Ovulation (from the Latin ovum - ‘egg’) is a physiological process during which an egg ready for fertilization is released into the abdominal cavity from an ovarian follicle. This process occurs in women from the moment of puberty until the onset of menopause, interrupted only during pregnancy. Ovulation and conception are two inseparable concepts. On the days of ovulation, the female body is ready for fertilization.
Ovulation: the day of the cycle when the egg is ready to be fertilized
The process occurs at intervals of 21–35 days, depending on the length of the menstrual cycle, approximately in its middle. As a rule, menstruation occurs 12–16 (on average 14) days after ovulation.
Ovulation: symptoms that indicate readiness to conceive
In the middle of the menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs, the symptoms of which can be either weak or pronounced depending on the individual characteristics of the body:
1) painful sensations in the lower abdomen;
2) sexual desire increases;
3) more mucus is released in the cervix;
4) the color of the discharge may change.
1. Pain during ovulation
Not all women experience pain during or after ovulation. According to statistics, pain is observed in only one in five women. You can feel pain during ovulation due to slight bleeding: the follicle bursts, and, in addition to the egg, follicular fluid comes out of it, as well as small blood clots.
- Mild pain during ovulation- a normal phenomenon.
During ovulation, the lower abdomen hurts - where the ovaries are located. The pain may be cutting, stabbing or cramping. Duration is about an hour, but for some women it lasts a day or two. If pain during ovulation is severe, tell your gynecologist.
The ovaries work alternately: in one month the follicle matures in the right ovary, in another month in the left ovary. For this reason, pain during ovulation is usually felt either on the right or on the left.
Gynecologists explain pain during ovulation by saying that the Graafian vesicle stretches the walls of the ovary. Also, pain during ovulation is associated with the fact that fluid flows out of the burst follicle. It stimulates contractions of the uterus and fallopian tubes, which causes pain during ovulation.
- Pain after ovulation- not such a common occurrence.
If signs of ovulation bother you, consult a specialist. Pain after ovulation, for example a week before your period, may be a sign of ovarian inflammation or other problems with the reproductive system. Pain during ovulation, before or after it, is not necessarily associated with the release of an egg: most gynecological diseases are accompanied by pain of varying nature and intensity.
2. Increased sex drive
Pain during ovulation has little effect on sexuality: for many, sexual desire even increases. Nature itself tells you: ovulation has begun and conception is now most likely.
3. Discharge during ovulation
If you are interested in how to determine ovulation, just watch your body:
- discharge can begin a few hours before ovulation and last up to two days;
- Discharge during ovulation becomes thinner compared to discharge before and immediately after menstruation.
Liquid discharge is one of the signs by which you can determine that you have begun ovulation, and pregnancy is most likely. At the same time, they look like egg whites and should “stretch” between your fingers.
4. Changed color of discharge
The color of the discharge may be reddish and look like slight bleeding or pinkish. Please note: there should not be a lot of blood. Uterine bleeding can be life-threatening, for example, if the uterine fibroids have a pedicle that becomes twisted.
The above symptoms allow you to determine the approximate days of ovulation. If the discharge has become thinner, this does not necessarily mean that ovulation has occurred.
- WITH 1st On the day of menstruation, the follicular, or menstrual, phase begins. During this period, several follicles begin to grow in the ovaries.
- WITH 7th day and until the middle of the cycle, the ovulatory phase lasts. At this time, the main follicle is released - the Graafian vesicle. The egg matures in it.
- 14th day 28-day cycle - ovulation. On this day of the Graafs, the bubble bursts: a mature egg comes out of it, which, perhaps, will become the beginning of a new life. It is at this moment that a woman may feel pain during ovulation. In the days after ovulation, the egg travels to the uterus through the fallopian tube. According to various sources, the egg lives for 24–48 hours, but many girls, when asked how long ovulation lasts, answer that they became pregnant up to 5 days after they received positive test results for LH.
- WITH 15th day, the corpus luteum phase begins - this is the period after ovulation and before the start of the next menstruation. The walls of the ruptured follicle gather like flower petals in the evening, accumulating fats and luteal pigment, which gives them a yellow color. The modified Graafian vesicle is now called the corpus luteum - hence the name of the period.
