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Bloating During Ovulation with Gas: Causes, Treatment

By: Author Dr Akatakpo Dunn, MBBS, PG Dip Ultrasound, Prof Dip O&G (RCPI) Medical Director & Lead Obstetrician/Ultrasonologist, Verah Clinic & Maternity

Posted on Last updated:

Question: What causes gas and bloating during ovulation? How long does ovulation bloating last?

Ovulation is a normal physiologic process that most women experience roughly once every month during their reproductive years (except in pregnancy, breastfeeding, or on some birth control). While you are expecting your period to begin, most times you get different body symptoms that show your menstruation is close. Likewise, there are also other signs that can help you identify ovulation.

One common way is through the thickness of your discharge. During ovulation, an egg-like stretchy discharge is one way to tell if you are ovulating. I’ve explained this more here: Clear jelly like discharge: pregnancy or ovulation sign?

Another symptom a lot of girl experience is bloating during ovulation. Bloating is a perception of a swollen or distended stomach that makes you feel you’ve added more weight. Most times, you begin to feel cramps and belly tightness.

Abdominal bloating during and after ovulation occurs because of hormones, and the truth is, in most women, it’s not a cause for concern. Research is still limited specifically on “ovulation bloating”, but many women report this kind of mid-cycle swelling and gas.

If your main problem is bloating just before your period rather than around ovulation, you can also read: Bloating and gas before period: pregnancy or PMS?

Here’s an email from one of my readers (Funmi):

Dear Doctor Dunn,

I am Funmi and need your help on what to do. For up to 6 months now I have been experiencing what can best be referred to as unpleasant stomach gas, belching, stomach rumbling, and flatulence every single time. No loss of appetite. No real pain, just abdominal discomfort. Bowel movements are fairly normal.

Surprisingly, I do not have any other symptoms, though, symptoms get worse during and after ovulation.

Should I get concerned if I feel gassy during ovulation? Are there ways I can ease these symptoms?

Just like Funmi, you will be worried if you experience cyclical symptoms of bloating that occurs during ovulation; but in many women this pattern is harmless and related to normal ovulation hormones. It may sometimes be worsened by what you have eaten or drank.

Nevertheless, bloating during ovulation may occur for some other serious reasons that will require you to see a doctor immediately. Irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, food allergy, overeating, constipation and even some gynecologic problems can cause bloating.

This article explains why you feel bloated during ovulation, the scientific reason you continue to experience bloating after ovulation, food that worsens your symptoms, and easy ways you can feel better. I’ve also written about other ovulation symptoms like ovulation pain on both sides, lower back pain after ovulation, and vomiting and nausea during ovulation.

What causes bloating during ovulation?

Ovulation is the release of one or more egg from a ruptured ovarian follicle from either the right or left ovary. Before and after ovulation occurs, there are different hormone changes that affect the way you feel.

If you have a regular 28-day menstrual cycle, you are likely (but not guaranteed) to have ovulation around day 14, roughly 14 days before your next period. This means, just a week or two after the end of period, your ovary may release an ovulation egg. Some women will ovulate earlier or later, and this can change from cycle to cycle.

Before this time, and just after period, your body estrogen begins to rise. Estrogen can increase tissue fluid and sometimes trigger water and salt retention that causes you to feel bloated.

Bloating before ovulation occurs because of this rise in estrogen, and during ovulation, you may also experience symptoms like mild cramps, breast tenderness, or increased discharge. For other common period-related signs (acne, breast pain, mood changes), see my guide on signs of period coming soon.

What causes bloating after ovulation?

After ovulation has occurred, another hormone, called progesterone, begin to spike and causes changes to your gastrointestinal tract.

After rupture of the follicle with the release of an egg, the ruptured follicle breaks down and forms a yellow tissue called corpus luteum. The role of the corpus luteum is to secrete progesterone and estrogen that helps prepare your womb for pregnancy.

In the event that you get pregnant, the corpus luteum continues to produce these hormones in early pregnancy. However, if you do not get pregnant, the corpus luteum breaks down resulting in a decline of progesterone, and then your next period starts.

Progesterone has many effects on your body and can cause bloating after ovulation. It usually takes some time for food to move through your gut. Progesterone slows down food movement, resulting in constipation, and then increased formation of gas in your abdomen.

