Menopause is a natural transition in a woman's life when her periods stop permanently and she can no longer become pregnant naturally. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause. During this transition, many women experience symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, and even mood changes.
Can menopause itself cause ovarian pain?
- Once a woman reaches menopause, her ovaries stop releasing eggs every month and producing most of their hormones like estrogen and progesterone. So the ovaries become inactive.
- Since the ovaries are no longer active during menopause, menopause itself does not usually cause ovarian pain directly. Menopause leads to reduced estrogen which causes other uncomfortable symptoms, but cramping or ovarian pain is not a common symptom.
What causes ovarian pain during perimenopause and menopause?
Here are some common causes of pelvic pain and ovarian pain during the transition to menopause:
- Ovarian cysts: Fluid-filled sacs that develop on the ovaries are common during perimenopause. Most cysts go away without treatment, but some can twist or rupture causing intense ovarian pain.
- Endometriosis: This condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining starts growing outside the uterus can worsen with hormone fluctuations. It can lead to pelvic pain, painful periods, pain during sex etc.
- Adenomyosis: This condition causes the uterine lining to grow into the uterus muscle. It often causes intense cramping and heavy painful periods.
- Fibroids: Non-cancerous tumours in the uterus often grow larger with estrogen fluctuations. While many do not cause symptoms, some cause heavy and painful periods.
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Fluctuating estrogen causes muscles and tissue in the pelvic area to weaken. This can cause pain symptoms like sexual dysfunction, painful urination, constipation etc. Physical therapy helps treat it.
The bottom line is that while menopause itself does not directly cause ovarian pain, many conditions that cause ovary and pelvic pain tend to occur or get exacerbated during the transition to menopause because of hormone fluctuations.
Managing Ovarian Pain
Here are some tips to manage painful symptoms that show up as you transition to menopause:
- Track your cycles and symptoms: Notice if you have regular or irregular cycles, if periods change in heaviness and duration, and when in your cycle you have more pain. Share the details with your doctor.
- Try an over-the-counter pain medication: For mild or occasional pelvic pain, an OTC pain reliever like ibuprofen may help
- Use hot or cold therapy: Heating pads or hot water bags can relieve cramping and pain. Some women also find chilled packs helpful.
- Explore hormone therapy: Low-dose birth control pills, progesterone creams, vaginal estrogen and other hormone treatments can treat conditions causing pain. Discuss options with a menopause specialist or gynecologist.
- Consider physical therapy: Pelvic floor physical therapy with muscle relaxation techniques can often effectively treat pain from pelvic floor dysfunction.
- Get regular pelvic scans/exams: Getting regular pelvic ultrasounds and gynecological exams helps diagnose issues early before they get too painful.
*At
Revive Hormone Clinic, our menopause specialists can accurately diagnose what's causing your pain based on lab tests, scans and a detailed history. We customise complementary medicines, bioidentical hormones, nutrition plans and targeted treatment options to optimise your wellbeing during perimenopause and menopause. Contact us today to learn about science-based solutions personalised for your menopause transition.*
I hope this answers the key question on whether menopause itself can directly cause ovarian pain. While it does not, many associated reproductive health conditions can worsen during this transition and cause cramping or ovary pain symptoms. Tracking your cycles, managing pain, getting proper diagnoses through regular pelvic exams and ultrasounds, and exploring suitable treatment options can help manage painful symptoms during this transition. Expert guidance tailored to your needs also makes a significant difference.
