Dealing With Ovulation Nausea and Other Common Symptoms

Many individuals experience ovulation once a month, which may result in a range of symptoms.

While some women are not even aware they are ovulating, some feel symptoms every time it occurs. You may be surprised at the issues ovulation can cause.

Can ovulation cause nausea? Ovulation can cause nausea. Estrogen levels are at their peak, and progesterone levels are rising when you ovulate. This can leave you feeling nauseous, dizzy, and crampy. Tracking your cycle may help you determine if ovulation is the source of your nausea.

Ovulation can cause an array of symptoms you may not associate with this time of the month. Know all you can so you can be prepared.

Nausea During Ovulation

If you’re one of those people who feel nauseous during ovulation, there are solid reasons for why this happens.

Causes of Nausea During Ovulation

When you ovulate, your progesterone and estrogen levels change. This sudden change is enough to cause nausea and other symptoms that leave you feeling ill.

You may also experience cramping when you ovulate as the egg is expelled from the egg sac or follicle, and this pain can also contribute to nausea.

Though the pain usually comes and goes throughout ovulation, nausea may remain consistent until you are finished ovulating for the month.

What You Might Experience

Nausea during ovulation may leave you light-headed or feeling like you are going to vomit.

You may be tired or wary of going too far from home because this sensation leaves you with a sense that you are getting sick.

How Long Does Ovulation Nausea Last?

You may start feeling nauseous a few days before you ovulate as your hormones gear up for this time of the month.

Nausea can last a day or two after you’ve ovulated, but it may not be consistent throughout this entire time.

How To Treat Nausea During Ovulation

There are plenty of natural ways to treat nausea, and they can help you if you have it monthly due to ovulation.

• Try taking ginger. Whether you choose ginger tea or ginger chewies, this flavor can help calm your stomach.
• Drink plenty of water. Becoming dehydrated can make your nausea worse, so make sure you drink water throughout the day.
• Eat food that won’t upset your stomach. Think of bland foods like bread, rice, or bananas.
• Don’t overheat. Try to sit in front of a fan or outside in cool weather because this can help you feel better.

When To Worry

For the most part, nausea during ovulation is innocuous, but it can become problematic if it goes on too long or leads to other problems.

If you are vomiting or cannot keep fluids and food in your stomach, you need to call your doctor. Nausea that keeps you from eating or staying hydrated can lead to complications. 

Common Symptoms of Ovulation

Besides nausea, you can expect a few other symptoms to arise during this time of the month.

1. Abdominal Pain, Discomfort, or Cramps

You may feel some discomfort as your body releases an egg for ovulation.

Some women feel it on one side of their abdomen, usually the side releasing the egg for the month. Other women may just have general cramping.

2. Bloating

I always know when I’m ovulating because none of my pants fit and I spend a couple of days uncomfortably bloated. I’m not the only one.

Blame progesterone and the luteinizing hormone for the extra bloat. Changes in these hormones leave you feeling heavy in the middle for a few days.

3. Increased Libido

Not every ovulation symptom is bad. You may notice your libido is higher, and that’s because your body is preparing to try for pregnancy. Take advantage of this feeling, and enjoy it!

4. Increase Energy

An increase in estrogen will leave you with more energy as you approach and experience ovulation.

You may find yourself getting more done or working out more consistently during this time.

5. Headache

Blame your hormones if you suddenly feel like you need a pain reliever to deal with a headache.

For many women, this is a tell-tale sign that they are ovulating. It can lead to migraines in certain cases.

6. Rise in Body Temperature

Some women track their ovulation by charting their body temperature.

When you ovulate, your body temperature will increase, probably due to the rising progesterone. It will likely stay slightly higher than normal the entire time you are ovulating. 

7. Changes in Cervical Mucus

The discharge you get during ovulation will be stretchier than usual. It will also be slick and white, and this is one way many women realize they are ovulating. 

8. Changes in Your Complexion

You may notice that before and possibly during ovulation, your skin looks great. However, changes in progesterone will likely lead to breakouts as you get closer to your period. 

9. Breast Tenderness

Blame hormone changes on why your breasts hurt so much when you’re ovulating. If anything, this is good practice for pregnancy when breast tenderness is also at an all-time high.

10. Dizziness

It comes as a surprise to some that they feel dizzy at this point in their cycle. Again, drastic hormone changes leave some women feeling nauseous or dizzy, and it’s perfectly normal in most cases.

11. Heightened Sense of Smell or Taste

Smells that didn’t bother you before may be an issue when you ovulate. The same is true for certain tastes.

While you may notice nuances that make scents and tastes better, you may also notice that smells or tastes that didn’t bother you before now make you feel a bit weird. It’s the hormones.

12. Light Spotting

Though most women won’t spot during ovulation, it is possible.

Your egg is essentially moving from the follicle that housed it, so you may notice dark or brown discharge as the follicle ruptures and releases its fluid that travels into the fallopian tube with the egg.

13. Vulval Swelling

If you happen to take a look down there during ovulation, you may notice that your vulva is swollen. Hormone changes can cause this.

However, if you have pain accompanying the swelling, you should make sure you don’t have an infection.

14. Backache

Ovulation may cause your back as well as your front to cramp. Use a heating pad or pain reliever to help you if the pain is too much to handle.

When Your Ovulation Symptoms May Indicate a Problem

Bleeding, pain, or dizziness that go beyond mild are a problem.

Though ovulation can cause uncomfortable symptoms, they should not be excessive or keep you from functioning. Anything that does means you need to contact your doctor.

Final Thoughts

Ovulation is a unique time in your cycle when your body responds to hormone changes.

Be prepared for the symptoms you may experience, and don’t hesitate to contact your doctor if you suspect what you’re feeling is abnormal.