Pain that feels like it’s coming from your right ovary can have a lot of different causes, ranging from totally normal cycle changes to emergencies that need same‑day care. You can’t safely diagnose the cause at home, so the key is to match the pain and your other symptoms to the right level of urgency and get checked.

Quick Scoop: Common Reasons Your Right Ovary Hurts

Some causes are relatively common and not dangerous, others are urgent:

  • Ovulation pain (mittelschmerz) – brief, one‑sided twinge or cramp around the middle of your cycle when the ovary releases an egg.
  • Functional ovarian cysts – fluid‑filled sacs that can form on one ovary; they may cause dull ache, pressure, or sharp pain, especially if they’re large or leak.
  • Ruptured cyst – sudden sharp pain on one side, sometimes after sex or exercise; can cause internal bleeding and needs urgent assessment if severe.
  • Endometriosis – tissue similar to uterine lining growing on or near the ovary, often causing chronic pelvic pain that may worsen around your period or with sex.
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) – infection of reproductive organs, often from untreated STIs, causing pelvic/ovary‑area pain, fever, abnormal discharge, pain with sex or peeing.
  • Ovarian torsion – the ovary twists on its blood supply, usually causing sudden, severe one‑sided pain with nausea/vomiting; this is a surgical emergency.
  • Ectopic pregnancy – pregnancy growing outside the uterus (often in the right tube), causing one‑sided pain; can become life‑threatening if it ruptures.
  • Non‑gynecologic causes that “mimic” ovary pain – appendicitis, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, bowel issues, gas, or pelvic floor muscle problems can all feel like right ovary pain.

Because so many different organs live in that lower‑right area, even doctors usually need an exam and imaging (like an ultrasound) to be sure what’s going on.

How the Pain Feels Matters

Pay attention to pattern, timing, and triggers :

  • Sudden, severe, one‑sided pain
    • Think: torsion, ruptured cyst, ectopic pregnancy, appendicitis.
* Often comes with nausea, vomiting, feeling faint, or fever.
  • Cyclic, mid‑cycle twinges
    • Think: ovulation pain if you’re mid‑cycle and it lasts minutes to a day or so.
  • Pain that worsens during your period or with sex
    • Think: endometriosis, larger cysts, pelvic floor tension.
  • Dull ache or pressure over days to weeks
    • Think: simple ovarian cyst, chronic pelvic conditions, bowel or bladder issues.
  • Pain plus burning with urination, needing to pee often
    • Think: UTI or bladder infection that can feel like central or one‑sided pelvic pain.
  • Pain plus bloating, early fullness, changes in bowel habits, or unexplained weight loss
    • Rarely, think: ovarian cancer, especially if new and persistent over weeks to months.

When You Should Get Urgent Help (Same Day / ER)

Go to urgent care or an emergency department now or call emergency services if you have right‑side ovary‑area pain and any of these:

  • Sudden, very severe pain on the right side that doesn’t ease with rest.
  • Pain with nausea, vomiting, or pain so bad you can’t stand upright.
  • Dizziness, fainting, or feeling like you might pass out.
  • Fever, feeling very unwell, or chills.
  • You are or might be pregnant (missed period, unprotected sex, positive test) and have one‑sided pain or shoulder pain.
  • Hard, constant pain that moves toward the lower‑right abdomen with fever or vomiting (possible appendicitis).
  • Heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking pads every hour), or bleeding plus severe pain.

These situations can be time‑sensitive because conditions like torsion, ectopic pregnancy, and appendicitis need fast treatment to protect your health and, sometimes, your fertility.

When to See a Doctor Soon (Within a Few Days)

Book an appointment with a gynecologist or primary‑care clinician within a few days if:

  • The pain keeps coming back to the same side over multiple cycles.
  • The pain has been going on for more than a week, even if it’s mild‑to‑moderate.
  • You notice pain with sex, deep penetration, or around your period month after month.
  • You have abnormal discharge, irregular bleeding, or bleeding after sex.
  • You’ve had STIs or pelvic infections before.
  • You have a strong family history of ovarian or breast cancer plus new, persistent pelvic pain, bloating, or bowel changes.

What they might do:

  • Ask detailed questions about your cycle, sexual activity, pregnancy risk, and past surgeries.
  • Examine your abdomen and pelvis.
  • Order tests: pregnancy test, STI testing, urine test, blood work, and often a pelvic ultrasound to look at the right ovary.

What You Can Safely Do at Home (Short Term Only)

These are comfort measures , not a substitute for being checked, especially if the pain is new or one‑sided:

  • Rest and change positions; sometimes lying with knees bent or on your side eases mild ovulatory or cyst pain.
  • Warmth, such as a warm (not scalding) heating pad on the lower abdomen for short periods.
  • Over‑the‑counter pain relief (like ibuprofen or acetaminophen) only if you’re not pregnant, not allergic, and don’t have kidney, liver, or bleeding issues; always follow the package directions.
  • Track your symptoms – which day of your cycle, what the pain feels like, how long it lasts, what makes it better or worse. This log helps your doctor see patterns.

Stop home care and seek urgent help if the pain suddenly worsens, becomes severe, or you develop any of the red‑flag symptoms above.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore It

Many people downplay ovary‑area pain, especially if they’ve had cysts or strong period cramps before, but persistent or one‑sided pain deserves attention.

  • Some serious problems (like ectopic pregnancy or torsion) can start out looking “just like” a bad cramp and then escalate quickly.
  • Others (like endometriosis or early ovarian cancer) may be subtle and chronic rather than dramatic, but early diagnosis can protect fertility and improve outcomes.

Important note

I can’t examine you or run tests, so I can’t tell you why your right ovary hurts, only outline possibilities and red‑flag signs. If your pain is significant right now, or if you’re worried about pregnancy or an emergency cause, it’s safest to contact a local medical service or emergency department today and describe your symptoms in detail.