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So, I recently went to the doctor for shot, check-up, and a few other things. At the end of the appointment I mentioned that I've been having this tender soreness just on the inside of my right hip, in my pelvic region. The doctor checked my lymph node there, determined it was not swollen, and said it was probably intestinal discomfort. It was already a long appointment, so I scooted out of there, but on my way home I realized that I had not received a satisfactory answer and intestinal discomfort was a totally inaccurate explanation.

The soreness feels "deep" (not right at the surface), and is inside my hip/pelvis. It is around where I imagine an ovary would be, but I guess it could be something else. It is kind of this steady, persistent soreness that is not at all sharp. The reason I have ovaries on the brain is lately my typical PMS symptoms have been extending much longer before my period, to the point where it is close to 2 1/2 weeks of PMS before some residual discomfort during a 6 day period. It is only on the right side of my body though, which I find odd.

Is this even possible, or am I making this up in my head? Can you "feel" things like ovaries or other organs being sore? Should I head on back over to the doctor? Has anyone experienced a kind of "soreness" like this?

Update:

Since I posted this I've had 3 weeks per month of killer PMS-like symptoms. Pelvic pain for a long time with a crescendo of crippling back pain, pounding in my ovaries (particularly the right one), unusual bowel movements, swollen painful breasts, migraines (focused behind my left eye), exhaustion, pain during sex (no kidding, haha), and wild emotions (crying in totally normal situations). Shortly after this post I went to the emerg because I was vomiting from the pain, and they did very thorough ultrasounds and didn't find anything. Since that, I've seen three doctors in clinics and cried my symptoms at them. I am booked for another ultrasound this Thursday and will use the results of that to get me into an OBGYN appt. the one doc says I fit the bill for endometriosis, so that's the main thing they are investigating.

Not sure how this is going to play out, but right now it is Rough. Any ideas on how I can take the edge off this pain and discomfort in the meantime??? It's really interrupting my whole life. Currently treating with hot water packs, ice packs for migraines, some turmeric pills, and the occasional shot of liquor.

*Yet another Update****

Bought "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" and it has been an enormous help for recognizing my cycles. I would recommend it to anyone having hormonal issues. I'm still getting crazy pain, and have had to go to part time this semester for school because I just can't keep up with everything, but when I DO get an appointment with a specialist I will have awesome well-recorded charts to show them!

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Never had one, but sounds like some descriptions of ovarian cysts. Worth double-checking with an ultra-sound. Could be an indicator of estrogen dominance/other hormonal imbalance that is contributing to your PMS. – Dragonfly Apr 14 2012 at 0:34
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Love the WTF tag. – Marcy Apr 14 2012 at 0:40
Cancer? Get a second opinion. Don't mess around with general internal discomfort. – Matt Apr 14 2012 at 14:12
Matt cuts straight to the point. Second opinion, coming right up! – JeJ Apr 14 2012 at 18:51
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"Taking Charge of Your Fertility" should be given to every girl as a coming of age present. Actually I might start doing that from now on. – Grottenolm Sep 8 at 21:32
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19 Answers

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It's likely that it's ovulation pain or cysts or both. I get the same type of pain. Usually the cysts go away after a while but I'd get an ultrasound just to make sure the cysts are not twisting the ovary or causing any issues. I had a tumor on my ovary and ended up losing one of them. Not fun !

I'm struggling with some unexplained infertility right now so I strongly belive that all women should look for answers and focus on their bodies even when they are not trying to get pregnant. There are some basic tests that can help determine that everything is ok. You should talk to your doctor and try to be proactive.

As far as things you can do on you own. I'd recommend making sure you get plenty of vit. B, vit. D, fish oil, and plenty of folic acid. I'm also looking into DHEA but haven't tried it yet.

Clean diet, yoga and lots of water helped me a lot too!

Hang in there!

