Pain of the left ovary

Introduction

Many women suffer at least once in their lives from pain in the area of the ovaries. The pain in the ovary can occur on the right or left side. In most cases, the affected women immediately suspect a gynaecological problem.

But in fact, pain that occurs in the area of the left ovary can also originate from other organ systems. If you suffer from pain in the area of the right ovary, you will find more information under Pain in the right ovary. Especially diseases of the colon or rectum can cause corresponding symptoms.

In addition, if you suffer from pain in the left ovary, you must bear in mind that it may well be a complaint without any disease value. During the normal menstrual cycle, especially women of childbearing age may experience pain in the area of the ovaries. If the pain occurs between approximately the 12th and 14th day of the cycle, the symptoms can in many cases be related to ovulation.

Nevertheless, diseases of the ovaries are one of the most common causes of ovarian pain. For this reason, women who suffer from persistent symptoms should urgently consult a specialist as soon as possible. In case of severe pain at the weekend or on holidays, a medical emergency service or emergency room should even be consulted. There, various diagnostic methods can be used to determine whether the pain can be traced back to a gynecological disorder or whether the problem is in the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes

The causes of pain on the left side of the ovary can be many and varied. Usually, the affected women first assume that pain on the left side of the ovary must be caused by a gynecological disease. In fact, gynecological diseases are among the most common causes for the development of pain in the area of the ovaries.

In addition, however, it should always be clarified whether there is another reason for the symptoms. Irregularities in the area of the gastrointestinal tract, especially diseases of the colon or rectum, can also cause pain on the left side of the ovary. Furthermore, the symptoms can often be traced back to ordinary, completely harmless cycle-related causes.

  • In women who suffer from pain in the ovaries between the 12th and 14th day of the menstrual cycle, this may simply be an indication that ovulation has occurred. In this context, it should be noted that there are pronounced hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. The increase in various female sex hormones ensures that one egg can mature in an ovary per cycle.

    Approximately from the 10th day of the menstrual cycle onwards, the so-called luteinizing hormone (LH for short) increases and induces ovulation around the 14th day of the cycle. In some women, this process causes the so-called “Mittelschmerz” on the left or right side of the ovary.

  • In addition, pain on the left or right side of the ovary can be caused by slight contractions of the uterine muscles even towards the end of the normal menstrual cycle. In these cases, however, the pain on the left or right side of the ovary is usually less intense.
  • In the case of severe pain in the left ovary, which increases in intensity as it progresses, inflammatory processes should be urgently ruled out.

    The so-called “pelvic inflammatory disease” (inflammation of the ovaries) is one of the most common gynecological causes for the development of pain in the left ovary. Inflammation in the area of the ovaries is typically caused by pathogens that enter the organism through the vagina and ascend to the fallopian tube via the uterus. Affected patients usually show a pressure pain in the area of the inflamed ovary.

  • Another common cause of pain in the left ovary is the so-called “endometriosis“.

    The term endometriosis refers to proliferations of uterine tissue that are deposited in the abdominal cavity. Since these tissue growths also go through the normal menstrual cycle outside the uterus, affected women may experience severe, cramp-like pain on the right or left side of the ovary.

  • Ovarian cancer is classically painless and does not cause pain on the left side of the ovary. Ovarian tumors are typically completely asymptomatic in the early stages.Most cancers of the ovary are only noticed by patients when the circumference of their abdomen increases in advanced stages.

    For this reason, it can be assumed that an ovarian carcinoma that causes pain in the left ovary has already infiltrated nerve fibers.

  • In addition to inflammatory diseases of the ovaries, benign hormone-related ovarian cysts can also cause pain on the left side. A cyst is an unnatural cavity in the tissue filled with fluid. A cyst in the area of the left or right ovary can grow to less than several centimeters in size and thus exert pressure on the ovary.

    These cysts can burst spontaneously (rupture) and cause severe pain in the area of the left ovary.

  • In young, athletic women in particular, a fast, unfavorable movement can also cause such a cyst to twist on its suspension. In these cases, one speaks of a so-called pedunculated ovarian cyst. The affected women experience sudden, severe pain in the ovary on the right or left side.

    A pedunculated ovarian cyst is a gynaecological emergency that requires immediate medical treatment, as the blood supply to the ovary may be interrupted and in the worst case the ovary may die.

  • In addition, blockage of the supplying veins of the ovary by a blood clot can lead to severe pain on the right or left side of the ovary in the affected women. In this context, one speaks of a so-called “ovarian vein thrombosis“. It often occurs after birth in the postpartum period.

    Due to the lack of blood supply, the affected ovary can suffer permanent damage within a very short time. Ovarian venous thrombosis is found much more frequently in the area of the right ovary. A thrombosis that leads to pain on the left side of the ovary, however, is comparatively rare.

  • Furthermore, an ectopic pregnancy can also cause pain in the left ovary.

    In this case, the fertilised egg does not nestle in the uterus, but adheres to the fallopian tube. As the developing child grows, an inflammation of the fallopian tube occurs with the risk of rupture. The complications of an ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening, which is why a pregnancy test should always be performed if there is severe pain in the left ovary.