The ovary hurts (pulls): causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen of women are experienced much more often than men. This is due to the peculiarities of the structure of the reproductive system, as well as to the cyclic function of the ovaries. Pain in the lower abdomen can occur in women not only due to pathological conditions, but also in the absence of health problems. In order to determine why the ovary pulls, it is necessary to undergo examination at the gynecologist. Such a problem can develop for many reasons. Drawing pains appear both during the period of ovulation and menstruation, and during pregnancy. In some cases, their occurrence is not associated with the hormonal cycle.

Why ovaries hurt: the reasons for women

Problems with female sexual health are a prerequisite for the development of infertility, chronic inflammatory and oncological diseases. Unfortunately, such pathologies are increasingly diagnosed in young and middle age. To avoid dangerous complications, you should visit a gynecologist if the first signs of ailment occur. However, such complaints as pulling the lower abdomen, the ovaries or the lumbar region, do not always indicate the development of a pathological condition. Sometimes these symptoms are normal manifestations of monthly hormonal changes. You should undergo a complete examination to find out why the ovaries are aching. The reasons for women are as follows:

1. Period of ovulation.
2. Premenstrual syndrome.
3. Inflammatory processes caused by hypothermia.
4. Painful menstruation.
5. Chronic inflammatory pathologies caused by specific pathogens (venereal infections).
6. Changes accompanying the period of pregnancy.
7. Hormonal pathologies - dysfunction of the ovaries, hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland.
8. Oncological diseases.
9. Benign neoplasms are cysts.
10. Acute surgical pathologies - ectopic pregnancy, ovarian apoplexy.

All these conditions can lead to the emergence of pain, so only a doctor can determine the cause of their occurrence.

Discomfort in the ovaries during ovulation

As you know, all women of childbearing age have their own individual menstrual cycle. It consists of 3 phases. In every period of the menstrual cycle, a woman can complain about pulling the ovaries. Ovulation is accompanied by painful sensations quite often. It is characterized by the release of the egg into the abdominal cavity. This process is accompanied by changes in the sex glands. The dominant follicle breaks when the egg leaves. Some women in this period have unexpressed traumatic pains in the right or left inguinal region. Unpleasant sensations arise on the side in which there was a rupture of the follicle. If the right ovary hurts, it means that the sexual cell ripens in it. Minor discomfort in the abdomen at the time of ovulation is normal. If the trailing pain is weak and lasts 1-2 days, then it is physiological.

Ovulation occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle. In addition to discomfort in the ovaries, it is accompanied by other signs. Among them - increased sexual desire, the allocation of transparent thick mucus from the vagina. Ovulation lasts only 1 day, during this period the probability of conceiving a child reaches a maximum.

Why pull the ovary before the menstrual period?

Painful pulling sensations can occur after ovulation. During this period, a large amount of the hormone - progesterone - is released. In the absence of pregnancy, the woman's body prepares for the rejection of the endometrium - menstruation. Women during this period often complain that pulls the left ovary (or right, depending on the localization of the dominant follicle). Sometimes unpleasant sensations testify to the onset of pregnancy. In this case, the drawing pains arise from the introduction of the fetal egg. If pregnancy does not occur, then discomfort occurs due to rupture of the follicle.

The ovary is the glandular organ of the female reproductive system, in which changes occur constantly. Pain can not only accompany ovulation, but also continue for several days after it. After all, the tissue of the gland undergoes physiological damage during the rupture of the follicle. Healing occurs in a short period of time and is not accompanied by severe pain.

If the discomfort continues for a long time, then you should consult a gynecologist. In addition, indications for consulting a doctor are pulling pains of high intensity, having a permanent character. They can indicate the occurrence of cystic formations, inflammatory process, the onset of ectopic pregnancy. All these pathologies require immediate treatment.

Drawing pain in the ovaries during pregnancy is normal

A condition in which one should particularly seriously monitor your health is pregnancy. Ovaries are being pulled by many women during this period. Most often, a similar symptom occurs at the beginning or end of pregnancy. In fact, the unpleasant sensations that a woman perceives for pain in the ovaries, are associated with the stretching of the ligament of the uterus. The fact is that during the carrying of the child there are significant changes in the entire body, including in the genitals. Often patients refer to a doctor with such a complaint as pulling the ovary before the menstrual period. In many women, a similar symptom indicates the development of pregnancy. Changes associated with the wearing of the child, are already in the first trimester. As the fetus grows, the ovaries begin to stretch upward. During pregnancy, they do not excrete estrogens, so in the absence of disease, the sex glands should not be felt.

In most cases, unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen are caused by sprain. They are located in the same place as the ovaries. For this reason, the pain is easily confused with the discomfort that occurs with adnexitis and other pathologies of the gonads. Despite this, there is a possibility that a woman actually pulls the ovary. During pregnancy, the development of such pathologies, as a cyst or inflammation of the appendages, is quite possible. Therefore, it is worth telling your doctor about every new symptom.