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Hm, ovulation pain, maybe that's related. I mean, it is two weeks after my last period so that timing is pretty on par. But it's always just on the right side, and sometimes it lasts for longer than a full cycle. Sounds like cysts are definitely the thing I should be checking for though! – JeJ Apr 14 2012 at 3:20
Hey Jenny, I also tend to get it mostly on the right side. Since only one ovary (hypothetically) is doing the work each cycle, it would explain that only one side hurts when the pain is related to ovulation. As to why one side is worse than the other, I have no idea. I have always noticed that every other period is worse for me. I am guessing that right side ovary is the troublemaker. Seriously though, worth getting checked out for the reasons Kasia cites. – Marcy Apr 14 2012 at 16:56
Yeah, I wonder if it's normal to ovulate from the same ovary for multiple cycles in a row? Or do they alternate? I feel like I should know this by this point of my life... – JeJ Apr 14 2012 at 21:25
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I know, me too! I am embarrassed how much I don't know about my own equipment. I think that the ovaries alternate every month (of course I am sure that is different for some folks). I wish health class would have been less scare tactics about herpes and more about teaching us about how my lady parts work. – Marcy Apr 14 2012 at 22:03
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Yeah, this is all kind of fascinating. The main point behind this question was to find out if you can even FEEL your ovaries- after years of menstruating I didn't know if it was possible! Just shows you how important being in touch with your body is. Hopefully this awareness will prevent me from a surprise appearance on "I didn't know I was pregnant" or the like in the future ;) – JeJ Apr 15 2012 at 0:25
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I have experienced something similar. Mid-cycle, it feels like I have a little ball of tenderness where I guess my ovaries are. I can touch that area around my pelvis and I can feel the "ball" protruding. Sometimes it is so sore that every step I take while walking makes it hurt. I have asked doctors about this since I was a teenager and none have seemed concerned. I have been told it is ovarian cysts. While I was on birth control, it mostly went away. I have been off it for the last four months and the only time I noticed it again was the week after I had eaten poorly (pretty recently). That speaks to the awesomeness of this diet because before I had it every single month when I wasn't on birth control and since eating this way I've only had it once.

That all being said, if I were you I would get it checked out again. It sounds like your cycle is getting wacky and any sudden onset of a new symptom is worth attention. And if you find out what it is, do you mind posting an update? Good luck to you, Jenny.

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I have no physical "ball" or anything that my doc could feel when he did a pelvic exam- also this pain was happening when I was both on and off the pill. You still getting this pain? They couldn't see a cyst in my last ultra sound, said everything looked healthy and good, but it also sounds like cysts come and go, so I may just not have had one at that time. I would think that a cyst would be the other main possibility outside of endo. – JeJ Aug 7 at 20:25
I haven't had it for the last few months... I've told every gynecologist I've ever been to about it but none have ever been concerned or followed up with it (though this could be because it has always been at the poor kid clinics). I'll update if I ever get an answer. – Marcy Aug 9 at 13:40
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Oh gosh, yes, you might feel your ovaries. Could be any of the things everyone else has listed, and here's my contribution - it could be an endometriosis symptom. Endo is super common and lots of women have it and don't know it. And some of us can't help but curse it on a daily basis. Anyway, it can produce all kinds of symptoms, including pain from localized inflammation.

Another thought- if you're in an area with a pelvic/abdominal massage therapist, they are REALLY tuned in to this sort of thing. The lady I see is amazing and she's shown me a couple times how what I thought was endo pain was actually a valve in my gut malfunctioning. That valve responds really well to gentle massage, just by me. And she can palpate my gut and tell me what is where and why it feels that way a lot better than any doc I've ever seen - she's just coming at it a very different way.

Talk to a good, young, modern gyn? It's totally worth learning to listen to your body, if only for having a good baseline.

