Why do my ovaries hurt when I sneeze?
Introduction
Ovaries are the female gonads, the main female reproductive organs.
The size of the ovaries changes depending on the woman’s age.
For instance, they shrink after menopause and are larger during the reproductive phase.
Ovaries are located at the ends of the uterine tubes.
The ovaries also secrete the hormones required for the healthy development of the female body in her fertile years.
Some women experience a sharp or stabbing pain in the ovaries when coughing or sneezing. Also, the pain may be felt in right, left or both ovaries.
12 Causes Of Sharp or Stabbing Pain In Ovaries When Coughing or Sneezing:
1. Round Ligament Pain
Round ligament pain refers to a type of cramping that is caused by stretching of the round ligaments.
The pain is a sharp, jabbing pain on one or both sides of your abdomen.
The round ligaments connect from the front part down into the groin region, and support and surround your uterus.
The condition is common during pregnancy, and you are likely to first notice it during the 2nd trimester. Sneezing, coughing, quick movements, or laughing may also trigger shooting pains.
2. Appendicitis
It is a medical emergency that occurs when your appendix becomes swollen, sore, and diseased.
The appendix is a thin, finger-shaped tube that is joined to the large intestine.
Symptoms of acute appendicitis include:
- abdominal swelling or bloating;
- vague tenderness or discomfort near the navel, migrating to the right lower quadrant of your abdomen;
- blood in the urine;
- sharp, persistent pain within a few hours;
- painful and/or frequent urination;
- pain which worsens with deep breathing, movement, sneezing, coughing, being touched, or walking;
- bad breath;
- coated tongue;
- constipation and inability to pass gas;
- loss of appetite;
- vomiting;
- low fever;
- nausea;
- abdominal swelling;
- rapid heartbeat.
3. Bowel Obstruction
A bowel obstruction means there is a blockage in the bowel.
Obstruction of the bowel may be due to:
- ileus – it is a temporary arrest of intestinal peristalsis;
- a mechanical cause, that means something is in the way.
The symptoms include:
- constipation;
- feeling bloated and full;
- vomiting large amounts;
- feeling sick;
- colicky tummy pain.
4. Ovarian Torsion (Adnexal Torsion)
It occurs when an ovary becomes twisted around the tissues that support it.
The following conditions make ovarian torsion more likely to occur:
- enlargement of the ovary;
- the use of hormones to trigger ovulation;
- pregnancy.
5. Bladder Infections
A bladder infection is a frequent condition, with up to 30 percent of women experiencing it at least once during their life.
Symptoms of a bladder infection may include the following:
- urinary incontinence (involuntary loss of urine);
- painful urination (dysuria);
- leaving urine in the bladder after urinating (incomplete voiding of urine);
- urinary frequency;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- pain around the pubic bone and pelvic area (bladder pain);
- hesitancy to void urine;
- sudden, compelling urge to urinate (urinary urgency).
6. Diverticulitis
Diverticulosis is the simple presence of diverticula, the small pouches or bulges that can form anywhere in the colon.
About 10 to 25% of individuals with diverticulosis will go on to develop diverticulitis.
Also, an estimated fifty percent of Americans are thought to have the condition by the age of 50 years.
The symptoms tend to be more serious and include:
- frequent bowel movements;
- a high temperature of 100.4F (38C) or above;
- severe abdominal pain, particularly on the left side.
7. Ovarian Cancer
Most ovarian cancer cases start in the cells that line the ovaries, fallopian tubes (also known as uterine tubes), and other organs.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 75 women will develop ovarian cancer.
In the United States, ovarian cancer represents 1.3% of all new cancer cases, according to the National Cancer Institute. Worldwide, it affects a quarter of a million women each year.
The most common symptoms of women with ovarian cancer include:
- irregular periods;
- bloating;
- pain during sex;
- pelvic or belly pain;
- fatigue;
- trouble eating;
- upset stomach;
- urinary urgency.
Note – ovarian cancer symptoms either mimic common digestive and stomach issues that are often mistaken for minor ailments or aren’t apparent in the early stages of the disease.
Risk factors include:
- being diagnosed with endometriosis;
- are past middle age;
- being diagnosed with uterine, breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer;
- never given birth;
- a mutation in the breast cancer-related BRCA2 or BRCA1 genes;
- being of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry (the Jews who lived in Eastern and Central Europe);
- having a family history of ovarian cancer.
8. Endometriosis
It is a condition where the tissue that lines the womb is found outside the womb. The condition affects about 11% of American women. Worldwide, endometriosis affects around 181 million women.
The symptoms of endometriosis include the following:
- lethargy;
- painful periods;
- premenstrual symptoms;
- pain with sex;
- nausea;
- reduced fertility;
- pain when passing urine;
- pain in the thighs and lower back;
- ovulation pain;
- pelvic pain.
Possible factors which may have a role in causing endometriosis include:
- regular alcohol use;
- retrograde menstruation;
- low body weight;
- metaplasia;
- changes in the immune cells;
- having the first pregnancy at an older age;
- regularly having less than 27 days between periods;
- having the first period before 11 years of age since it prolongs your exposure to endogenous estrogen;
- periods that last longer than 4 days;
- heavy bleeding during periods.
Notes – it can take up to 10 years for women to be diagnosed with endometriosis. Pregnancy may relieve symptoms, however, it is not a cure for the disease.
9. Peritonitis
It is an infection of the inner lining of the tummy. Symptoms include:
- cloudy fluid from the dialysis;
- raised temperature;
- abdominal pain.
Peritonitis most commonly happens because of things like:
- cirrhosis (a disease in which liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue);
- a burst stomach ulcer;
- pelvic inflammatory disease;
- a burst appendix;
- injury to the stomach;
- diverticulitis;
- surgery;
- pancreatitis;
- Crohn’s disease.
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10. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
It refers to infection and inflammation of the fallopian tubes, uterus, and/or ovaries in women.
Symptoms include:
- vomiting;
- abnormal vaginal bleeding;
- nausea;
- pain in your lower abdomen;
- chills;
- pain when urinating;
- unusual discharge from the vagina;
- pain during sex.
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11. Ovarian Cysts
They are fluid-filled sacs in the ovary. Symptoms can appear as the cyst grows and may include:
- vomiting;
- abdominal swelling or bloating;
- nausea;
- painful bowel movements;
- breast tenderness;
- pain in the lower back;
- painful intercourse;
- pelvic pain before the menstrual cycle.
Important note – postmenopausal women with ovarian cysts are at higher risk for ovarian cancer.
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12. Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy grows outside the main cavity of the uterus and occurs when a fertilized egg implants. The key signs of an ectopic pregnancy are:
- vaginal bleeding;
- pelvic or belly pain that can develop suddenly or gradually.
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy commonly develop between the 4th and 12th week of pregnancy. Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include previous ectopic conditions and pregnancies.
Sources https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2703354 https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/12/e013299