Painful ovulation - help!

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Hi all.

Been TTC for almost 3 years now with no luck. I've recently been referred via my GP to a fertility clinic for next steps.

Before this, I had day 21 bloods taken at the go surgery, and I asked at the time of them being taken if they would flag any issues such as endometriosis or PCOS. I was advised by the nurse that this would come up in the results if there was anything to worry about, and so when my results came back clear, I was really relieved.

Anyway, I had another GP appointment today with my usual doctor, and was explaining to her how much pain I'm in currently (in my ovulation window)

When I'm in / around ovulation, I get EXTREME crippling cramps in one side of my ovaries / lower abdomen, radiating across my pelvis. They're so awful I often feel like I'm going to split in half. When I sit and then stand again, I can barely stand up straight. It's crippling and lasts a LOT longer than the seconds / sometimes hours that others explain and experience during ovulation.

I mentioned this to my GP today, and she said 'oh, no. The bloods we took wouldn't show any issues in the PCOS / Endometriosis department' and that they would have to do an examination.

Anyway. I just wondered if what I'm experiencing sounds normal? I know I won't get medical advice as such on here, but I'm so worried I've got something more serious going on.

I'm in tears with the pain. 😭

Thanks in advance for any help!

Hi op sorry to sound cynical but welcome to the world of NHS care for women.

You need a blood test and scan to look for cyst on ovary.

Endometriosis can apparently only be properly pinned down with an actual test inside.

As an aside I would push for proper scans for endometriosis because it can turn onto cancer.

yes you need an internal ultrasound. I had what you describe but in the week leading up to my period when I would often black out from the sudden onset of pain often on the pavement. Whisked off to hospital only to be released a few hours later when the pain just as suddenly stopped. No further action was taken.

when I became pregnant an ovarian cyst was found which meant that one tube was not working and so I was only fertile every other month and the pregnancy was complicated. I needed an operation afterwards to remove the cyst.

I wish I had done something about it sooner rather than just pass it off as difficult periods.

good luck x

Thanks everyone for your help.

Gosh - I'm terrified! I didn't realise how serious it could become. I don't know what to do from here; as my GP said I wouldn't now get an appointment for an examination until Jan / Feb (so busy) and I'm terrified now of waiting that long.

The pain is honestly next level. I have less pain with my periods!

Hi OP, sorry you are getting conflicting advice/ opinions from medical professionals. As an above poster said, welcome to NHS women's care. It is so behind other areas it's just unbelievable at times.

So yes, you might have a cyst on your ovary by the sound of it. I wouldn't necessarily jump to PCOS. I have had a large and painful cyst in the past, but I don't have PCOS, so it didn't come up in blood tests.

Chances are that you are OK so please don't worry, most women get a cyst at some point in their life although yours does sound very painful. However, even benign cysts can be painful. Definitely get an ultrasound to investigate.

My GP said I wouldn't now get an appointment for an examination until Jan / Feb (so busy) and I'm terrified now of waiting that long

If the pain is really extreme you can push for this to be sooner, although they might just not have any appointments.

I find ibuprofen really helps with me. Just to reassure you as well if it is a cyst, it probably won't grow a lot between now and Jan - mine grew about a millimetre in 4 months which is nothing. It was pretty harmless even though it caused me a lot of pain.

Please try not to jump to the worst conclusion, I know it's hard though! xx

I get excruciating ovulation pains and I have "mild" endometriosis. The doctor explained to me it's so different and some who have mild endo can have lots of pain, whereas those with severe can feel nothing (and vice versa). It was diagnosed through a laparoscopy. As far as I'm aware, you can't diagnose endo through blood tests but I'm not an expert.
Can you go private for more tests? I'd maybe enquire at least because three years is quite a while now.

So sorry to be so useless here but I'm absolutely terrified! I don't know what to do, still in so much pain this morning, it's almost like my body seizes up if I've sat down for a while and when I go to stand, my body feels like it's going to split in half from my pelvis / hips. I'm so scared it's been such a long time with no diagnosis!

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mittelschmerz/symptoms-causes/syc-20375122

I also forgot to add - when the pain gets to its 'peak' as such, I get hot, clammy, feel sick and go very pale. I just wish I could wave a magic wand!!!

I had this kind of pain and it turned out to be ovarian cysts. It didn't affect my ability to later conceive. Worth investigating

Thanks all. I'm actually considering taking myself to A&E after work (if I can get through the day) as the pain is just terrible. When I go to stand up from my desk it's crippling and I can barely straighten myself out to walk!

Will they be able to do anything, do you think?

Phoned and spoken to GP reception just now, still in crippling pain.
They can't see me until 2nd week in January! 😔

They've also told me not to go to A&E since it isn't an emergency. I don't know what to do 😞

Really sorry. Are painkillers helping?

I'm so sorry OP :( The NHS is just so awful at the moment and usually through no fault of their own, they are so overstretched.

In your situaton I would go to A&E. They can give you stronger painkillers if nothing else.

Having said that, I wouldn't expect that A&E will know what is going on or be able to advise you as such. I once went in with OHSS (a fairly common complication of IVF) and I was extremely unwell - the doctor who saw me there hadn't even heard of it and had to look it up.

They sent me home with painkillers, told me to drink water and I just had to wait for an appointment with the fertility clinic.

So definitely do go, but with the hope of getting some better painkillers and then wait for the scan in January. If they are able to help more than that then it's a bonus.