If you’ve ever felt some discomfort in your lower abdomen or pelvis right around the middle of your menstrual cycle, it could be ovulation pain (also called mittelschmerz). It affects around 20-40% of women of reproductive age, and tends to happen around the same time every month. In this article, we will talk more about what ovulation pain is, what causes it, and signs that your pain could be caused by something more serious.
What is ovulation pain?
Ovulation is the process a woman’s body goes through to release an egg from the ovary. Ovulation pain, also called mittelschmerz, is the pain that many women feel when they ovulate. It is thought to be caused by the small rupture in the ovary’s surface when an egg is released. Since some fluid is also released, that can also contribute to the pain. Usually, it feels like a dull or cramping pain felt on one side of the lower abdomen or more rarely in the side or lower back. It can last from a few minutes to a couple of days.
Is ovulation pain normal?
In most cases, ovulation pain is unpleasant but is not dangerous or a sign of any serious issues.
However, if you have any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor to make sure nothing more serious is going on:
- Severe pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Pain during bowel movements
- Heavy bleeding
- Spotting between periods
- Infertility
- Bloating
- Sharp pain
- Change in vaginal discharge
- Pain or burning during urination
- Fever
- Nausea
- Chronic pain
Pay attention to your body’s signals, if your pain is severe or concerns you in any way, always reach out to your healthcare provider to rule out serious issues. Additionally, if you begin to experience a new onset of some of these symptoms that begin to become regular, please reach out as well.
Managing ovulation pain
In most cases, at-home treatments are sufficient to ease ovulation pain. Some options are:
- Over the counter pain relievers (ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
- Heating pad or hot water bottle to gently warm the area
- Drinking plenty of water
- Relaxation and breathing exercises
If these treatments aren’t helping, then it’s time to reach out to your healthcare provider to see if any prescription medications or imaging studies like an ultrasound are needed. In addition, you can reach out to a pelvic floor physical therapist for an evaluation. They can help with exercises and stretches that can be helpful in dealing with ovulation pain.
Ovulation pain – summing it up
While ovulation pain is quite common, it is really important to know when your pain is just ovulation pain versus something else that needs medical attention. Always pay close attention to your body’s signals and any changes in the location or type of pain you are experiencing. Conditions like endometriosis, cysts, or pelvic inflammatory disease are just a few of the more serious conditions you will want to be sure aren’t the cause of your discomfort.