Source: bodyandsoul.com.au
For years, Shelby* would get a pain in her lower abdomen around once a month. It didn’t happen during her period – but it did kind of feel like period pain. The pain would last for around six to eight hours and was a “sharp, stabbing pain,” Shelby says.
One month, the pain would be on her left. The next month, she’d feel it on her right. It wasn’t until Shelby started using a period tracker app about ten years ago that she realised that the pain she was having coincided with ovulating.
In other words, she discovered she experiences mittelschmerz.
What is mittelschmerz?
If you haven’t heard of mittelschmerz, you’re not alone. Though it’s a mouthful, it’s actually a German word meaning ‘middle pain’. While it can feel like period pain, mittelschmerz is actually due to ovulation pain. In case you’re not up to date on all the technicalities of ovulation, ovulation is when the ovary releases an egg. That egg then can be fertilised, if you get pregnant.
According to Better Health Channel, approximately one in five women experience pain during ovulation. In the majority of cases, as with Shelby, it doesn’t mean there’s anything’s wrong.
What does mittelschmerz, or ovulation pain feel like?
Mittelschmerz is often felt around the area of the ovary, meaning either to the left or right of the midline of the abdomen, down low. The pain can be felt as pressure, sharp pain, a twinge or cramps. It can pass in a matter of minutes, go for a few hour or may even last for a couple of days.
Why does ovulation pain happen?
According to Better Health Channel, there are two main theories as to why ovulation can be painful for some women. One theory relates to the pressure of the follicle (which contains the egg) stretching the ovary.
The other theory relates to the bursting of the follicle. You see, when the egg is mature, it bursts out of the follicle and can cause a bit of bleeding. That bleeding can then irritate parts of the stomach lining, which can be painful.
What can I do to ease ovulation pain?
In most cases, the pain of mittelschmerz isn’t too bad, so you might not need to do anything to help treat it. If you do need some extra help, you can try using a hot pack, doing some gentle stretches, or reaching for some simple painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen (if you don’t have any reasons that you can’t use them).
In other words – you can try the same kinds of stuff you’d reach for if you had period pain.
Help! My mittelschmerz is awful! What should I do?
If you suffer from severe pain in between your periods, it’s definitely worth seeing your GP. That’s because you could have something else that’s causing your pain.
For example, you might have an infection of the fallopian tubes (called salpingitis), endometriosis, or another pelvic or abdominal issue. If that’s the case, you need to make sure you receive a proper diagnosis, investigations and treatment if needed.
Lastly, if the pain of mittelschmerz is ever super-intense, continues for longer than a couple of days, or is associated with unusual symptoms such as heavy bleeding from down below, you should also see your doctor.