Pathological conditions in pregnancy

The pain in the appendages of pregnant women is quite dangerous. If the ovary pulls in the early stages, it is worth paying attention to the intensity of unpleasant sensations. A weakly expressed pain syndrome may indicate the implantation of an embryo into the uterine tissue. However, this discomfort quickly passes. If the pain lasts for several days or worsens, you should consult a doctor immediately.

One of the life-threatening conditions is ectopic pregnancy. This means that the fetus is attached to the tissues of the appendages. Most often, tubal pregnancy is diagnosed , but its development is also possible in ovarian tissue. The development of the embryo leads to the extension and rupture of the appendages. There are signs of pregnancy, such as an increase in the level of hCG in the urine, nausea, delay in menstruation and an increase in the uterus.

If the left ovary pulls for a long time, this may indicate adnexitis. The inflammatory process during pregnancy presents a particular danger, since it leads to complications. In addition, during the carrying of a child, many drugs are contraindicated. Pain in the left side of the abdomen can be observed with constipation due to stretching of the sigmoid colon.

Gynecological pathologies of the ovaries

Gynecological pathologies include acute and chronic salpingoophoritis, cystic formations in the ovaries, as well as sexually transmitted diseases. Most often, women develop inflammatory processes. They are caused by hypothermia, urinary tract infections, non-observance of personal hygiene rules, etc. If the right ovary hurts, adnexitis with inflammation of the appendix of the cecum (appendicitis) should be differentiated. Unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen with salpingoophoritis are accompanied by other symptoms. These include: increased body temperature, a violation of the menstrual cycle, the emergence of discharge from the vagina.

Unpleasant sensations in endocrine pathologies

In some cases, pulls the ovary due to hormonal disorders. Since the sex glands belong to the endocrine organs, their functioning depends on the pituitary gland. Hormonal failures can lead to a decrease in the production of estrogen in the ovaries. This, in turn, is fraught with infertility and the development of other pathological conditions.

Excessive allocation of female sex hormones is also harmful to the body. Hyperestrogenia is one of the main predisposing factors in the development of cancer processes in the cervix, endometrium and ovaries. In addition, hormonal failure can lead to breast cancer.

Drawing pain after medication procedures

Drawing pain in the ovaries is observed for several days after the drug manipulation. These include procedures such as in vitro fertilization, the removal of cystic formations, ligation of the fallopian tubes, etc. The recovery period after any surgical intervention on the appendages is accompanied by painful sensations. Normally this lasts for 2-3 days. In this case, there should be no marked increase in temperature and other inflammatory symptoms. One of the stages of IVF procedure is the transfer of embryos into the uterine cavity. This process is accompanied by a hormonal reaction from the ovaries. Therefore, small pulling pains are considered the norm in this case.

Symptoms for ovarian pathologies

One of the main criteria by which physiological pain can be distinguished from pathological ones is the presence of concomitant symptoms. Discomfort, observed in normal, is not accompanied by other signs of pathology. If there are other symptoms besides pulling pains, you should contact the gynecologist as soon as possible. The manifestations of diseases of the female reproductive system include:

1. Increased temperature and general weakness.
2. Violation of the menstrual cycle.
3. Strengthening of pain during sexual intercourse, physical activity.
4. The appearance of discharge from the vagina of unusual color and with an unpleasant odor.
5. Pain when urinating.

If you have these symptoms, you should go to the gynecologist. In some cases, consultation with other specialists - infectious disease specialist, nephrologist, endocrinologist, oncologist.

Complications of gynecological pathologies

If the ovary pulls for a long time, complications can develop. Among them - infertility, the development of cancer, acute surgical diseases. Indications for emergency care are: severe pain in the ovary, tension of abdominal muscles and fever. This condition is called "a sharp abdomen in gynecology." It occurs when apoplexy of the ovary due to rupture of the cyst or ectopic pregnancy, torsion of the foot of the tumor with a violation of the blood supply of the gonads.

Diagnosis of ovarian diseases

The main diagnostic method is ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs. With it, you can visualize changes in the size and structure of the ovaries, abnormalities from the follicles. Before performing ultrasound, the doctor examines complaints and anamnesis, and performs a gynecological examination. In some cases, other diagnostic methods are required - hysterosalpingography, organ biopsy.

Help with traumatic pain in the ovary

Treatment for the occurrence of pulling pain in the ovary depends on the cause of their appearance. To temporarily get rid of discomfort, prescribe antispasmodics. These include preparations "No-shpa" and "Drotaverin." Ovarian cysts are an indication for hormonal therapy. Apply oral contraceptive means "Jess", "Janine", etc. For large cysts or hyperplastic processes need surgical treatment. Adnexitis serves as an indication for the prescription of antibiotics and antimicrobial agents. Preference is given to the drug "Metronidazole".

Prevention of gynecological pathologies

To prevent the development of ovarian diseases, you should see a doctor immediately after the onset of pain. For the prevention of inflammatory and infectious processes, you should follow the rules of hygiene, use barrier contraceptives for casual sexual intercourse, do not undergo supercooling.