What You Need to Know About PCOS Pain in the Lower Abdomen

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a complex endocrine condition, affects 8-13% of women who are of reproductive age. That number may not seem very high, but if you’re a woman with PCOS, you won’t be surprised to learn up to 70% of PCOS cases are undiagnosed. This is because the symptoms of this hormonal disorder can vary a LOT from person to person. Because of this, I recommend all women to be their own best health advocates. This means learning what symptoms can be attributed to this condition to work towards treatment and always listening to your body whether you know you have PCOS or think you might! 

Our hormones act as little messengers throughout our bodies, so when they are out of whack, they impact our bodies in many different ways. You could experience a long list of symptoms, including fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, irregular periods, excessive facial and body hair growth, and even abdominal pain. While some of these symptoms may not be too bothersome, others like abdominal pain can cause major disruptions to your everyday life. 

Many Cysters write off lower abdomen pain as “just their period” and “nothing to be worried about.” But, it could be a result of PCOS and that means there are ways to relieve the pain while also addressing other underlying PCOS root issues to reverse other symptoms too! That’s exactly why I’m dedicating this blog post to pain in the lower abdomen in women with PCOS. I’m diving into the cause of abdominal pain and how to relieve it with natural methods. 

PCOS Pain in the Lower Abdomen

Experiencing lower abdominal pain can be super uncomfortable, especially if you have a full day of plans to get through. While many women are familiar with cramps during or bloating during ovulation or menstrual phase, PCOS pain in the lower abdomen can happen at any time during your menstrual cycle. No, thank you! 

Can PCOS Cause Pain in the Lower Abdomen?

Yes, PCOS can cause pain in the lower abdomen. Here are a few different ways it can happen:

Ovarian Cysts

While one of the most identifiable symptoms of PCOS is ovarian cysts, not every woman with PCOS experiences them. However, if you do have polycystic ovaries, then you can develop small, fluid-filled sacs called follicles or cysts. These cysts can grow, enlarge the ovaries, and even rupture! While growing, these cysts can cause consistent dull or sharp pain. However, if these cysts rupture, they can cause a significant amount of pain and require medical attention. I went to the ER once because of a ruptured cyst!

Women with PCOS can develop ovarian cysts due to reproductive hormonal imbalances like high androgens that disrupt ovulation or cause ovulation to be absent altogether. When this happens, immature eggs don’t release and shed, so they form into cysts instead. Long story short, ovarian cysts with PCOS can be the source of your lower abdominal pain.  

To learn more, here are different types of ovarian cysts, their root causes, and potential treatments. 

Inflammation

Many women with PCOS experience chronic inflammation, which can cause lower abdominal pain. There are a few reasons for this inflammation, including insulin resistance, excess androgens, and oxidative stress. When a PCOS body experiences this low-grade chronic inflammation, it could contribute to discomfort in the abdomen. 

How? There are a few ways! First of all, the inflammatory response impacts the whole body. Around the ovaries, this can lead to swelling fluid accumulation, and increased pressure in the pelvic area. Additionally, chronic inflammation can irritate nerve endings in the pelvic region and even cause tissue damage to the ovaries! All around, inflammation can be a big contributor to pelvic pain. 

Unsure if you have inflammation? Here are other signs of inflammation with PCOS. 

GI Issues 

Another common problem with PCOS is gut health issues due to hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, and inflammation. When your gut bacteria is imbalanced it causes digestive issues that can cause lower abdominal pain and discomfort. Whether from bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or leaky gut, gut health is a common cause of PCOS lower abdominal pain. 

Here’s more on gut health and PCOS!

How to Relieve Pain in the Lower Abdomen with PCOS

Managing PCOS symptoms like pain in the lower abdomen can be done with research-backed natural remedies and lifestyle changes. 

Heat Therapy

When you’re experiencing cramps or abdominal discomfort, heat can help relax your outer stomach muscles and ease the pain. I recommend using a heating pad or heating blanket! While this is a temporary band-aid solution to a much larger problem, it is a quick way to relieve lower abdomen pain. 

And, if you know that you’re dealing with ovarian cysts, level up your heating pad treatment with castor oil packs! 

