Causes and Symptoms of Ovarian Pain
Various conditions associated with ovarian pain include ovarian cysts, benign and cancerous ovarian tumors, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory diseases, ovarian remnant syndrome, and Mittelschmerz.
Causes of Ovarian Pain include:
Ovarian cysts: Ovarian cysts are small accumulations of fluids that arise in the ovaries. Quite often, they do not cause symptoms and may resolve without any treatment and even without the patient being aware of their presence. In others, they may cause pain around the beginning or end of the menstrual period, or are associated with intercourse or bowel movements. Severe pain may be felt if the cyst twists or ruptures.
Other symptoms associated with ovarian cysts include irregular menstrual periods, nausea and vomiting associated with the pain, bloating and frequent urination. Patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (multiple cysts in the ovaries) also show other features like infertility, irregular menstruation, excessive hair growth, weight gain and acne due to hormonal changes.
Ovarian Tumors
Tumors of ovary may be benign or cancerous, that is, they have the potential to spread to other parts. Both can cause ovarian pain. In addition, they may cause symptoms like abdominal bloating. Pressure on the urinary bladder can cause a desire to urinate urgently. Cancers are also associated with unintentional weight loss and loss of appetite.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the internal reproductive organs. It is often caused by the internal spread of sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea or chlamydia.
A woman with PID usually has foul smelling vaginal discharge, which indicates the presence of an infection. The pain may arise with sexual intercourse and may be associated with vomiting. Other features of PID may include fever, problems with urinating and irregular menses.
Ovarian Remnant Syndrome
Pain that follows the surgical removal of the ovaries could be due to a condition called ovarian remnant syndrome. This occurs due to incomplete removal of the ovaries, which may result in the formation of ovarian cysts. The patient gives a history of prior surgery on the ovaries, which helps to clinch the diagnosis.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where the tissues that line the inner surface of the uterus are also located in parts outside the inner lining. If the tissues are located in the ovary, it result in ovarian pain during periods. The pain may also occur during intercourse. In addition, the patient may suffer heavy menstrual periods or infertility.
Mittelschmerz
The ovaries normally release an egg around the middle of the menstrual cycle. This process sometimes causes pain in some women. The timing of this pain can be used to diagnose the condition.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy where the fetus is located outside the uterus. It may result in severe ovarian pain in pregnancy.