The cycle changes:
- within one year
- after childbirth;
- within three months after the abortion;
- after 40 years, when the body prepares for menopause.
Lack of ovulation, or anovulation
Ovulation and pregnancy are closely related, so the absence of the former leads to the inability to have a child. However, even in a healthy woman, the egg does not mature in every cycle. Two to three cycles per year with anovulation are normal. With age, the number of such periods increases.
But if there are four or more anovulations in a year, consult a doctor. As in cases when a woman has severe pain in the lower abdomen during ovulation, this may be a symptom of endocrine or gynecological diseases.
Lack of ovulation is observed when:
- pregnancy;
- menopause;
- hormonal imbalance;
- taking certain medications.
If you want to have a child, ovulation is stimulated with hormonal drugs. But don't self-medicate. Stimulation should be carried out under the supervision of an experienced doctor: he will examine you, conduct the necessary tests and prescribe medications that suit you.
Types of ovulation:
- timely;
- premature ovulation;
- late.
Causes of premature ovulation
Premature is the release of an egg not in the middle of the menstrual cycle, but earlier. It can happen for various reasons:
- intense sexual intercourse;
- physical activity (weight lifting, gym training);
- stress;
- diet;
- illness;
- hormonal imbalance.
If you have an unstable cycle, it is difficult to talk about premature ovulation, since the hormonal system does not work normally.
Please note: even stress can cause premature ovulation. Due to nervous tension, attempts to lose weight, diseases that we do not always even pay attention to, premature ovulation can occur quite often.
Causes of late ovulation
Sometimes, due to hormonal imbalances, late ovulation may occur. If in the middle of the cycle your stomach does not hurt and there are suspicions that you have late ovulation, undergo folliculometry - tracking ovulation using ultrasound.
Answers to popular questions about ovulation
How many days does ovulation last?
Having left the follicle, the egg, according to various sources, “lives” for 24–48 hours - this is the period of ovulation. Depending on how many days ovulation lasts - one or two - your chances of getting pregnant change.
Ovulation: what day should you plan to conceive?
If you are planning a pregnancy, you need to consider how long ovulation lasts and how long the sperm lives. After ovulation, the egg lives only one day, and the sperm - 2-3 days. Based on this, in order to get pregnant, sexual intercourse should occur no earlier than 2-3 days before and no later than 24 hours after ovulation.
How to avoid getting pregnant, knowing when ovulation occurs (day of the cycle)?
Due to late and premature ovulation, due to the fact that in some men sperm live longer than 7 days, as well as a whole range of other reasons, the calendar method is the same “reliable” method of contraception as interrupted intercourse (Pearl index for the calendar method - 14–38.5, and for interrupted sexual intercourse - 12–38). Even if your lower abdomen hurts during ovulation and you know exactly when it passes, this will not protect you from unwanted pregnancy.
Is it possible to get pregnant with late or premature ovulation?
Yes, sure.
How does an ovulation test work?
In the middle of the menstrual cycle, the level of luteinizing hormone increases. An ovulation test is designed to determine the amount of it in the urine.
Using the test is easier than measuring your basal temperature every day and drawing an ovulation chart. In clinical trials, the test gives a very high level of accuracy - 99%. If you follow the instructions, you can accurately determine the most favorable period for conception. Although some medications may cause incorrect results.
Most often, the test contains 5 strips in sealed packages. In addition to these, you may additionally need a watch.
As soon as you notice signs of ovulation, such as ovulation pain, take a test to make sure it has passed. How to use the ovulation test is usually indicated on the packaging. Usually used in the same way as a pregnancy test: collect the urine in a clean, dry container and place the test strip there for 5-10 seconds until the indicated mark. In 10 minutes you will know the result.
How much does an ovulation test cost?
An ovulation test, the price of which varies among different manufacturers, usually costs more than a pregnancy test. If you want to get pregnant, buy an ovulation test: its price is small compared to the fact that you are bringing your dream closer. A set of five Frautest strips costs about 300 rubles, Eviplan - about the same, OVUPLAN - cheaper, up to 200 rubles.
