Occasionally, women with PCOS can develop ovarian torsion, which occurs when the ovary twists around the ligaments that hold it in place. Women undergoing fertility treatment are also more likely to experience ovarian torsion, which can cause severe and sudden pain in the ovaries and lower abdomen. This is considered a medical emergency and is usually resolved through surgery.
Fibroids can cause pain that can be felt in the ovaries. These noncancerous growths develop in muscle tissue of the uterus and can become quite large, putting pressure on other abdominal organs, including the ovaries. Most women with fibroids also have heavy periods. See the separate blog on fibroids for more information.
The regular cycle of ovulation can also cause ovarian pain. Most women have no knowledge of when they are ovulating, which typically occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle (Day 10 to Day 14). Some women experience a pulling or slight pinching sensation at the time of ovulation, others feel pain. Ovulation is the process of the ovary releasing an egg; for most women, ovulation alternates sides every month. This means that if ovulation is causing the pain, it might occur roughly in the middle of the menstrual cycle and move from one side to the other every month.
Some women feel crampy pain in the lower abdomen just before the period as part of premenstrual syndrome (or PMS) or during the period itself (menstrual pain). If the pain is across the lower abdomen, there may also be pain sensations in the area of the ovaries. See separate blogs on PMS and menstrual pain.
How is ovarian pain treated in conventional medicine?
Of course, treatment depends on the cause. Of those just listed, the most serious (ectopic pregnancy, ovarian torsion, ovarian cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease) are addressed with surgery, cancer treatment (chemotherapy and radiation) or antibiotics. Occasionally, it is recommended that large fibroids are surgically removed.
Endometriosis, PCOS and fibroids are usually treated through prescription hormonal drugs.
Homeopathic care for ovarian pain
The most common (and less serious) explanations for ovarian pain can be helped with homeopathic care. These include endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, ovulation, PMS and the menstrual pain. (For more details, check out the separate blogs on each of these topics).
Homeopathic care involves a lengthy conversation in order for the homeopath to get details on the individualized experience of ovarian pain: when it started, if there is a cyclical pattern, the nature of the pain and whether it is getting worse.
Depending on the cause, one or more homeopathic medicines are recommended in order to stimulate the “vital force” (or the body’s own ability to heal itself), to strengthen weak body systems (such as the hormonal or endocrine system), and to match the specific experience of ovulation pain and other symptoms you are experiencing.
There may be additional steps your homeopath might recommend that you can take to help reduce your ovarian pain.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation or schedule one on the online scheduler to learn more about how I can help you with your ovarian pain.
[i] Till, S, R Nakamura A Schrepf S As-Sanie (2022) “Approach to diagnosis and management of chronic pelvic pain in women: incorporating chronic overlapping pain conditions in assessment and management” Obstetrics Gynecology Clinics of North America Jun; 49(2):219–239: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9297339/pdf/nihms-1822052.pdf
[ii] Franco, PN, A Garcia-Gaizan M Aymerich C Maino S Frade-Santos D Ippolito M Otero-Garcia (2023)
“Gynaecological causes of acute pelvic pain: common and not so common imaging findings” Life 13(10): https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/10/2025