Pelvic pain is something that many people experience, and it can be caused by a lot of different things. Among the causes is ovulation pain (aka mittelschmerz) that causes pain around day 10-14 of a woman’s period cycle. However, there are many other causes of pelvic pain that should not be overlooked, such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
What is ovulation pain?
Ovulation pain is a type of pelvic pain that comes on at the time that an egg is released from the ovary. Both the release of the egg itself and the hormonal changes that occur during that part of the menstrual cycle can lead to discomfort typically on one side of the lower belly or even ovulation back pain.
Symptoms of ovulation pain can include:
- Mild cramping
- Sharp pain on one side
- Light spotting
- Light vaginal discharge
Ovulation pain is generally not dangerous, but it can be very annoying. If you have severe pain that lasts, fever, nausea, vomiting, or other symptoms, then you’ll want to head to see a doctor right away as these aren’t common signs of ovulation pain.
Other causes of pelvic pain
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is when tissues that usually are only located inside the lining of your uterus begin to grow outside the uterus. This causes severe and chronic pain, especially at the time of your period. The pain of endometriosis usually happens right before or during your period. It can be associated with things like heavy bleeding, painful bowel movements, pain during intercourse, and pain anywhere in the abdomen, pelvis, or even up around your diaphragm.
If you have symptoms that match the description of endometriosis, make an appointment to see your Ob/Gyn right away.
Ovarian cysts
Ovarian cysts are sacs filled with fluid that can develop on or in the ovaries. Many people have ovarian cysts and don’t even know it, but occasionally some can cause symptoms and pain. When a cyst bursts, you might have sudden severe pain. Ovarian cysts can also cause bloating, changes in your menstrual cycle, and might require urgent medical or surgical attention.
Reach out to your doctor if you think you may have ovarian cysts, they can examine you and schedule tests like an ultrasound to check out what is going on with your ovaries.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
PID is a serious infection of the reproductive organs that can be caused by things like sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The most common signs of PID are fever, vaginal discharge, pain, and nausea. Immediate treatment with antibiotics is very important to prevent permanent damage to the organs, so reach out to your doctor right away if you think you might have PID.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a disorder of the digestive tract (bowels) that can cause both pelvic and abdominal pain or discomfort It also often comes with other symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. A key difference is that IBS pain isn’t usually related to the menstrual cycle and can be related to diet, when we eat, stress, or to bowel movements.
A gastroenterologist can help you with getting a proper diagnosis and treatment for IBS.
Summing it up on ovulation vs other pain
If you are having ovulation pain, or think your pain might be caused by something else, talk to your healthcare provider to see what you can do about it. Nobody should live with pain, and there are many treatment options available whether your pain is ovulation pain or something else.