Pain in the left ovary in various life situations
Pain in the left ovary, which occurs before or during menstruation, is usually an uncomplicated menstrual problem. In most of the women concerned, it can be observed that the symptoms begin about one or two days before the start of menstruation and reach their maximum on the first day of the period. Pain in the left or right ovary may be related to ovulation (so-called Mittelschmerz).
In these cases, it can be observed that the pain in the ovary occurs approximately between the 12th and 14th day of the cycle. However, since many women have a menstrual cycle of more than 28 days, pain in the left or right ovary that is related to ovulation may occur much later. The direct cause of the pain is the bursting of the mature follicle.
Since an egg usually only matures in one ovary during a menstrual cycle, the pain in the ovary is typically always one-sided. During pregnancy, many women often feel a pull or push in the groin area. Some women who are pregnant may also experience pain in the left or right side of the ovary.
As these pains occur particularly frequently within the first weeks of pregnancy, they are considered the first indication that you are pregnant. The reason for the development of pain in the left or right ovary in these cases is the increase in pregnancy hormones. In women who have only been pregnant for a few weeks, these hormones induce stretching of the so-called maternal ligaments.
In addition, pain in the abdomen, especially in the area of the ovaries, is one of the typical symptoms of late pregnancy. In women who are already pregnant in the second or third trimester, these complaints are caused by the rapid growth of the unborn child. Since the uterus tends to shift slightly more to the right side in women who are pregnant, pain in the ovary can be observed more often on the right than on the left. In addition, women who are pregnant and suddenly experience severe pain in the left ovary may have a so-called ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a potentially life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical treatment.