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Well, the massage therapist sounds really cool! Also, it's good to know that you can actually feel your ovaries though- makes me feel less like I'm imagining things! My mom has a really good OB/GYN who is a family friend, so I think I'll try and get an in there! – JeJ Apr 14 2012 at 18:50
The massage therapist IS cool. I found her very comforting and validating - I've had chronic pelvic pain for years, and it blew my mind to have someone actually feel my belly and notice ouchy spots or scar tissue from my exterior-- and I've had multiple surgeries on that stuff, and they sure don't go by external feel. But both the surgeon and the massage gal pick up on the same 2 things. – syrahna Apr 15 2012 at 5:57
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Cysts are linked with iodine deficiency.Other symptoms are cramps, low blood pressure, constipation etc. Ultrasound should be done, i have a cyst, that first wasnt discovered, but now it has gone so big, need surgery.They can be in unusual places aswell.

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Huh, that is interesting. I have cramps for longer, the PMS that come before I should have PMS, and my BP is normally low. No constipation though. Is it a good idea to use an iodine supplement, or should I be eating more iodized salt/seaweed? – JeJ Apr 14 2012 at 21:27
Actually i have no idea :D i bought the salt.Seaweed, fish- all rich in iodine but chemicals aswell..Yoghurt and eggs were rich aswell. I don't know what to think about supplements, but you can give it a shot.My 6 cm cyst wont go away with iodine.Truly recommend ultrasound. Trouble with sleeping and low cognitive function were symptoms aswell i remember now. And birth control is usually prescribed. I don't know if you are on them or not. I guess endometriosis, cysts, those are linked with theories that they develope due to the fact that we are not pregnant, as nature has intended. – Lily Apr 16 2012 at 19:03
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I get that, on my right side as well. It is just ovary pain from a cyst which comes and goes during my cycle. It's a little on the painful side, gets worse when I sneeze. If I were you I would just call the doctors office and ask for a pelvic ultrasound. They should have no problem referring you. The truth is it happens due to hormones and most likely is benign. It could be something like PMS or even mittleshmertz.

Interesting that they should say intestinal because they found mine because my doctor thought my symptoms were likened to appendicitis so they sent me for an MRI, and that's what they found. They are apparently quite common but it is best to have them checked via ultrasound and then checked routinely.

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Yeah, he mentioned that it might be appendix related, but he thought that the fact that it wasn't sharp pain at all made it unlikely. But now I'm thinking that would be scary, so maybe I should look into that... – JeJ Apr 14 2012 at 3:18
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I have been having these twinges of dull pain ever since I can remember. They'll actually rotate sides each cycle. The only way I can explain it is, it feels like I'm laying eggs. :-) This pain let's me know I'm ovulating and that I'm right on schedule.

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It's called mittelschmertz, from German for "middle pain". Good job being so in tune with your body that you notice it! It'll come in handy when you're TTC and trying to stack the odds for one sex or the other ;) – LaurenM Apr 14 2012 at 19:57
Really? How does one up the odds? – bc4work Apr 14 2012 at 21:14
I read somewhere that most of the time you ovulate from the right hand side, less so on the left hand side. This has to do with the vascular structure around each ovary - something about the left hand side gets tangled with the kidneys and thus the odds of releasing an egg from that side lessens. – Grottenolm Aug 7 at 20:54
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I agree with Jen. I think it's great that so many here have shared their own experiences but in the end you really need to get checked out and find what's causing YOUR pain. As we see here it could be one of several things. I agree with you that the "answer" you got from your doctor is completely inadequate and that further investigation is more than warranted. A simple ultrasound of the pelvis will very likely find whatever is causing the problem.

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I had a similar tenderness in my lower right quadrant of my pelvic region, and an ultra sound determined that it was a swollen ileocecal valve (the valve between the small and large intestines). It went away after I removed gluten from my diet, like a month later, but if you are here, I would assume that you don't eat gluten. I don't think it is in your imagination to feel your ovaries, I feel a sensitivity to them when my gyno presses on them and at mid-cycle. I think an ultrasound might be a good idea, and perhaps a pelvic CT scan - but maybe just a new doctor would be helpful too. I think it is very important not to ignore things like this, and it is good that you are paying attention to this issue. Best wishes.

