Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon CausesRare CausesWhen to See a ProviderDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Causes
Rare Causes
When to See a Provider
Diagnosis
Treatment
When someone has ovarian pain, the most common causes are typically related toovulationandmenstruation. You can feel ovarian pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis, or lower back.
Getting an accurate diagnosis of what’s causing the pain is important, as this determines treatment. If you have ovary pain, call your healthcare provider for an exam.
Common Causes of Ovary Pain
It’s important to know about the variety of conditions that can be responsible for how you are feeling. Some may warrant a visit to your healthcare provider, while others may resolve quickly without treatment.
What does ovarian pain feel like?Ovarian pain is typically felt in the lower abdomen, below the belly button. It can also be felt in the pelvis or lower back. Depending on the cause, it can be felt on both sides or just one side. It can be sharp or mild, a persistent ache, or intermittent bursts of pain. It can be acute, meaning it appears suddenly, or chronic, meaning it is longer-lasting.
What does ovarian pain feel like?
Ovarian pain is typically felt in the lower abdomen, below the belly button. It can also be felt in the pelvis or lower back. Depending on the cause, it can be felt on both sides or just one side. It can be sharp or mild, a persistent ache, or intermittent bursts of pain. It can be acute, meaning it appears suddenly, or chronic, meaning it is longer-lasting.
1. Menstrual Pain
Some may experience pain or discomfort in one or both ovaries on certain days during anormal menstrual cycle. This cramping pain that is experienced during or just before menstruation is calleddysmenorrheaand is due to the release ofprostaglandins—hormone-like substances that, among other things, contract muscles—from the uterus.
2. Mittelschmerz Pain
About 40% of menstruating people experience pain every time an egg is released from the ovary.Known as Mittelschmerz pain, it may be uncomfortable but is harmless.
The type of pain and the degree varies significantly from person to person, so the symptoms you feel may not be the same as another person’s symptoms.
3. Ovarian Cyst
Anovarian cystis a benign growth, usually filled with fluid, that may cause pain, discomfort, bleeding, menstrual irregularities, or no symptoms. Ovarian cysts are common and can develop at different points during the menstrual cycle.
Follicularcystsform when a follicle does not release an egg during ovulation.Corpus luteumcystsdevelop if the empty follicle (called the corpus luteum) does not dissolve as it should right after ovulation.
Symptoms of anovarian cystcan also include:
Ovarian cystscan also occur during perimenopause, menopause, andpostmenopausedue to hormonal changes.A common cause of pelvic pain in menopause is due to ovarian cysts.
Small ovarian cysts may improve on their own, but some require urgent medical treatment, like a largecyst that rupturesor bursts.
4. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrial lining of the uterus can develop in other areas of the reproductive system, like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or even the bladder.
Endometriosisoften causes severe cyclical or episodic uterine or ovarian cramping pain and intermittent bleeding. The pain may be particularly intense during a period or while having sex.Endometriosis may also lead to infertilitydue to adhesion (scar tissue) formation.
Other symptoms can include digestive issues such as:
Although endometriosis primarily occurs before menopause, endometriosis can also begin after menopause.Pelvic pain and ovarian cysts are diagnosed in menopausal endometriosis.
5. Ectopic Pregnancy
Anectopic pregnancyis a pregnancy that takes place outside the uterus, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. It may cause moderate to severe ovarian pain, often on one side of the abdomen, and warrants emergency treatment.
In addition to many of the symptoms of a typical pregnancy, symptoms of ectopic pregnancy can also include:
Pain and vaginal bleeding are the first signs of ectopic pregnancy, but these symptoms also often occur early in a healthy pregnancy.
6. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
PID is an infection that may affect one or more reproductiveorgans, including the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina. A sexually transmitted infection often causes this serious condition. It may lead to pain in various regions of the pelvis, including one or both ovaries, which is usually worse with sex.
Besides pain, someone with PID may experience the following symptoms:
7. Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroidsare benign growths that arise from the lining of the uterus. Besides pelvic discomfort or pressure, a person with fibroids may experience abnormal uterine bleeding, back pain, and infertility.
There are a few uncommon conditions that may cause ovarian pain. Given the seriousness of most of these, it’s important not to ignore these symptoms, no matter the likelihood of these issues.
8. Ovarian Cancer
Although ovarian cancercancause lower abdominal pain, it is not common. The disease often doesn’t cause anysymptomsor, if it does, they are more subtle ones like:
2:12Understanding Ovarian Cancer Symptoms, Stages, and Treatment
2:12
Understanding Ovarian Cancer Symptoms, Stages, and Treatment
9. Ovarian Remnant Syndrome
Ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) is an unusual condition that occurs when ovarian tissue is left behind following anoophorectomy(the surgical removal of one or both ovaries).
Symptoms can also include:
10. Ovarian Torsion
Ovarian torsionis an uncommon condition but a surgical emergency in which one of the fallopian tubes becomes twisted, potentially interrupting its blood supply and that of the ovary. This condition can cause severe and sudden pain due toischemia(lack of blood flow) in these areas.
11. Phantom Ovary Pain
With phantom ovary pain, a person continues to experience what seems like ovarian pain even after one or both ovaries have been removed. This is believed to be the result of persistent sensory nerve stimulation.
