You might gain a small amount of weight during ovulation because of bloating and water retention caused by hormonal changes. Avoiding certain foods and walking after eating may help.

When you’re ovulating, you might find that your weight increases slightly. This may be caused by bloating, a common symptom of ovulation.

Your hormone levels change throughout your menstrual cycle. These levels can affect fluid retention, so you might be more bloated during certain phases.

Not everybody experiences bloating during ovulation.

You might even find that you weigh less during ovulation than during the pre-menstrual phase. Some people experience bloating more often and thus weigh more just before their period.

Keep reading to learn why bloating and weight gain might happen during ovulation, other indicators of ovulation, how to manage ovulation-related bloating, and when to talk with a healthcare professional.

Specific hormonal changes take place throughout the stages of the menstrual cycle.

Just before ovulation, your levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increase. Estrogen and testosterone also peak during the ovulatory phase.

These hormonal changes drive the ovulation process. During ovulation, a follicle in your ovary ruptures, releasing an egg. The egg then moves into a fallopian tube, where it can be fertilized by sperm.

It’s thought that this surge in LH and FSH can lead to fluid retention (also known as bloating) during ovulation.

An older 2011 study documenting fluid retention in 62 participants for a year found bloating was a common ovulation symptom. The study noted that bloating started roughly 5 days before ovulation and lasted until menstruation.

Another older study from 2017 notes that this relationship between ovulatory hormones and bloating isn’t fully understood.

More recent research on this relationship is still needed.

However, if you gain weight during ovulation, it’s likely not a cause for concern. It’s a common symptom of ovulation that doesn’t necessarily indicate an underlying health condition.

Ovulation usually occurs around day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle. However, it may occur 12 to 16 days after your period starts, although the date depends on the regularity and length of your menstrual cycle.

Other common symptoms of ovulation include:

  • Ovulation pain: Ovulation pain (also known as mittelschmerz) is typically mild. Severe ovarian pain could be caused by another health condition, such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts. If you experience severe ovarian pain, consider talking with a doctor.
  • Temperature increase: During ovulation, your basal body temperature (BBT) may increase by about 1°F (0.556°C) just after ovulation. BBT refers to your temperature when you first wake up in the morning.
  • Changes in cervical mucus: Around ovulation, your cervical mucus might be clear, stretchy, and slippery, like uncooked egg whites. You may also have more discharge just before ovulation.
  • Chest tenderness: You might experience swollen breasts or sore nipples around the time of ovulation.
  • Libido increase: Some people find that their libido is higher during ovulation. This may be because your estrogen and testosterone levels increase.
  • Bleeding: You may experience slight bleeding or spotting during ovulation. Usually, ovulation bleeding is pink or bright red in color. According to an older 2012 study, about 5% of people bleed during ovulation. Although uncommon, it’s not necessarily cause for concern.

You can estimate ovulation by observing your symptoms and tracking your menstrual cycle, whether with a calendar or a smartphone fertility app.

This is the basis of the fertility awareness method (FAM), a natural family planning strategy that may help you become pregnant or avoid pregnancy.

You can also use ovulation tests or predictors to help you determine when you’re ovulating. However, these aren’t 100% accurate, and they can’t diagnose fertility conditions.

Ovulation-related bloating can feel uncomfortable.

To reduce abdominal bloating, you could try:

You might want to consider noting whether certain foods make you feel bloated. If you get more bloated after certain meals, write it down and talk with a doctor. Sometimes, bloating and digestive side effects can indicate a food sensitivity.

Weight gain during ovulation is common. It doesn’t necessarily indicate any underlying health conditions. Similarly, bloating is seldom a cause for concern. Both may also occur due to other health conditions.

If either of these symptoms lasts longer than a few days or also occurs outside of ovulation, it may be worth mentioning to a doctor, such as a primary care practitioner or a gynecologist (a doctor who specializes in the female reproductive system). Both of these types of doctors can refer you to an appropriate specialist, if necessary.

Frequent bloating and other digestive symptoms like gas can occur with various digestive conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Your hormones can also influence health conditions that involve gut-brain interaction. This may mean that your symptoms recur or fluctuate during your cycle.

Endometriosis can also cause painful bloating and swelling, a collection of symptoms known as endo belly. Endometriosis happens when endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus. It typically also causes additional symptoms, like severe menstrual pain, bleeding between periods, and pain during and after sex.

When it’s an emergency

Seek emergency care if you experience sudden, severe pelvic pain that may radiate to the abdomen, back, or side, especially if it’s accompanied by:

Although the cause may not always be severe, these symptoms could possibly indicate a ruptured ovarian cyst or ovarian torsion.

Some people may gain weight during ovulation. Weight gain and bloating aren’t necessarily something to worry about. They are common symptoms of ovulation that hormonal changes can cause.

If you experience other symptoms in addition to weight gain and bloating, it’s usually worth mentioning them to a healthcare professional.

If, however, you’re experiencing bloating along with extreme pain, seek emergency help.

Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information.