Many women are familiar with pain during ovulation. To understand the cause of this pain and how to deal with it quickly and safely, we recommend that you read this article.
You understood that cramps came with the period package. But what about abdominal pain in between your durations, in the middle of your cycle? There’s an excellent opportunity you could be experiencing ovulation pain– an entirely normal (if unpleasant) result of your ovary releasing its regular monthly egg.
Not everybody experiences ovulation pain. However if you do, ovulation pain can be a practical indication to track if you’re trying to get pregnant.
Here’s what you need to know about ovulation pain or cramps, including what it feels like, ovulation pain symptoms, how long it lasts and other conditions that might trigger extreme pain.
What is Ovulation Pain?
When an ovary releases an egg in the middle of your menstruation, you may experience ovulation pain on one side of the lower abdomen or hips. Understood in medical circles as “mittelschmerz”– German for “middle” and “pain”– it’s possible to experience ovulation pain sometimes or during every cycle.
What Does Pain When Ovulating Feel Like?
Around 2 weeks before you expect to get your period, ovulation might cause a dull and crampy achiness, moderate twinges or sharp and sudden pain on one side of your lower abdominal areas.
You may feel pain on a various side monthly, or on the same side for several months in a row, depending upon which ovary releases an egg.
Remember that abdominal pain at any other point in your cycle isn’t linked to ovulation. You might have menstrual cramps or another pelvic or abdominal condition. If it’s extreme, check in with your doctor.
How Long Does Ovulation Pain Last?
Ovulation pain generally takes place for a few minutes to a couple of hours, although it can last for approximately one or two days.
Symptoms of Pain When Ovulating
Ovulation pain symptoms may consist of:
- Pain on one side of the lower abdominal area or hips
- Light vaginal bleeding or discharge
- In unusual cases, extreme ovulation pain
- Nausea, if pain is serious
Causes of Pain When Ovulating
Professionals aren’t sure precisely what triggers ovulation pain, but there are a couple of prime suspects:
- Normal follicle growth prior to ovulation stretches the beyond the ovary, causing discomfort
- When a follicle naturally ruptures and releases an egg during ovulation, it likewise releases blood and fluid that might aggravate surrounding abdominal tissues
Is Pain During Ovulation Normal?
Ovulation pain is completely normal: About 1 in 5 women experience some pain and discomfort around the time they ovulate.
That stated, you shouldn’t experience ovulation pain if you’re on the pill (a combination tablet which contains both estrogen and progestin) or have a hormonal IUD since those types of contraception stop ovulation.
To find out if the abdominal pain you’re experiencing is connected to ovulation, track your cycle for two to three months. If symptoms consistently happen about 2 weeks before each period, it’s most likely ovulation pain.
To deal with ovulation pain, try a pain reliever like acetaminophen. Skip the ibuprofen if you’re trying to get pregnant, as it has actually been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage when taken around the time of conception.
What Does It Mean if I Have Severe Ovulation Pain?
Many times, it’s normal to experience some pain around the time you ovulate. Nevertheless persistent or serious abdominal pain might show another issue that requires medical attention, consisting of:
- Appendicitis: A blockage in the lining of the appendix can cause an infection and inflammation, leading to pain that begins in the lower right side of your abdominal area or around your belly button and aggravates when you cough. You may likewise feel upset and have a fever, constipation, throwing up or diarrhea. Due to the fact that the appendix can eventually rupture, causing a potentially deadly abdominal infection, it’s crucial to call your medical professional right now if you think you might be experiencing appendicitis symptoms.
- Ectopic pregnancy: Rarely, fertilized eggs can implant outside of the uterus (typically in a fallopian tube), causing sharp and crampy abdominal pain that’s typically accompanied by vaginal bleeding and early signs of pregnancy like queasiness. See your medical professional right away, particularly if a pregnancy test returns positive, as an ectopic pregnancy can be dangerous.
- An ovarian cyst: While the majority of ovarian cysts are little and don’t cause symptoms, a bigger cyst can trigger sharp or dull pain on one side of the lower abdominal area that may reoccur. Larger ovarian cysts might likewise stipulation bloating, pressure and swelling in the lower abdominal area. If the cyst ruptures, it can trigger sudden and serious pain.
- Endometriosis: Sometimes tissue that generally lines the inside of the uterus grows on other parts of the pelvic area and gets caught outside the uterus, where it bleeds with each menstruation. Since the blood has nowhere to go, it irritates surrounding tissues and eventually results in painful adhesions and scar tissue that can make it more difficult to get pregnant. Unlike ovulation pain, nevertheless, endometriosis pain tends to be even worse throughout — not between — periods.
- Sexually transmitted infection: STIs like chlamydia can result in scarring around the fallopian tubes if left without treatment, which can trigger abdominal pain and fertility issues. Other symptoms to look out for include painful urination and unusual vaginal discharge. Numerous STIs, however, cause no symptoms at all.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): Usually linked to a without treatment STI, this bacterial infection of the reproductive tract frequently causes abdominal pain in addition to a foul-smelling vaginal discharge and vaginal bleeding between durations and after sex.
- Scar tissue. Scarring due to C-section or other abdominal surgery can restrict the ovaries and surrounding structures, possibly leading to serious ovulation pain and problems getting pregnant.
When to Call the Physician About Pain When Ovulating
To rule out conditions like appendicitis or an ectopic pregnancy, check in with your doctor if you experience a new or abrupt, serious pain in your lower abdominal areas, or if pain lasts more than a number of days.
Also contact your physician if abdominal pain is accompanied by:
- Fever
- Nausea and throwing up
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Early signs of pregnancy and/or a favorable pregnancy test
- Vaginal bleeding between periods
- Foul-smelling or otherwise uncommon vaginal discharge
Ovulation pain is generally nothing to worry about. In fact, if you’re trying to develop, knowing the signs of ovulation– which can consist of ovulation pain– can assist you to get pregnant quicker. After all, timing sex around ovulation
is the best way to help sperm satisfy egg. However if you’re concerned about extreme pain or other symptoms, it’s always a good concept to check in with your health care specialist.