If you suspect a lack of ovulation or for some other reason want to do tests in each cycle, you can purchase a reusable digital test - it costs about 1,000 rubles. This is especially convenient if you ovulate prematurely or too late.
How can you use a basal temperature chart to determine when an egg is released?
On what day does ovulation occur? This question interests many women: those who are not yet ready to join their family and are protecting themselves from unwanted pregnancy, and those who dream and want to become a mother.
During ovulation, basal temperature rises by 0.3–0.6 °C, and about a day before it drops slightly. By measuring her temperature daily and plotting a chart, a woman can know about the onset of ovulation the day before it begins. Determining ovulation by basal temperature is a simple method, but it is not 100% accurate.
Basal temperature rises slightly during ovulation. It must be measured in the morning at the same time, in a lying position, without getting out of bed. You need to use the same thermometer. To measure the temperature, you need to insert a medical thermometer into the anus for 5 minutes. You enter these measurements into an ovulation chart, which shows the days of your menstrual cycle and your temperature.
From the beginning of menstruation until the middle of the cycle, the temperature is below 37 °C. When the egg matures, the temperature rises only a few tenths of a degree, but a noticeable jump will be visible on the graph. This is the period of ovulation: a favorable time for conception if you want to have a child, and the most “dangerous” time if you are not yet planning on adding to the family.
How does the calendar method of determining ovulation work?
To find out when ovulation occurs (on what day of the cycle), count how many days pass from the beginning of one menstruation to the beginning of another. The time of ovulation occurs in the middle of the cycle, plus or minus two days. That is, if 28 days pass from the first day of menstruation to the onset of the next menstruation, then ovulation occurs on the 14th–15th day. If your cycle is 35 days long, then it occurs on the 17th–18th day after the start of your period. These days, some women experience ovulation pain and other symptoms described above.
Are there ways to EXACTLY determine on what day ovulation occurs?
How to determine ovulation with 100% probability? There are two ways.
1. Ultrasound: during the procedure, the size and stage of development of the follicle is determined, and it is also calculated when it will burst and an egg will be released from it, or ovulation will occur.
2. Blood test for luteinizing hormone: This is a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. Its level in the body increases significantly before ovulation. The work of pharmacy ovulation tests is based on the same principle.
Is it possible to get pregnant in the days after ovulation?
After ovulation, the greatest chance of getting pregnant remains within 24 hours (according to some sources - 36–48 hours). If conception does not occur, the egg dies.
In the middle of the cycle, every month for all healthy women, the most important moment occurs, ovulation, when an egg ready for fertilization is released from the ovary. And this moment can sometimes be painful; abdominal pain may occur, usually minor and quickly passing, which may be accompanied by the appearance of the same short-term bleeding (not necessarily, but possible).
In most cases, these nagging pains during ovulation and discharge are not at all dangerous, and do not require any treatment or attention from a doctor, but sometimes they are quite severe, or their cause is not ovulation at all, but much more dangerous health problems.
In this article we will look at why pain occurs during ovulation, what should be considered normal, and in what cases you need to see a doctor.
Causes
The causes of pain during ovulation are quite understandable.
Starting from the first days of your next menstrual cycle, the process of follicle maturation occurs in one of the ovaries, right or left.
Usually, only 1 follicle matures in 1 cycle; it is called the dominant one, and by the 14th day of the menstrual cycle it is a fairly large fluid-filled vesicle. Inside this vesicle is an egg. So that she can be freed and go on her journey through the fallopian tube to the uterus, the vesicle has to burst, which happens in most women, this is ovulation.
Meanwhile, the wall of the vesicle on the ovary is formed by living cells of your body, there are many vessels in it, and of course, if they rupture, they are damaged. In most cases, these vessels are small and thin, severe bleeding does not occur, but sometimes a sufficiently large vessel is damaged and then this or that amount of blood is poured into the abdominal cavity.
Pain during ovulation means that this is exactly what happened to you. Blood irritates the peritoneum, causing pain. Pain during ovulation is possible, even if there is no hemorrhage - if a woman is naturally highly sensitive and, in principle, does not tolerate any painful or unpleasant sensations.
Since nature arranges that during the current cycle one ovary works, and the other rests, and in the next cycle everything happens the other way around, pain in the ovaries during ovulation can also sometimes be on the right, and in another month on the left.
