Have you ever wondered why you always get a bloated feeling each month at the same time? Or, why you can’t fit in your clothes for only a few days? Well, it could be due to the fact you are ovulating. Yes, bloating during ovulation is a thing, and it is not a good thing as you and I know.

Unfortunately, bloating during and before ovulation is actually something women need to add to their list of unwanted symptoms felt each month. Bloating during ovulation can be managed to the point of toleration or avoided completely. Painkillers like Advil or Tylenol can ease some PMS symptoms, but it doesn’t manage PMS bloating or ovulation bloating.

I wish there was a pill you can take to avoid all the uncomfortable symptoms you have to deal with during certain times of the month. There is no one pill, but there are certain foods and actions you can do to help you. If you would like to know why ovulation causes pain and bloating and how to solve the problem, keep reading. 

In this post, I will discuss the following.

• What is ovulation?
• What is bloating?
• Can ovulation cause bloating?
• How long does ovulation bloating last?
• Weight Gain & Ovulation
• Bloating During Ovulation VS Premenstrual Bloating
• Is it normal to be bloated during ovulation?
• How to manage bloating during ovulation?
• More Signs of Ovulation

Disclosure:

This post may contain affiliate links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Also, I am not a doctor. This post is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. 

What is ovulation?

The female eggs live in the ovaries. Normally, eggs will stay in the ovaries until they mature. The maturation process takes about 175 days. That is every five or six menstrual cycles, you have eggs that mature. Ovulation occurs when the ovaries release an egg from the follicle.

Normally, this happens once every month, usually between days 11 and 21 of your cycle. And sometimes two eggs can be released. That is the first way multiples (twins, triplets, quadruplets) occur.

Once the mature egg is released, it begins moving down the fallopian tube and waits for sperm to fertilize it. So, this day is the day you are most fertile. If you want to conceive, this is the day you should baby dance. Baby dancing the day before and after ovulation is also great! Your chance of conception will still be quite high during those days. 

But, if the egg doesn’t get fertilized, it is released from the body through the menstrual cycle. The menstrual period is the shedding of the uterine lining which is prepared for a possible pregnancy.

If the egg is fertilized, it begins to divide and grow into an embryo. It also implants itself in the lining of the uterus. Then, It continues to grow there. You will not shed the uterine lining. That is why you don’t get your period during pregnancy. 

Moreover, ovulation doesn’t always happen at the same time even for a single person. You may ovulate on day 14 during one cycle, and ovulate on day 16 during another cycle.

What is bloating?

Bloating is an uncomfortable tightness and fullness felt in the abdomen. You may feel gas captured in your abdominal area. Hormonal bloating causes your stomach to gurgle and extreme pressure in the abdomen. Water retention causes you to feel heavy with no extreme pressure or gassy feeling. You may feel your clothes getting tighter.

Can ovulation cause bloating?

The answer to that is an absolute yes! Ovulation can cause bloating. It is actually a very common symptom felt by many women around the time of ovulation.

Bloating at ovulation is the feeling of fullness and tightness in the abdomen. It is usually caused by water retention or gas. Sometimes, your belly will actually swell up and many people will notice.

How long does ovulation bloating last?

Fortunately, ovulation bloat usually doesn’t last more than two days. That does not mean it is not bad, but hopefully, that gives you some hope and relief that it will end soon.  You can eat certain foods to help with bloating around ovulation. I will discuss that later in the post.

Weight Gain & Ovulation

Bloating during ovulation is caused by the hormones estrogen and LH peak. Estrogen is usually high mid-cycle and right after ovulation. This rise of Estrogen and LH has a negative effect on the digestive system slowing down everything. This rise in hormones also causes water retention, which means that you may be bloated and gain a bit of weight without any change in your diet.

This weight gain could also be due to fuller breasts which is another symptom of ovulation. The symptom also occurs right after ovulation because the hormone progesterone starts to increase which causes food to move slower in the intestines which as a result causes bloating and constipation. Doctors call this Delayed GI Transit Time.

Also, there is actually something called premenstrual bloating which may occur one week before your period. Ovulation and premenstrual bloating are different. You can tell the difference between ovulation bloating and premenstrual bloating by acknowledging the times they occur.

Bloating During Ovulation vs. Premenstrual Bloating

Tracking your menstrual cycle is the fastest way to differentiate between bloating during ovulation and premenstrual bloating. Identify the timing of the bloating.

Bloating around ovulation happens in the middle of the cycle, typically on the day of ovulation. PMS bloating occurs before your period and during your period. 