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Yeah, he was a French-speaking clinic doctor who was in a rush, and we were working on the language barrier! I'm going home in two weeks and can see my normal doctor! That's interesting about the ileocecal valve, I don't eat gluten but I wonder if that can be irritated by other things... – JeJ Apr 14 2012 at 14:12
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I had the same ileocecal valve thing - throught it was ovarian cysts for ages, went for pelvic ultrasound, nothing. What made it go away was being extra strict with gluten, nightshades, eggs for a bit - as well as some abdominal massage. – Grottenolm Aug 7 at 20:52
And cutting out all dairy – Grottenolm Aug 7 at 22:10
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It's possible, and when you feel something it's best not to ignore your body. I suggest seeing an OBGYN and explain your periods, PMS and any other changes you've noticed. It could very well be nothing at all, but better to check into it now. I can sometimes feel when I'm ovulating, and it is sort of a soreness... That said I'm not a doctor and cannot diagnose you.

Last year I felt a lump in my breast. It was so painful when pressure was applied that I changed the way I hugged people. (I did this weird sideways hug manoeuvre) I went to the doctor, who referred me to an OBGYN for referrals for scans/mammograms and an eventual biopsy. In the end it was not cancer, I was lucky. I can honestly tell you that the most stressful time was the period between discovering the lump and my first appointment.

Good luck, take care!

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Ps: trying to self diagnose can make you worry needlessly... There are probably 100 scary issues you'll find on the internet that list this as a symptom. Make that appointment if you can afford to/have coverage. There should at very least be free reproductive health clinics near you :) – Jen Apr 14 2012 at 0:45
Yeah, seriously, haha, I'm all worried I have cysts now! My body is rebelling! Why oh why! – JeJ Apr 14 2012 at 3:13
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Jenny--

In response to your update--the pain I was getting during ovulation is no way near what you describe. However, someone mentioned on this site once that she had bad mittel schmerz pain when she was taking fish oil. I had been noticing really bad pain mid-month, so I thought it'd be worth a try. I stopped the fish oil and the pain went away. Your issues seem to be much more serious than that, but perhaps looking at your supplements might be in order.

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Didn't read any anwers....

Right hip pelvic region could be appendix, kidney, bladder, reproductive or mechanical. A chiropractor will tell you if it is mechanical vs viceral.

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There is the famous mittel schmertz (literally - middle (of the cycle) paid which I would hope all parents would tell teenage daughters about at puberty - that some people feel when they ovulate. Plenty use it to work out ovulation or as one of the signs. That generally does not last more than a day however. Anything more and at other times and I would see your doctor again.

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I am having a similar situation. I woke up one morning to get the the farmers market early, without having had much sleep. My boyfriend and I had had sex hours before which, after noticing my symptom, seemed obvious to me to be the cause. I believe that may have also been the night we ate some sourdough bread after having been grain free for two weeks. When I woke up I immediately noticed a slightly sore enlarged node/lump in the crease of my right leg and hip, between my hip and vagina, if that makes sense. The only thing I thought of was it was an enlarged lymph node. It would have been exactly the time of my ovulation, but I've never experienced this before during ovulation. (I have experienced mittelschmertz though) Still I thought it may be related to ovulation. It feels slightly larger than a pea at the moment, I think it has reduced in size. It has been a week and a half since then. I decided I would go to the doctor if it didn't go away in two weeks.

