Midcycle pain
Key points
- Mittelschmerz is one-sided lower-Abdominal pain that occurs in women at or around the time of ovulation.
- About 20% of women experience mittelschmerz, or pain associated with ovulation.
- Other diagnostic procedures (such as an Abdominal ultrasound) may be performed to rule out other causes of ovarian pain if ovulatory pain is prolonged.
- Pain relievers (analgesics) may be needed in cases of prolonged or intense pain.
Alternative names
Ovulation pain; Mittelschmerz
Definition
Mittelschmerz is one-sided lower-Abdominal pain that occurs in women at or around the time of ovulation.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
About 20% of women experience mittelschmerz, or pain associated with ovulation. The pain may occur just before, during, or after ovulation.
There are several explanations for the cause of this pain. Just prior to ovulation, follicle growth may stretch the surface of the ovary, causing pain. At the time of ovulation, fluid or blood is released from the ruptured egg follicle and may cause irritation of the abdominal lining. Mittelschmerz may be felt on one side one month, then switch to the opposite side the next month, or it may be felt on the same side for several months in succession.
The pain is not harmful and does not signify the presence of disease. In fact, women who feel this pain may be at an advantage when planning or trying to avoid pregnancy. A woman is most likely to become pregnant either just before, on the day of, or several days after ovulation, although birth control methods that rely solely on predicting ovulation are far from completely reliable.
Symptoms
Lower-Abdominal pain that is:
- One-sided
- Recurrent or with similar pain in past
- Typically lasting minutes to a few hours, but may extend as long as 24-48 hours
- Usually sharp, cramping, distinctive pain
- Severe (rare)
- May switch sides from month to month or from one episode to another
- Begins midway through the menstrual cycle
Signs and tests
A pelvic examination shows no abnormalities. Other diagnostic procedures (such as an Abdominal ultrasound) may be performed to rule out other causes of ovarian pain if ovulatory pain is prolonged.
Treatment
No treatment is usually necessary. Pain relievers (analgesics) may be needed in cases of prolonged or intense pain.
Expectations (prognosis)
The outcome is expected to be excellent.
Complications
There are usually no complications.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
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