Some more PMS symptoms include:

• Breast Tenderness
• Mood Swings
• Headaches
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps
• Tiredness
• Constipation

Is it normal to be bloated during ovulation?

Many women suffer from bloating during ovulation. It is completely normal to be bloated on the day of ovulation. However, it should only last a few days. If it doesn’t go away in a few days, contact a doctor.

When to get help with ovulation bloat?

If bloating does not go away within a few days, you should see a doctor. Or, if it happens more than just during ovulation or is painful, you should see a doctor right away. That is because bloating could be a symptom of something way more serious. Ovulation should just cause slight pain.

Other problems besides ovulation that cause bloating include cysts, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancies, and appendicitis. Here is more detail on each.

Cysts not only cause bloating, but it also causes pain. Pain may come and go as you move along the days of your cycle. Cysts can rupture which is a huge problem. The bigger the cyst is, the higher chance it will burst. If a cyst bursts, it will cause extreme pain and may cause internal bleeding which is very dangerous. 

When the endometrium tissue grows outside the uterus, it causes endometriosis. This causes lots of pain. 

An ectopic pregnancy a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus can cause pain in the abdominal area, bleeding, bloating, and shoulder pain. This can be fatal or you may lose a fallopian tube. So, be very careful.

Appendicitis can also cause bloating and extreme pain. This is also fatal. Appendicitis occurs when something goes wrong with the appendix and it becomes inflamed. You will have your appendix removed via surgery. It is better to catch it before it ruptures. 

How to manage bloating during ovulation?

You can reduce bloating during ovulation by decreasing salt intake, increasing magnesium, probiotics, water, and potassium you are taking in, doing exercise, and relaxing.

Better Diet

Do not take more than 1500 mg of salt a day. That is because salt causes water retention just as the hormone estrogen does. Drink more water too. When you drink more water, your kidneys become stronger and work so much better which helps produce more urine and release the extra water. Sugars have lots of sodium in them so avoid them as much as possible. Avoiding high-FODMAP foods would help too.

Increase Magnesium and Potassium Intake

Some foods that are high in magnesium are fish and avocado. Magnesium helps ease water retention. Also, eat certain types of nuts like cashews and almonds because they are rich in magnesium.

Potassium causes more urination which in return causes the release of water from your body just like magnesium. 

Probiotics

Probiotics are good for the digestive system and can help move things along. You can find yogurts that have probiotic cultures which will definitely do the trick.

Exercise

The more you exercise, the less bloat you will have and the healthier you are. Try to exercise for an hour three times a week.        

Meditation and Relaxation

Meditation can help relax the digestive system, and move things along. It will also improve your overall mental and physical health.

More Signs of Ovulation

• Change in basal body temperature: There will be a slight shift in body temperature from low to high which would mean you have already ovulated.

• Nausea: Not every woman feels this. I used to feel it sometimes, and then I would take an ovulation test to confirm it. Trust your body. It always shows signs that something is occurring. You just have to listen.

• Change in Vaginal Discharge: There would be increased egg white cervical mucus. It could mean you are ovulating, or you will ovulate the next day. This sign occurs every time you ovulate. Figure out when you ovulate with an ovulation kit.

• Increased Sex Drive: This helps with conception. Your body is telling you when you should baby dance. Use this to your advantage if you are trying to conceive.

• Changes in cervical position: The cervix will open and get closer as ovulation approaches. This makes conception easier. It allows sperm to enter the uterus. Your body works for conception. 

• Ovulation Pain or Mittelschmerz Pain: Pain can be felt on one side or in the middle. Not everyone feels this, but if you do look at the positive side. You would know when you ovulate which will help in conception. 

• Light Spotting: Only 5 percent of women bleed during ovulation. Even though it is a very low percentage, it still occurs in some women.

• Heightened Sense Of Smell, Taste, or Vision: Many women may notice this. Trust your body again. If you feel your senses become more sensitive, you may be ovulating. 

• Breast Tenderness: Hormones are fluctuating during ovulation. Your breasts may become very sensitive as progesterone increases.

In Conclusion – Bloating During Ovulation

Here is everything you need to know about bloating during ovulation. If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will get back to you as soon as possible. How do you feel during ovulation? What are your symptoms? How do you manage those unwanted and uncomfortable symptoms? Let’s support each other and help each other solve monthly female problems! We can fight bloating during ovulation. We just need to know how from experienced women out there. Share your solutions!