Just now, I noticed the same thing on the left side, but a little higher up in the crease toward my hip. It is a sore lump. Areas on my inner right thigh are a bit tender as well. I have not been having sex or riding horses or anything of that nature. I hope it is not pregnancy. My boyfriend had testicular cancer, went through chemo and we use the pull out method so it is unlikely but always a tiny chance I guess. Maybe it is just some reaction my body is having as the whole right side of my body has been out of whack for almost a month now after I almost did a split in yoga class. The past few days I have had severe bloating and mild stomach pain and a bit of nausea but I think it was from eating too much. Today I was urinating frequently which is not usual for me. My period should be coming any day now, perhaps that is why my left side has developed a sore lump. But I have never experienced this before. I don't know if it is my ovaries, lymph, fallopian tubes, or what.

Of to the doctor I will soon go. But if anyone knows what I'm talking about, please let me know.

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Hm from what other people have said on here, sounds more like the cyst "ball" that has been described. Let us know how it goes! – JeJ Aug 7 at 20:29
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My doctor claimed the pain is due to my sensitivity to ovulation. "Some women can feel the change in the ovaries during the time of ovulation", she said.

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It's true that some women do get pain from ovulation, but if it's interrupting your life and causing you significant distress, make sure your doctor is not dismissing your concerns! – JeJ Sep 9 at 17:51
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i have a simiarl pain and am wonderin what it could be its on what i would guess to be my right ovary and its painful to the touch and feels like a small ball can anyone tell me what it is??? im really worried but dnt want to go to the hospital for no reason

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Pain and a palpable ball is not "no reason". It could be a simple ovarian cyst that's just a one time thing or it could be more. A visit to the OB/Gyn and getting an ultrasouns would not be out of the question. I occasionally used to get ovarian cysts but not often enough nor in great enough amounts to be called "polycystic ovarian syndrome. Nonetheless, the ones I got hurt and sometimes affected my menstrual cycle. The peace of mind of ultrasound and negative ovarian cancer test was worth it. – arugula Sep 25 at 10:44
Lot's of people get cysts, and they can be painful. Another possibility if you have had lots of pain/heavy cycles over a long time, could be that the ball you are feeling is actually a fibroid, but that would be more centered. Either way, heading to your GP/OB would probably be advisable. It's good to know what's going on. – JeJ Sep 25 at 14:30
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I am 38 and have noticed many changes in my cycles. the past 6 months 2 weeks before i have sore sore breasts and very emotional. My cycle only lasting 3 hard days now & have lots of cramping, i can barely walk. this is something i have never experienced. just this past week i have all the same lower right side symptoms, very sore/not sharp, lower right front & back pain, as i have read about kidney stones or appendicidus. i have avoided the doctor because they are not sharp pains. wonder if this could be a menapausal experience? will be having this checked out soon. going to monitor my cycle order & pain on my next cycle rotation.

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Hiya :-) so glad I found this page!! I get the same thing - sort of dull ache, twinges of pain in my lymph nodes under my arm and in my groin - its not constant and it comes and goes through out the months, my right side is actually aching right now but its also at the time of my cycle where im "ovulating" (so im sat here with my leg stretched out) it also feels a bit like a "bubble" sometimes when I walk - im over it all to be honest, I also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome AND Endometriosis - us ladies get all the fun don't we!!

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I'm guessing you have a ovarean cyst. I get so many that I'm considered to have ovarean chat syndrome. The reason the pain is on the right side is because the cyst is on the right overea. If your stomach is swollen at all then that's also another sign. Go back ti the doctor, ask for a urine test and a ultra sound. They often times will give you pain killers and sometimes anti inflammatory medication or if its bad enough they will remove it but eventually it should pop on its own if its not too severe or big. :)

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I have had many of the same symptoms....painful period to the point of vomiting...painful intercourse and lower pelvic pain. I went in for an ultrasound, and sure enough, I have 2 ovarian cysts. A holistic practitioner friend of mine suggested castor oil packs. If you google castor oil pack you will get a detailed description of how to do it. It is supposed to help the cyst slough off naturally and support the tissues and organs. Im only as week in, so not sure yet how well it works, but it feels really soothing to the area. I also think you should get checked out... But in the meantime castor oil cant hurt.

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