Pain in the right ovary during ovulation is more common; this is due to the peculiarities of the innervation and blood circulation of the woman’s pelvic organs and the close location of the appendix. It is known that adnexitis (inflammation of the ovary) also occurs more often on the right.
In rare cases, follicle rupture is so violent that damage to the tissue of the ovary itself occurs, which is accompanied by significant bleeding into the abdominal cavity and is called ovarian apoplexy. In such cases, it is quite sharp, severe pain during ovulation, which is described as cutting. They are accompanied by dizziness, cold sweat, severe weakness and decreased blood pressure. This is a rather dangerous situation that requires the attention of a doctor.
Why does not everyone experience pain during ovulation and not every cycle?
Nature has arranged it this way that a woman’s fertility decreases every year. Not every menstrual cycle is accompanied by the release of an egg ready for conception, and the older the woman, the less chance there is for full ovulation and conception.
In addition, everyone's sensitivity is different. Some people feel nothing at all, while others have a very sensitive nervous system and experience pain.
Those women who experience discomfort or pain during ovulation find it easier to get pregnant than others - they know when the chances of conception are very high. And for those who do not feel this event at all, only a basal temperature chart and an ovulation test can help you find out your favorable days.
During the period of ovulation, other changes in the body are possible that indicate that this event has occurred: there may be slight spotting associated with a sharp drop in the level of hormones - estrogen in the blood, and the level of progesterone is still too low.
In the first days, there is simply nothing to produce progesterone; the corpus luteum is responsible for its production, which will form at the site of the follicle that burst when the egg was released. And since the level of sex hormones is very low, the endometrium of the uterus may begin to partially exfoliate, which serves as a source of bleeding.
This should not be confused with implantation bleeding associated with pregnancy; it is possible a little later, approximately 7-10 days after ovulation, even before the next menstruation is due.
Pain as a symptom of ovulation
We have figured out the reasons, but what should be considered normal and what should be considered pathology? What kind of pain can occur during ovulation and how long does it last?
Many women never find out during their entire lives whether they have pain during ovulation, while others suffer from it almost every cycle.
Sometimes it happens that a woman who has never previously suffered from painful sensations begins to suffer almost every month after giving birth or suffering from an inflammatory disease of the reproductive system.
Symptoms may also appear after surgery and inflammation of other abdominal organs, for example, after appendicitis.
This is due to the fact that inflammatory processes change the structure of the ovarian membrane, it becomes denser and now ovulation is accompanied by greater pressure inside the vesicle before rupture, and possibly more severe bleeding. Adhesions in the pelvis also play a role, which inevitably occur if there was any inflammation in the abdomen.
In the photo you see an ovary with a mature follicle, look at this shiny, tense bubble, ready to burst - of course, if its wall is denser than normal - and the pain when rupture will be stronger.
So whether a particular woman has pain during ovulation may indicate her overall health status.
There may be pain during ovulation that lasts only a few hours and then goes away completely, but sometimes it lasts several days. As a rule, it occurs in the lower abdomen, pulling or aching in nature, and is felt on the right or left (women call this pain in the ovary, or they say that it hurts in the side, quite clearly characterizing the place where they have pain).
If the hemorrhage was severe enough, the blood accumulates in the so-called pouch of Douglas. This is a “pocket” of peritoneum between the rectum and the back wall of a woman’s uterus. Irritation of the peritoneum here leads to the feeling that pain in the entire abdomen radiates to the lower back (the whole back hurts in its lower part), and sometimes... to the leg or pain in the groin.
Since the blood directly irritates the peritoneum covering the uterus, this causes pain associated with this organ (pain in the uterus). Irritation of the peritoneum covering the rectum leads to pain radiating to the anus.
Such severe and incomprehensible pains on the days of ovulation force the woman to consult a doctor. Often, they initially turn to a surgeon with a suspicion of acute surgical pathology, for example, appendicitis, and only after examination it is possible to find out why the stomach hurts.
Treatment
If you have mild, low-intensity, short-term pain during ovulation, no treatment is required.
How to relieve such pain during ovulation?
