Right ovary really hurts during period

[Hidingtonothing]

This started about a year ago and I'm just wondering if anyone's had anything similar? Every month during my period I was having severe pain in my lower right abdomen, I'm pretty sure from the position it is exactly where my ovary would be. GP referred me for a scan which showed nothing.

It stopped happening then for a few months but has flared back up during my last two periods. The pain isn't constant and does respond to painkillers but its excruciating when it starts til they kick in, I'm not usually a wimp but it's enough to double me over.

Obviously I'm going back to the GP but suppose I'm just hoping someone might recognise the symptoms so I have some idea what it could be. I do get the odd twinge of the same pain but milder at other times of the month but not frequently and nowhere near this bad. I'm 44, had one DC, am not using any hormonal contraception and am definitely not pregnant in case that's relevant

I was thinking cyst but surely that would've shown on the scan? Could it be a cyst that's swelling due to hormone changes during my period and then sort of deflating afterwards and that's why they didn't see it? Any other ideas?

[OhLookHeKickedTheBall]

Is it possibly functional cysts? They're meant to go down throughout your period so may not show if scanned at the wrong time. I'm probably not explaining well but I've suffered from them in the past and that's how they were explained to me!

[MoMandaS]

I wonder if it could actually be digestive system related - e.g. diverticulitis? - and exacerbated by certain hormones. My digestive system goes haywire on my period.

[Hidingtonothing]

Mine too Mo, I have IBS and periods definitely make it worse (buscopan is my best friend ) but this really doesn't feel digestive. It's absolutely pinpointed in one spot, exactly where my right ovary would be, I do get actual ovulation pain sometimes too (that can be either side and is always approx 2 weeks before period so pretty sure that's what it is) and the position of the pain is identical. It doesn't feel the same as period or ovulation pain, more sharp and searing than crampy, but it does leave me with that sort of pelvic ache/dragging feeling afterwards which I always associate with gynae stuff rather than stomach.

That sounds like what I was thinking of with the cysts OhLook but I didn't have a name for it! Thanks, off to do some research

[Mentounasc]

Unfortunately that's a classic symptom of endometriosis too, but could well be a cyst.

[weediva]

I have endometriosis and this sounds like the pains I get. Sometimes when walking it can be a stabbing pain that shoots all way through and almost feels like it goes down my leg. I'm sure only a laparoscopy or similar can detect this rather than just a scan x

[AllFourOfThem]

Another vote for endometriosis being a likely culprit.

[Hidingtonothing]

I did think about endometriosis but I don't have any of the other listed symptoms. Periods are regular and fairly light and short, I do get a bit of crampy pain on day 1 but otherwise not painful, no pain or bleeding during sex and no bleeding between periods. Is that still something I should ask the doctor about or is it less likely without other symptoms?