Common symptoms of pre-ovulation Pre-ovulation is a critical period in a woman’s menstrual cycle. Many women will experience some symptoms during this period. Let’s take a closer look at the common symptoms of pre-ovulation. 1. Chest pain before menstruation and ovulation. Many women will have mild breast swelling and pain, nipple hardness and other uncomfortable symptoms before menstruation. Women should pay more attention to adjusting their living habits during this period to reduce excessive fatigue and anxiety. At the same time, taking in more protein-rich foods in your diet will help improve this kind of chest pain.