Rest, rest, and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antispasmodics (analgin, no-spa) help. In most cases, medications are not needed at all; the discomfort stops on its own within a few hours.
Another question is if you have very severe pain during ovulation. What to do in such cases should be decided only by a doctor, whom you should contact.
Don't forget: The period of egg release does not mean that the simultaneous development of any other serious disease is impossible. Maybe these painful sensations are not at all what you thought?
In what cases is it vital to see a doctor:
Severe abdominal pain that comes on suddenly and prevents you from sleeping, eating, or doing normal activities
Pain that is accompanied by vomiting, stool disturbances, and increased body temperature
Pain accompanied by weakness and dizziness, pale skin
Pain that does not go away for a long time, more than a day
Remember, pain during ovulation is normally almost invisible and does not affect your general condition. Usually, pain in the lower abdomen after ovulation goes away within a few hours, maximum 1-2 days. If this is not the case for you, there is reason to be alarmed.
Am I ovulating or something else?
Abdominal pain can have a variety of causes, and of course, if you are worried about any of the symptoms described above, you will first of all fall into the hands of surgeons. It is important to exclude a catastrophe in the abdominal cavity, first of all, acute appendicitis, in which the pain can be very similar and is usually localized in the right side.
How to distinguish pain during ovulation from appendicitis? Secretly, it’s difficult even for doctors, the symptoms are almost the same.
In the emergency room, the woman is examined by a surgeon, and suspecting that this is not his case, he invites her to a consultation with a gynecologist. Next, you will need to take a blood and urine test, and an abdominal ultrasound will be prescribed, which during ovulation reveals characteristic changes in the ovary and fluid in the abdominal cavity.
But what gynecologists most like in such unclear cases is a procedure called puncture of the posterior vaginal vault.
This rather painful and unpleasant manipulation is performed without anesthesia on a regular gynecological chair. The doctor makes a puncture in the area of the posterior vaginal vault, and the needle enters this same pouch of Douglas, described above. Based on its contents, you can immediately, without further examination, make an accurate diagnosis.
If they receive blood, the obvious cause is ovarian rupture during ovulation. Depending on how much of this blood has accumulated there, a decision is made on how to treat the patient further.
If the amount of content is small, relief occurs almost immediately after the puncture and after 1-2 days you will be allowed to go home. If there is a lot of blood and there are symptoms of ongoing internal bleeding, the diagnosis “ovarian apoplexy” will be made, and everything will end with surgery (the rupture of the ovary must be sutured to stop the blood loss, but that’s a slightly different story).
Hormonal changes in a woman’s body, if she is completely healthy, should not be accompanied by any symptoms. Chest pain, ovulatory pain in the ovaries, headaches before, during and after ovulation, mood changes - all these are symptoms that interfere with the quality of life and may indicate impaired women's health.
If you suffer from hormonal storms and accompanying symptoms from month to month, be sure to visit a gynecologist as planned.
Our health and ability to give birth to a strong and full-term baby in the future depends on how we treat ourselves. A woman is designed this way, she often neglects alarming symptoms until the last moment, not finding time and giving everything to those she loves, family, children, or even just work... But if we don’t take care of ourselves, who else will take care of us?
Contact your doctor promptly if you realize that something is wrong with you. Painful ovulation is also not normal and requires the attention of a gynecologist. Be healthy and happy.
Abdominal pain during ovulation is observed (and can be felt quite strongly) in one in five women. This is quite normal. Most often this occurs due to the formation of an egg. It comes out of a ruptured follicle, which can lead to slight bleeding and leakage of follicular fluid. Both fluid and blood irritate the receptors and, if a woman has a high pain threshold, cause pain.
How many days does this part of the body ache?
The stomach hurts and lasts from an hour to two days, while in different months the left and right sides may alternately hurt. This happens because the egg is produced alternately by the right and left ovary. Accordingly, the source of pain also changes.
Expert opinion on the frequency of the phenomenon
Pain during ovulation has been little studied and, according to many experts, depends solely on the characteristics of the woman’s body. Everyone has a different pain threshold and reaction of internal organs, including the uterus and intestines, to irritation by blood and follicular fluid.
Possible causes before, during and after egg release
Let's look at the causes of abdominal pain during different periods of ovulation:
- Before ovulation, pain can be caused by the process of the egg leaving the follicle.
