Ovulation Pain

Ovulation pain is the discomfort sensation that occurs around ovulation in the lower abdomen. As long as its intensity remains low, pain during ovulation is normal in non-pregnant women.

Statistics show no less than one in five women accuses ovulation pain and discomfort, the intensity and duration of the pain varying from one person to another. Although unpleasant, this ovulation symptom shouldn't be an alarm signal unless it is accompanied by bleeding or the pain becomes severe after a while.

But why does this pain occur? Well the answer is simple: during the ovulation process, your body releases an ovule, which finds its way through the fallopian tube, heading toward the uterus. But in order to be eliminated, this ovule has to rupture through a follicle in which it developed and this process causes the mild or severe pain.

Also, as the egg passes through the fallopian tube, it may generate some pressure, which is usually felt and described also as pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen, on the right or left side. Normally, this pressure stretches the muscles and makes them contract rhythmically, resulting in the well known abdominal cramps which usually occur during ovulation.

Although in most women ovulation pain doesn't last for more than few hours, there are also cases when the abdominal discomfort lasts for days. In case this pain accentuates, you should see a doctor, as it may be a symptom of endometriosis, appendicitis or ovarian cysts, conditions that require immediate treatment.

Ovulation is a process during which your body undergoes several changes, the most known ones being the increase in the vaginal discharge and body basal temperature, the breasts tenderness, the higher sexual desire and the abdominal bloating. All these symptoms are normal and occur in most women, although during early pregnancy they may be a little more pronounced.

So is ovulation present in pregnant women too? Well it is, but only in the first month of pregnancy, as the actual gestation begins two weeks after the pregnancy starting date. In other words, in your first pregnancy month you do ovulate, as your body needs to release the ovule which gets fertilized in the third week. This means you may experience the ovulation pain in your early pregnancy.

As for the available remedies, in order to reduce the intensity of the pain, you can use some over the counter pain killers, such as ibuprofen, or apply a heating pad on the affected side of your abdomen. Still, avoid this method if you're trying to have a baby, as it may cause egg damage. Another solution is represented by warm baths, which relax the muscles, stopping the cramps and relieving the pain.

Unless you want to get pregnant, you can also rely on oral contraceptives, as they inhibit the ovulation process therefore they also reduce the discomfort. However, don't do this before talking to your doctor, as he may recommend you an alternative solution, compatible with pregnancy as well.

Last, increasing the daily intake of water may also help in relieving the ovulation pain. Dehydrated muscles are more prone to cramps, so as long as you drink plenty of liquids - preferably non-acid and non-alcoholic ones, you should be able to keep abdominal pain and discomfort away during ovulation.