Ovulation Pain: Causes, Treatment & Help

Ovulation pain is not uncommon and occurs in varying degrees in many women. In the vast majority of cases, they are harmless and can be alleviated or avoided with simple remedies.

What are pains at ovulation?

Pain at ovulation, known as mittelschmerz, is suffered by about 40 percent of all women of childbearing age. Pain at ovulation, called mittelschmerz, is suffered by about 40 percent of all women of childbearing age. It can last a few minutes, a few hours, or even several days and can vary in intensity. Often they are only perceived as a slight pulling around the lower abdomen. In some cases, however, severe pain can be triggered by ovulation.

Causes

Ovulation (also called follicular rupture or ovulation) occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, which lasts about 23-35 days. During this process, a still unfertilized egg is expelled from the ovaries into the woman’s fallopian tube. Ovulation is a prerequisite for the egg to be fertilized by a male sperm. Ovulation is triggered by an interaction of female hormones. The hypothalamus in the diencephalon is involved in their action, as well as the pituitary gland and the ovaries. In the course of a cycle, about 10-12 follicles mature in the ovaries. Follicles consist of the oocytes and their respective accompanying cells. From this so-called cohort of follicles, one at a time finally asserts itself, which grows into a follicle ready to burst. It is assumed that the pain of ovulation is due to the bursting of the follicle and the exposure of its egg. The follicle is bulging just before ovulation. If it bursts, this can be felt as a pulling in the abdomen or in the form of cramps. In addition, this process causes fluid to leak from the follicle, which lingers in the abdomen for a short time and can irritate the peritoneum.

Diseases with this symptom

  • PMS

Diagnosis and course

Unlike period pain, which causes a large-scale pulling around the lower abdomen, the pain of ovulation usually occurs only on one side. This depends on which of the two ovaries is currently involved in rejecting the egg. Occasionally, light bleeding may also occur during ovulation. The mittelschmerz usually lasts only a short time and can also vary in severity from month to month. However, the maximum duration of the mittelschmerz should be 1-2 days. If the pain persists for a longer period of time, a doctor should be consulted, as there may be another cause of pain, such as appendicitis or a cyst. Pain and ovulation do not have to occur synchronously. It is possible that the pain occurs earlier than ovulation, or that the pain is caused by the fluid in the follicle, i.e. that the pain is delayed. Orientation to the midline pain is therefore not suitable as a reliable contraceptive method or as a means of family planning. If there is a desire for pregnancy, planning with fertility tests is a more

safer method.

Complications

During ovulation, there may be frequent pain in the abdomen. Therefore, it is necessary to make an accurate distinction from the normal state during previous cycles. The normal so-called middle pain, generally lasts one to two days. If this is not the case, a doctor should be consulted. The characteristic of a painful abdomen may also indicate other, more serious causes. There is a possibility of ectopic pregnancy, in which a fertilized egg implants in the mucous membrane of the fallopian tube. The method of treatment in most cases involves surgical removal of this egg, otherwise damage to the fallopian tube may occur. In some patients, ectopic pregnancy is also terminated by natural miscarriage. Sudden pain should also be monitored, as it could be a ruptured ovarian cyst. This would make surgical intervention to remove it and reduce damage inevitable. Ovarian cysts are very common in women and are usually not harmful to health further. However, they can always cause pain during ovulation.This middle pain can also be mistaken for appendicitis, which should be treated in any case.

When should you go to the doctor?

Not every woman experiences pain during ovulation – but if she does, it is very mild and lasts only a few seconds. Women feel a tiny twinge at this time, which usually disappears immediately. Soon after, menstruation begins or the egg is fertilized and it stops. If pain occurs more frequently during ovulation or even every time, this is not yet a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor, even if the affected woman did not feel her ovulation at all beforehand. However, the woman should take advantage of the next check-up to address the new observation. In the ultrasound image, the gynecologist can usually confirm that everything is okay – if not, he would notice the first irregularities so that he can make a diagnosis. On the other hand, women should be alert if pain during ovulation not only occurs regularly, but is also more painful than a small prick or if the pain lasts longer. If there are physical changes to the ovaries, it is only to be expected that ovulation will also feel different and may even be associated with pain. Pain during ovulation can be a first indication of a disease, which can thus be detected and treated in time. In such cases, it is advisable not to wait until the next preventive examination before consulting a doctor.

Treatment and therapy

A well-known remedy, which also often provides initial relief from period pain, is heat. Hot water bottles or spelt pillows contribute warmed up to the relief of the middle pain. Optimally, you go to bed with a warm pillow and a hot cup of tea and try to relax. In many cases, a hot bath can also help relax and moderate the pain. Since ovulation pain can also be aggravated by a deficiency in the body, giving minerals such as magnesium has also been shown to relieve symptoms. If the pain is rather mild, you can try to stimulate blood circulation through exercise and relieve the mid-pain in this way. A light massage of the abdominal wall also works wonders in some cases. However, if the pain during ovulation is severe, taking painkillers may also be a solution. However, these should only be considered if the pain interferes with everyday life. Under constant stress, it will be difficult to effectively combat the pain. Relaxation is therefore particularly important in the treatment of harmless middle pain.

Outlook and prognosis

Most women do not notice their ovulation directly. However, some experience regular pain when ovulating, which feels like a small sting. Although they do not always occur, they are felt every few months or, by individual women, actually every month. The pain signals that an egg is on its way to the fallopian tube. Usually, the pain is only a small, sharp pain that is noticed but is also not a big deal. If it is perceived as bad, it is usually just because it is unexpected and the woman herself needs a moment to understand what it might have been. Some women experience ovulation pain only once in their life, in others it occurs mainly during puberty, while other women experience it a few times after childbirth. All these cases are completely harmless. However, if a more severe pain occurs regularly around the time of ovulation, the woman should consult a doctor about it. Severe pain at ovulation is not normal and either indicates a problem or has another cause and is not due to ovulation itself. Only a doctor can give a definite answer here.

Prevention

Since ovulation pain is caused by a natural process of the healthy body, it is not possible to take effective prevention against it. However, the acute pain can be treated well with the above-mentioned remedies. An exception is taking the birth control pill. Since the pill suppresses the monthly ovulation, in the vast majority of cases there is no mittelschmerz. However, under no circumstances should the contraceptive pill be taken to prevent mittelschmerz.Since this has strong hormonal active ingredients and can cause side effects, the pill is only recommended for use as a contraceptive method.

What you can do yourself

Ovulation disorders often manifest as stabbing, pulling pains in the abdomen that occur in waves and can last for one to two days. Affected women should in any case consult a doctor to rule out a serious disease of the sexual organs. If there is no serious underlying disease, these ailments can also be treated with home remedies. Many women find a hot water bottle or a cherry pit pillow on the lower abdomen or a hot bath helps. A healthy, plant-based diet in combination with sufficient exercise is also said to have a beneficial effect. Moderate endurance sports, for example swimming, cycling or walking, can cause the acute wave of pain to subside more quickly and permanently. In addition, relaxation massages, especially of the lower abdomen and lower back, can have an alleviating effect. Relaxation techniques such as Tai Chi, yoga or autogenic training are also recommended. In naturopathy, a number of teas and tinctures are used. For example, a tea made from dried lady’s mantle is recommended. For this purpose, two teaspoons of the herb are poured over hot water. The tea must steep until the water has cooled enough for the decoction to be drunk in small sips. Some women also drink soy milk coffee instead of herbal tea. Scientific studies confirming the effectiveness of these home remedies have not yet been conducted. However, over-the-counter painkillers from the pharmacy are helpful in any case.