- During ovulation, the growth of the egg follicle can also cause some discomfort.
- After ovulation. Pain usually does not last longer than two days after ovulation. If, after two days, you still feel pain, nagging sensations and malaise, you should immediately contact a gynecologist, as this may be a symptom of hormonal imbalance, adhesions and other diseases.
How exactly can discomfort be felt?
Depending Depending on the individual characteristics of a woman and her body, the symptoms of ovulation can be mild or pronounced. The pain can be different:
- A nagging pain in the lower abdomen is caused by contractions of the muscles of the uterus due to blood and fluid from the burst follicular sac getting on it.
- Abdominal pain during ovulation, as during menstruation. Also occur due to the release of the egg from the follicle and irritation of the walls of the uterus.
- Tingling of the ovary occurs after the release of the egg, when the site of the ruptured follicle begins to heal.
- Aching pain. The egg matures in a special follicle. When its walls are ready to burst, they stretch - and this process can cause aching pain. This is especially felt by women who naturally have a large egg size.
Pain syndrome can be associated not only with the ovulation process, but also with gynecological problems. Adhesive disease can increase pain. If a woman experiences too much pain or it lasts more than two or three days, she should consult a doctor.
Intestinal problems
During ovulation, intestinal motility increases, appetite changes, and irritable bowel syndrome occurs. That's why The following problems may occur:
Pathological pain
Periodic mild pain during ovulation should not surprise a woman. However, if the pain syndrome intensifies or does not go away within 2-3 days, these signs may become the first signs of serious gynecological diseases.
Before you think about going to the gynecologist, examine your body for the following signs:
- Absolute confidence that you are ovulating (fever, ultrasound or other tests).
- Constant pain on only one side (during normal functioning, eggs are produced alternately in the left and right ovaries).
- No vomiting, dizziness, weakness.
- The maximum temperature is between 37 and a maximum of 37.3 degrees.
Other symptoms of ovulation:
- soreness of the mammary glands;
- increased sexual desire;
- bloody or whitish discharge.
If a woman has a low pain threshold, has all five of the above signs, and the pain is intermittent and goes away after taking painkillers, everything is fine. If the pain is very intense and sharp, radiating to the side, you may have the following disease:
If the pain becomes pathological, you need to contact a gynecologist.
With a more thorough examination, the doctor will understand the cause of the pain.. The most common is hormonal imbalance. It is affected by stress, poor nutrition, the birth of a child and many other factors. Often, when there are hormonal imbalances, women are prescribed oral contraceptives, antibiotics, etc.
In cases where pain is caused by natural causes and a low pain threshold, it is recommended to prescribe painkillers to alleviate the condition. These may include anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and antispasmodics. Also, if you have absolute confidence in the natural causes of ovulation pain, you can resort to folk remedies:
If you have pain during ovulation, you need to listen to your body and notice the slightest changes. If pain bothers you for more than 72 hours, you should consult a doctor.
If all vital systems of the body are functioning normally, a woman should not feel any pain in the lower abdomen during the entire cycle. However, specialists often hear complaints from their patients that they experience pain before ovulation.
slight malaise, pulling sensations in the area of the lower peritoneum is a permissible phenomenon on the days of ovulation. Experts advise knowing the symptoms of this process and not confusing them with possible pathologies.
Once a month, the female body undergoes the process of maturation of an egg, ready for fertilization.
The hormonal background of women is designed in such a way that this process occurs two weeks before the onset of menstruation and lasts about five days. It is during this period that the likelihood of conceiving a child is highest.
On the days of ovulation, one follicle is released, which doctors call dominant. It is clearly visible during ultrasound examination. They may also show special tests; they can be bought at the pharmacy. When the follicle ruptures, an egg is released, ready for fertilization. This time is most suitable for.
It is precisely this phenomenon causes pain in the abdominal area before the onset of ovulation, because with follicular rupture minor mechanical damage to the ovaries can occur.
The follicle shell consists of living cells in which a huge number of vessels are located. At the moment of rupture, they are damaged, fluid is released from the follicle, flowing into the peritoneum, a small amount of blood can create internal irritation - hence abdominal pain.
At the time of ovulation, a woman may experience:
- Unpleasant sensations in the stomach area.
- Lower back.
- Bokov.
- In the lower abdominal cavity.
- There may also be pressure on the anus.
These sensations are due to the fact that the uterus contracts, contacting other organs, putting pressure on them. The nature of the pain may be as follows:
- Pulling sensations in the lower abdomen.
- Light tingling followed by pulsation in the abdominal cavity.
- Pressure on the anus, desire to defecate.
- Feeling that the vagina is expanding.
- With normal functioning of the female organs, pain during ovulation does not cause severe discomfort. Therefore, if you experience unbearable pain that does not go away within two hours, you should immediately consult a doctor.
How to relieve pain?
In modern pharmacology, there are many medications that can relieve women from suffering in the days before ovulation. You can use the following painkillers:
- No-shpa. The tablets not only relieve pain, but also relieve spasms.
- Okie. A strong pain reliever in powder form that must be diluted with water. Use with caution as it causes drowsiness.
- Ketorol. Effective tablets with a quick effect.
- Ketonov is an analogue of Ketorol.
You can purchase medicinal herbal preparations at the pharmacy that normalize the natural balance of hormones. For example, boron uterus has beneficial properties and helps normalize hormonal levels in women.
When to see a doctor?
If you experience pain continuously and Painkillers do not help for long, so you should consult a doctor.
- Ovarian apoplexy also has such symptoms; it is the rupture of one of the ovaries as a result of the formation of a cyst. Why is this dangerous? If timely treatment is not started, bleeding into the abdominal cavity will increase, which can even result in death.
- Apoplexy manifests itself differently in everyone: some experience a state of painful shock at the moment of rupture, while others endure for several days, confusing the symptoms with ovulation.
- Ectopic pregnancy is another dangerous factor that has similar symptoms. This term refers to a pregnancy that develops in the tubes, that is, fertilization did not occur in the uterus, as it should have been.
With an ectopic pregnancy, the woman notices absolutely no changes in the initial stages. Then, as the fertilized egg grows, mild pain begins, developing into unbearable pain. It can do the same. The danger is that a woman may not immediately understand that the pregnancy is ectopic. The signs are the same as for normal: delayed menstruation, positive test, slight malaise.
IMPORTANT! Only an early hCG analysis will help establish an accurate diagnosis. An ectopic pregnancy may not be immediately visible on an ultrasound. At the moment when the fetus reaches a suitable size, it may already be too late. If measures are not taken in time, the pipe will rupture.
Ovulatory pain that appears in the middle of the menstrual cycle signals that the female body is ready to conceive. Changes in hormonal levels (alternate release of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen) are the main cause of ovulatory pain. How long ovulatory pain lasts depends on the general condition of the body, natural hormonal levels, the presence of systemic diseases, as well as the individual characteristics of the reproductive system.
Causes of ovulatory pain
The process of ovulation rarely goes unnoticed: headaches, nagging pain in the lower abdomen, increased appetite, increased libido in the middle of the cycle are familiar to many women. Physiological changes in the reproductive system under the influence of hormones confirm the body’s readiness to conceive, bear and give birth to a child. The female body creates the most favorable conditions for the reproduction of offspring.
In the first phase of the menstrual cycle, active production of follicle-stimulating hormone by the pituitary gland and estrogen by the ovaries is observed, under the influence of which the maturation of the egg occurs. When it is finally formed, luteinizing hormone is activated, which promotes the release of the egg from the ovary. At the site of the burst follicle, a corpus luteum is formed, which secretes the hormone progesterone.
From the moment of ovulation, the reproductive system is ready for the process of fertilization.
Headache
Such hormone surges cannot go unnoticed: for this reason, during ovulation, headaches occur, sleep is disturbed (becomes shallow), and psycho-emotional instability appears. For some women, this is such a common occurrence that it is a symbolic signal of the onset of ovulation. In most cases, headaches occur in the temporal region. A headache during ovulation may also occur in the back of the head if a woman suffers from vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Bloating
Caused primarily by hormonal imbalance: the released progesterone suppresses the contraction of the muscles of the uterus to provide favorable conditions for the attachment of the fertilized egg and prevent miscarriage. The intestinal walls are also susceptible to the action of progesterone: slow peristalsis is a clear confirmation of this.
