Ouch! Causes of Pelvic Pain during Ovulation

Believe it or not, some abdominal pain you may feel during your monthly cycle of ovulation (separate from your menses cycle) can be accompanied by pain.  Perhaps it doesn’t make sense that you would have abdominal cramping outside of your period schedule.  This could very well be because it is happening during your ovulation phases instead.

Some women (although slight) experience a sudden, sharp pain when they ovulate.  Since it can be easy to misread abdominal pain for ovulation pain, we do recommend discussing your symptoms with a healthcare provider. 

Ovulation occurs when a follicle in an ovary ruptures, releasing an egg. The egg then makes its way through the fallopian tubes to the uterus, where it can be shed or begin to grow.

This process is believed by some researchers to be the onset of the pain (which can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days) due to the swelling or rupturing of the follicle.

Symptoms of ovulation pain

Sharp pains on one side of the pelvis.

Chronic pelvic pain.

Sudden pain, not pain that gets worse over several days or hours

Dull, cramping pain.

Typically, these pains are independent of any other issues, however, if you notice the following, chances are there is a bigger issue than just ovulation pain. Signs that the pain might be due to something other than ovulation include:

pain on both sides of the body

pain that worsens or lasts several days in a row

pain with vaginal bleeding or spotting

swelling or bloating of the abdominal area

vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea

painful urination

 If you do notice additional issues beyond pelvic pain, it is possible that you are experiencing symptoms that could be related to these other concerns:

A urinary tract infection can affect the urethra, bladder, or kidneys, making excretion painful, prompting sights of blood when urinating and including pain in lower back or stomach.

Endometriosis is a condition resulting from the appearance of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and causing pelvic pain. Women with endometriosis report significant menstrual cramps and oftentimes, very heavy periods.

Menstrual cramps before or during a period is not to be confused with ovulation pain. Cramping is typically mild and does not interfere with daily functioning.

Constipation can be painful or create unusual sensations in the stomach or pelvis which could bring about temporary abdominal discomfort.

While this may seem like a lot to monitor, simply stay in touch with your medical professionals and checkups. Maintain a steady diet and exercise and monitor any changes you notice in your abdominal strength or weakness. If you notice pain and cannot attribute it readily to one of the above situations, consider sharing your findings with a specialist early on.