If this happens, you will experience abdominal tightening and bloating for a few days. A thick, white discharge in the week before your period is also common due to progesterone; I discussed this here: White discharge week before period.

Bloating during ovulation and gas: When to worry?

Most times, ovulation bloating and gas is normal and occurs because of hormone changes. So, if you feel stomach upset and mild pain during ovulation, it’s not entirely abnormal.

However, you should see your doctor or go to the hospital urgently if you experience:

  • Frequent diarrhea for days, weeks or months

  • Fever

  • Vomiting

  • Severe abdominal pain that is not relieved after passing gas

  • Constipation for days

  • Rectal bleeding

You should also talk to your doctor soon (not emergency, but don’t ignore) if:

  • Bloating is new, severe, or getting worse over weeks

  • You lose weight without trying, or feel full very quickly after small meals

  • You are over 40 and suddenly develop persistent bloating around mid-cycle

  • You have a known ovarian cyst, endometriosis, or fibroids and the pain is changing

These symptoms can point to other conditions in the bowel or pelvic organs that need proper examination, tests, or a pelvic ultrasound.

What other conditions can cause bloating?

1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, non-contagious condition that affects how the large intestine works. It is a functional problem (how the bowel moves and senses pain), not an inflammatory bowel disease.

If this occurs, you will feel gassy, flatulence, abdominal cramps, change in stool pattern (diarrhea or constipation), and bloating.

2. Perimenopause

Perimenopause is a stage in a woman’s life when things get different, and your hormones fluctuate from time to time.

In your ovaries are multiple follicles that are released during ovulation. Toward your 40’s and 50’s, there is a decline in the number of follicles and this can result in hormone fluctuation.

This hormones fluctuation will cause bloating and you will also feel less urge for sex, body weakness, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness.

If you are more than 40 years and feel abdominal pain and bloating, see your doctor for help, especially if your periods have also become irregular or heavy. Other causes of mid-cycle and premenstrual bloating include food intolerance, celiac disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and sometimes ovarian cysts.

If your bloating also comes with missed period, nausea or breast changes, you may want to read: Missed period, negative test, white discharge and spotting before period.

How to stop bloating during ovulation?

If you feel severe bloating during ovulation for the first time, it’s important you see your doctor. It may be something else.

Then again, cyclical bloating can be messy and cause severe discomfort. Here are some ways to feel better:

  • Take a lot of water daily to ease your symptoms and feel hydrated

  • Avoid stress as much as you can

  • Avoid soda and carbonated drinks as they will push in more gas into your intestine and cause discomfort

  • Quit smoking if you do

  • Stop habits of chewing gum

  • Take drinks through a straw? Then stop

  • Add fibers to diet to increase movement of food in your intestines (but increase slowly if you are very gassy)

  • Eat regular smaller meals instead of very large ones

  • Take banana, lemon juice, ginger and yogurt if they agree with your stomach

  • Avoid raw cruciferous vegetables, onions, sugary drinks, alcohol, beans and legumes if you notice they worsen your gas

Simple over-the-counter gas relief medicines (for example, simethicone products) may help some people, but always talk with your doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you are pregnant or on other medications.

For general diet and lifestyle ideas to reduce gas and bloating, resources like MedlinePlus and other big hospital websites advise limiting gas-producing foods, eating slowly, and staying active.

What causes bloating during ovulation and weight gain?

Mid-cycle weight gain that follows a pattern is not a cause for alarm. Weight gain during ovulation occurs because of changes to your body hormones, as both progesterone and estrogen make you retain more fluid than normal.

If this occurs, you can add a few pounds for a few days, so, it’s not something you should worry about. Though, you may still find you add more weight just before your period because of premenstrual symptoms.

Usually this fluid-related weight settles on its own once your hormones drop and your next period starts.

How long does ovulation bloating last?

Abdominal bloating and increased weight that are attributed to ovulation can be disturbing. But they do not last for a long time as most women feel okay after a few days.

In addition, in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (the second half of the cycle after ovulation), you may also feel bloated again. This occurs because of the effect of progesterone and premenstrual changes.

If you feel severe bloating during ovulation and it persists for a long time (for example, most days for several weeks), see a doctor for help. Your doctor can examine you, review your cycle diary, and decide if you need tests, medications, or a pelvic ultrasound.

If you want to read more about bloating and PMS from big medical organizations, you can also check: