Some women do not develop and release a mature egg every month as part of a woman's normal cycle in her reproductive years. We call this condition anovulation. Naturally, with no egg available for sperm, a woman cannot become pregnant. Thus, anovulation is a common reason for infertility.
Please see anovulation for details.

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form in the ovaries when the follicles (sacs) that contain the egg do not release it during ovulation. A woman can develop one or more cysts which can vary in size from a small blister to as big as water-melon. There are many types of ovarian cysts. Some ovarian cysts are found during annual checkup by the gynecologist during pelvic examination. Some are discovered by ultrasound examination (ultrasound scan). Dermoid cysts (cysts that are often filled with fatty cheesy contents with hairs and teeth and bones) are occasionally detected by X-ray of the abdomen because of the teeth or bones they may contain. Treatment varies with the type and nature of the cysts.
Click here for further information on ovarian cysts.

Please see our web page on Ovarian Cyst Pregnancy for answers.

Abdominal bloatedness and discomfort are symptoms that most women will experience from time to time. As your symptoms are related to the middle of the menstrual cycle, this may be ovulation pain or mittelschmerz, a German word that means "middle pain." This is usually normal and common affecting about twenty percent of women. Most women usually report a nagging pain that begins as a sharp twinge and diminishes into a dull ache for the next day or so. The discomfort usually occurs in the lower abdomen and can be aggravated by intercourse, or other physical activity. The best way to diagnose your painful ovulation is to keep a chart or diary showing when the pain occurs in relation to the start of your menstrual periods. Your doctor will use this diary in conjunction with your medical history, a physical examination, and perhaps some other medical tests to rule out other possible causes of your pain before making a diagnosis of mittelschmerz.
Abdominal bloating and distension can also be due to a group of functional disorders called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Patients with IBS tend to be unusually aware of gas in the digestive tract.
Although cancer of large gut (colon) does not usually present with bloatedness, cancer of the ovary, a silent killer may present with these non-specific symptoms.
If your symptoms persist, you should consult doctor to find out the exact cause. Occasionally some women may require laparoscopy, in which a narrow tube with a fiber-optic light on the end is introduced through a small incision below the navel and into the abdominal wall to help determine the cause.