Can Ovulation cause cramps?
Mild cramps and pain may occur around Ovulation. Medically, this pain is called mittelschmerz. Mittelschmerz, a German term for “middle pain”, is the German name.
Some women will experience cramping pains during Ovulation, but not all women. You won’t feel cramps monthly if you regularly experience them during Ovulation.
How to recognize ovulation pain
Ovulation pain can last from a few minutes to a few hours, but it usually doesn’t last more than a day. This pain is most common just before Ovulation. It’s usually a dull, dull, and achy feeling on one side or the other of your lower abdomen. Some women may feel the pain sharply and intensely.
What causes midcycle cramps
Ovulation is when an egg matures from the ovarian follicle. It usually occurs midway through a woman’s menstrual cycle. Ovulation occurs around day 14 if you have 28 days. Day one is the day you start to bleed.
Although the exact cause of ovulation discomfort is not known, it could be due to:
- Rapid growth and expansion of ovarian follicles that house the ripe eggs. This can cause cramp-like pain.
- The abdomen lining and pelvis are irritated due to blood, fluid, or other chemicals that usually accompany Ovulation.
There are other reasons midcycle cramps can occur.
An underlying medical condition may cause midcycle pain. These conditions are most commonly caused by estrogen, the female hormone that peaks around Ovulation.
Other conditions can cause pain in the midcycle:
- Endometriosis. This condition may also cause infertility and painful periods.
- Uterine fibroids. Other symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding and painful periods.
- Ovarian cysts. Although most ovarian cancers do not cause pain, the cyst can rupture and cause your ovary to twist around supporting tissues if it grows too large. This is an ovarian twist and can cause severe, unintended pain.
What other signs are there of Ovulation?
Although mittelschmerz is a sign that Ovulation may be imminent, it is not the only indicator.
Elevation of basal body temperature at rest
Ovulation can be indicated by a slight increase in your basal body temperature. This is the temperature you take in the morning before getting out of bed.
This is how you can chart the slight change.
- Basal body thermometers measure your temperature when you wake up and leave bed. undefined
- Keep track of your temperature throughout your menstrual cycle.
- You should expect an increase.
Most women will experience a 0.4% to 0.8 increase in their temperature around Ovulation. Temperature changes can occur suddenly or slowly over several days. This temperature change will likely cause you to ovulate within three working days.
Your cervical mucus may change.
Your body’s hormone changes cause your cervix to produce mucus. Your cervix opens to your uterus.
During your menstrual cycle, the cervical mucus can change:
- You might not feel any mucus after your menstrual cycle stops.
- You might notice a yellowish, cloudy discharge on your underwear or toilet paper a few days later.
- As the ovulation date approaches, your mucus becomes clearer, thinner, and stringier. It can be stretched between two fingers. This mucus helps transport the sperm to fertilization eggs.
These subtle changes in mucus can be difficult to detect. You’ll need to monitor your cervical mucus and check it daily.
There are other ways to determine if you have Ovulation.
Undefined These tests measure the amount of luteinizing hormone in your urine. You will experience an LH boost right before you ovulate.
An OPK requires that you test your urine every day around the time of your expected period. However, some tests have an easier-to-read digital display. These are usually more expensive.
You can also use other kits that are cheaper than a pregnancy test. After you dip the strip in urine, compare the control line with the LH line. If the LH line is darker than the LH, it indicates your LH surge.