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

We’ve covered that inflammation can cause abdominal pain, so one way to combat that is by eating an anti-inflammatory diet! Not only can it reduce inflammation, but it can also target imbalanced hormones and increase insulin sensitivity for whole-body healing! 

As a registered dietitian for PCOS (who also has PCOS), I recommend a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet for Cysters who want to reverse PCOS symptoms. Some of my favorite foods for an anti-inflammatory diet are berries, cherries, leafy greens, bell peppers, olive oil, turmeric, avocados, salmon, dark chocolate, and legumes. 

If you want to follow a PCOS-friendly diet, make sure to check out The Cysterhood app for my go-to delicious anti-inflammatory recipes and PCOS-healing meal plans! 

Herbal Remedies

For millions of years, people have used herbal remedies to relieve pain and now there is science to back it up! And, PCOS abdominal pain can benefit from herbal remedies just the same. Since this pain can be caused by increased androgen levels and other hormonal imbalances, using herbal teas can help address the root cause and relieve abdominal pain. My go-to research-backed herbal remedy is my Testosterone Relief Tea, a blend of helpful herbs spearmint, nettle, cinnamon, and chamomile to lower androgen levels.  

Low-Impact Exercises

I know, the last thing you want to do when you have cramps or abdominal pain is work out, but it can actually help a lot! Practicing low-impact exercises like yoga, walking, stretching, pilates, or slow-weighted workouts can help relieve this pain by improving blood circulation, balancing hormones, increasing insulin sensitivity, and reducing inflammation. You can find my favorite PCOS workouts on The Cysterhood app. Follow my structured routines to manage your symptoms and reach your other PCOS health goals!

Stress Management

One of the symptoms of PCOS is high cortisol levels, AKA the stress hormone. This stress in the body can cause inflammation and pain in the lower abdomen (and worsen other hormonal imbalances). Incorporating stress management techniques like breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation can help lower your cortisol, meaning inflammation goes down and you finally get some relief from your abdominal pain!

Magnesium Supplements

Magnesium is an essential mineral that supports almost every system of the body. And you may be shocked to know that 70% of people are magnesium deficient! Taking magnesium citrate daily can help reduce inflammation, relax muscles, and relieve abdominal pain in women with PCOS. I’ve included magnesium in the Ovatfit MetaMulti because it is so helpful for PCOS symptoms!

Omega-3 Supplements

Another super helpful supplement that has been linked to pain relief is omega-3 fatty acids! They’re one of the best supplements for reducing inflammation, but they can also help support your metabolism and gut health to get to the bottom of all the root issues of your PCOS. This means you can experience relief from lower abdominal pain and other symptoms of PCOS too! You can find high-quality PCOS-friendly omega-3 supplements in my Metabolism Plus bundle from Ovafit! 

Curcumin Supplements

I talked earlier about how beneficial certain herbs can be for PCOS, and one of the best is turmeric (AKA curcumin)! It’s known for being anti-inflammatory and having antioxidant properties which are great for lower abdominal pain relief. Studies also show it can help with insulin sensitivity and proper gut health like omega-3. Again, you can find this supplement in my Metabolism Plus bundle. 

Ovasitol Supplements

While we’re on the topic of supplements, one of the best supplements women with PCOS can take to relieve most of their symptoms is inositol. When you address the root issues of PCOS, like hormone imbalances and insulin resistance, then you can feel relief from symptoms like abdominal pain, intense cravings, irregular periods, and more. For my PCOS journey, I love the golden ratio of 40:1 of Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol in Ovasitol Powder.

Say goodbye to lower abdominal pain from PCOS!

When it comes to understanding PCOS, it’s important to realize how everything is connected like a web. When your hormones are not balanced, it can lead to tons of issues and symptoms, like pain in your lower abdomen from inflammation, poor gut health, and ovarian cysts. Educating yourself with the Ovafit blog is the first super helpful step to finding relief from this pain! 

The next step is incorporating helpful supplements and lifestyle changes into your daily routines. So many Cysters find relief with Ovafit’s Metabolism Plus Bundle, Ovasitol Powder, and Testosterone Relief Tea when paired with our PCOS-friendly meal and workout plans on The Cysterhood app. 

Are you ready to finally feel PCOS symptom relief? You’re closer than you think!