What should you know about pain during sex in ovaries?

Deep pain may be felt on one side, across the lower abdomen, or behind the pubic bone. Endometriosis commonly presents with pain during sex and may occur with painful periods, pelvic aching, or bowel and bladder symptoms. An ovarian endometrioma is a cyst associated with endometriosis that may cause pelvic pain. Pelvic inflammatory disease can involve pain during sex alongside unusual discharge, bleeding between periods, fever, or lower abdominal tenderness. Pain may also be referred from pelvic-floor muscles, the cervix, bladder, or bowel.

Pause or change sexual activity when pain starts; do not push through it. Note whether the pain is deep or at the entrance, its side and timing, relation to your cycle, and symptoms such as discharge, bleeding, fever, nausea, or urinary discomfort. Arrange a gynaecology assessment if it keeps returning, affects intimacy, or comes with period pain. The clinician may discuss an examination, pregnancy testing when relevant, infection tests, or pelvic imaging. Treatment depends on the finding; laparoscopic excision of endometriosis may be discussed for selected confirmed endometriosis.

Seek urgent medical help for sudden severe pelvic pain, fainting, heavy bleeding, fever with worsening pain, repeated vomiting, or possible pregnancy with one-sided pain or bleeding. These symptoms need prompt assessment because several urgent pelvic and abdominal problems can feel similar.

Could the pain be coming from an ovary, endometriosis, infection, or pelvic-floor muscles? What examination or imaging would clarify the source? Which symptoms should make me seek urgent care?