12. Referred Pain
Referred pain describes pain that feels like it is coming from one part of the body when it is actually coming from somewhere else. For example, pain originating from other organs such as the kidneys may cause pain that feels like it is coming from the ovaries.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should see your healthcare provider if you have new or different symptoms in the pelvic region, either with your period or in between periods.
More specifically, if you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical care:
How to Diagnose Ovary Pain
Diagnosing the cause of your ovary pain isn’t straightforward, as issues with other reproductive organs, like your uterus, cervix, or even other body systems, may be at play. (The ovaries are located in the same general area as many other organs.)
To determine the cause of your ovarian pain, your healthcare provider may use information from the following:
Differential Diagnoses
A number of other conditions can cause pain that may be mistaken for ovarian pain. Some of these conditions can be serious:
Ovary Pain Treatment
Once the cause of your ovary pain is determined, you and your healthcare provider can move forward with devising a treatment plan that may be as simple as a few lifestyle changes to more involved resolutions, like taking prescription medication or undergoing surgery.
Lifestyle Therapies
If your ovary pain is related to your monthly cycle, lifestyle changes like getting adequate sleep, exercising, using relaxation techniques, and applying a heating pad can often help soothe your discomfort.
Medications
Depending on your diagnosis, your healthcare provider may recommend or prescribe medication, such as:
Surgery
For emergent conditions, like ovarian torsion or ectopic pregnancy, surgery is warranted. Surgery is also often performed as part of the treatment of ovarian cancer and may be used to remove uterine fibroids or endometrial tissue in severe endometriosis.
Summary
When you have pain in your ovaries, you might immediately be worried about ovarian cancer, but there’s no reason to jump to that conclusion. There are many different reasons for ovarian pain, including cysts, endometriosis, some STIs, and even general medical problems that can cause ovarian pain.
It’s always a good idea to call your healthcare provider for an exam if you’re having pain to determine the underlying cause.
22 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Barcikowska Z, Rajkowska-Labon E, Grzybowska ME, Hansdorfer-Korzon R, Zorena K.Inflammatory markers in dysmenorrhea and therapeutic options.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(4):1191. doi:10.3390/ijerph17041191
UW Medicine.Mittelschmerz: The ovulation pain you probably have.
Goh J, Croft S.Chronic pelvic pain.Examination Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2017;27:98.
Farghaly SA.Current diagnosis and management of ovarian cysts.Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2014;41(6):609-612.
Su Q, Yang Z.Age at first birth, age at menopause, and risk of ovarian cyst: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024;14:1279493. Published 2024 Jan 4. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1279493
Expert Panel on GYN and OB Imaging, Henrichsen TL, Maturen KE, et al.ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Postmenopausal Acute Pelvic Pain.J Am Coll Radiol. 2021;18(5S):S119-S125. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2021.02.003
Parasar P, Ozcan P, Terry KL.Endometriosis: epidemiology, diagnosis and clinical management.Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep. 2017;6(1):34-41. doi:10.1007/s13669-017-0187-1
Office on Women’s Health.Endometriosis.
Secosan C, Balulescu L, Brasoveanu S, et al.Endometriosis in menopause-renewed attention on a controversial disease.Diagnostics (Basel). 2020;10(3):134. Published 2020 Feb 29. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10030134
Hendriks E, Rosenberg R, Prine L.Ectopic pregnancy: Diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(10):599-606
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ectopic pregnancy.
Curry A, Williams T, Penny ML.Pelvic inflammatory disease: Diagnosis, management, and prevention.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(6):357-364.
Khan AT, Shehmar M, Gupta JK.Uterine fibroids: current perspectives.Int J Womens Health.2014;6:95-114. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S51083
Ebell MH, Culp MB, Radke TJ.A systematic review of symptoms for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.Am J Prev Med. 2016;50(3):384-394. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2015.09.023
UT Health East Texas HOPE Cancer Center.Early warning signs of ovarian cancer.
El-Gharib MN.Ovarian remnant syndrome.Online J Gynecol Obstet Matern Care. 2020;3:1-2.
Sukkong K, Sananpanichkul P, Teerakidpisan P, Bhamarapravatana K, Suwannarurk K.High rate of gangrenous adnexal torsion: dilemma of a missing silent cancer.Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2016;17(11):4981-4984. doi:10.22034/APJCP.2016.17.11.4981
Yale Medicine.Ovarian torsion.
Imai A, Matsunami K, Takagi H, Ichigo S.Malignant neoplasia arising from ovarian remnants following bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (Review).Oncol Lett.2014;8(1):3-6. doi:10.3892/ol.2014.2089
Lax Y, Singh A.Referred abdominal pain.Pediatr Rev. 2020;41(8):430-433. doi:10.1542/pir.2019-0221
Gunaydin C, Bilge SS.Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at the molecular level.Eurasian J Med.2018;50(2):116-121. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2018.0010
Doubeni CA, Doubeni AR, Myers AE.Diagnosis and management of ovarian cancer.Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(11):937-944.
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.Frequently asked questions: dysmenorrhea.
Kruska PS, Kruszka SJ.Evaluation of acute pelvic pain in women.Am Fam Physician. 2010;82(2):141-47.
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