Ovarian pain: when the ovary hurts. Everything you need to know
Although it may be very common to coin the term of ovarian pain as such, the reality is that, originally, there really is no ovarian pain mainly because of a basic question: they are organs that have no sensitivity. That is, the ovaries do not cause pain.
However, obviously, that does not mean that other complications that are related to the woman's reproductive system can cause that pain.
In this sense, as indicated by many specialists, the ovarian pain It can be caused different conditions, diseases and disorders, ranging from cysts to tumors, going through other more common issues such as menstruation or dysmenorrhea.
Symptoms of ovarian pain
Generally the ovarian pain It is identified as such because it tends to hurt the lower region of the abdomen (just below the region of the umbilicus) and the pelvis.
This pain can be temporary, acute or chronic depending on its cause, although it is usually that if it is temporary or acute, it tends to disappear in a short space of time.
With regard to chronic pain, it can appear gradually and much more slowly, lasting from weeks to several months.
Causes of ovarian pain
As we explained earlier, the ovarian pain It does not exist as such, so it is necessary - and essential - to go quickly to a gynecologist, general practitioner or obstetrician to help us identify what is the cause.
Menstruation or rule
There's no doubt the pain caused by menstruation tends to be one of the most common complaints in gynecology, when in fact becoming the most common pain.
But why does the pain arise with each menstruation, each time the monthly rule arrives? The cause must be found in the prostaglandins, which consist of a set of substances that cause contractions of the uterine musculature.
Although feeling some pain and discomfort during the period is something completely normal (especially slight cramps or having the sensation of dull pain), when the menstruation is so painful that it needs or requires medical treatment, it is known by the name of dysmenorrhea.
Dysmenorrhea (very painful menstruation)
Another common cause of ovarian pain is found in the dysmenorrhea. Or, which is the same, the appearance of excessive or very strong pain during menstruation or menstruation.
I mean, it's a painful menstruation which is estimated to affect about half of women at some point in their lives. It is a type of pain that affects the quality of life of the woman, preventing her from carrying out normal day-to-day activity.
So, it is an ovarian pain that requires medical treatment, a treatment that must be personalized.
Dysmenorrhea usually arises towards the end of adolescence, with a more pronounced peak at 20 years of age, tending to diminish until disappearing little by little over the years. However, when dysmenorrhea appears after the third decade of life (around 30 years of age), the cause is always organic, with a primary underlying pathology that is causing it.
Annexitis
The annexitis is the term that is also medically known to the pelvic inflammatory disease(EIP), a condition that consists of the inflammation of both the ovaries and the fallopian tubes, annexes of the uterus.
The main causes that cause the appearance of the adnexitis are usually found in bacterial infections, especially gonococci (pathogens of gonorrhea), since viruses are usually less common.
Ectopic pregnancy
The ectopic pregnancy It consists of a pregnancy that develops outside the uterus (womb), being potentially life-threatening to the mother if it is not treated in time. Among the most common symptoms that usually appear include the presence of abnormal vaginal bleeding, back pain and back pain and absence of periods.
In addition, there may be intense pressure in the rectum, mild cramping on one side of the pelvis, and pain in the lower abdomen (or in the pelvic area).
Ovarian pain without menstruation
You will probably wonder if ovarian pain can appear even without having the period. And the truth is that it is absolutely normal, since ovarian pain without a rule appears after ovulation and not at the same time.
For this reason it is associated with pain in the kidneys, or with stomach pain, which means that in fact these discomforts would have other possible causes, such as a painful ovulation if the discomfort appears mid ovulation cycle .
You can know more about it in our article about Ovarian pain without a rule, where we learn a little more about ovarian pain without menstruation.
Why do ovaries hurt? Its main causes, to summarize
Between the causes of ovarian pain most common or habitual, we find the following:
- Painful ovulation and irregular menstruation (which is medically known as dysmenorrhea).
- Adnexitis: pelvic inflammatory disease caused by an ascending infection of the organism from the endocervix.
- Ectopic pregnancy: pregnancy that is implanted outside the uterine cavity, usually in the fallopian tubes.
- Endometriosis: when outside the uterine cavity there is presence of endometrial tissue.
- Cysts: usually due to rupture of the cyst.
There are also other Causes less frequent, although much more serious, as may be the case of a tumor.
Bibliography:
- Anil K Agarwal, Anju Agarwal. A Study of Dysmenorrhea During Menstruation in Adolescent Girls. Indian J Community Med. 2010 Jan; 35 (1): 159-164. doi: 10.4103 / 0970-0218.62586. Available at: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2888348/
- Ms. Allyson M. Westling, Dr. Frank F. Tu, Dr. James W. Griffith, Dr. Kevin M. Hellman. The association of dysmenorrhea with noncyclic pelvic pain accounting for psychological factors. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Nov; 209 (5): 422.e1-422.e10. doi: 10.1016 / j.ajog.2013.08.020. Available at: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4191839/
- Richard L. Sweet. Treatment of Acute Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2011; 2011: 561909. doi: 10.1155 / 2011/561909. Available at: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249632/
- Danielle M. Panelli, Catherine H. Phillips, Paula C. Brady. Incidence, diagnosis and management of tubal and nontubal ectopic pregnancies: a review. Fertil Res Pract. 2015; 1: 15. doi: 10.1186 / s40738-015-0008-z. Available at: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5424401/