Slow movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract, insufficient production of enzymes, and stagnation of feces in the intestines contribute to the appearance of dyspepsia. Rotting food residues in the intestines activates the fermentation process and increases gas formation. Gases, as well as toxins released from decay products, penetrate the blood and spread throughout the body. Increased gas formation (flatulence) stretches the intestinal walls, causing pain in the abdominal cavity and groin.
Groin pain
Pain in the ovarian area is caused by rapid growth of the follicle, rupture of its membrane and stretching of the ovarian capsule. Unpleasant sensations arise in the groin area and radiate to the sacrum. This condition causes a deterioration in overall health, the appearance of apathy, weakness and irritability.
Pain in the groin area during ovulation is usually localized on one side and is accompanied by a change in vaginal secretion. Vaginal discharge becomes thick, viscous, and has a consistency similar to chicken protein. The appearance of ovulatory pain on both sides may indicate the simultaneous maturation of several eggs.
Alarming symptoms
Ovulatory pain goes away on its own after 2-3 days, provided there are no inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs, digestive system, or hormonal imbalance. If the pain observed before ovulation and at the time of its onset does not go away within a week, it makes sense to visit a gynecologist.
Ovulatory pain often turns into painful sensations during menstruation. This condition is attributed to premenstrual syndrome, neglecting the consultation of a gynecologist. However, there are exciting signs that cannot be ignored:
- ovulatory pain lasting more than a week;
- severe pain syndrome;
- Strong headache;
- nausea and vomiting;
- increased body temperature;
- diarrhea;
- the appearance of unnatural vaginal discharge in the middle of the menstrual cycle (purulent, sanguineous).
Particular attention should be paid to ovulatory pain in case of existing diseases of the endocrine, digestive, nervous, and reproductive systems in order to avoid possible complications during their exacerbation. Often, completely different conditions that require immediate medical attention are mistaken for ovulatory pain.
Severe ovulatory pain occurs after discontinuation of COCs. This phenomenon is associated with stimulation of the ovaries and increased production of hormones. In the case of drug stimulation of ovulation, the appearance of noticeable pain in the groin area is also typical.
The phenomena of intoxication against the background of ovulatory pain can cause poisoning with food, drugs, and hazardous household chemicals. An increase in body temperature to febrile levels and the appearance of an allergic reaction are not associated with the ovulation process. A change in the usual state in the middle of the menstrual cycle does not always indicate the development of pathology, but requires special attention and examination by a doctor .
The greatest danger is the development of neoplasms in the pelvic organs, including oncology. In this case, ignoring unpleasant symptoms threatens not only reproductive dysfunction, but also death. A consultation with a gynecologist will tell you whether this may be related to ovulation and whether treatment is required in this situation.
Help measures
Pain during ovulation is an unpleasant phenomenon for any woman. Therefore, the question of how long ovulatory pain normally lasts worries many. Usually the discomfort lasts for 24-48 hours. During this period, the egg matures, leaves the ovary and dies (or meets with a sperm). The persistence of ovulatory pain for more than 48 hours requires examination by a gynecologist.
For minor pain during ovulation, after consulting a specialist, use symptomatic medications that relieve pain, eliminate symptoms of intoxication, bloating, and normalize digestion:
- Nutrition correction– one of the important points that allows you to reduce the duration of ovulatory pain. It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods containing starch, plant fiber, sugar, yeast, gas, and caffeine. Dietary nutrition during the period of ovulation can reduce the duration and severity of pain in 80% of cases.
- Active lifestyle, feasible physical exercises aimed at increasing the tone of the muscles of the uterus and intestinal walls help reduce ovulatory pain in the middle of the cycle.
- No stress increases the body's resistance, promotes the normal course of natural physiological processes, prevents the appearance of tension headaches and lower abdominal pain during ovulation.
Ovulatory pain in the middle of the menstrual cycle for several days is a common occurrence among women of reproductive age. Pain of low intensity, self-limiting after ovulation, in most cases does not indicate pathology. A change in the nature of the pain, the appearance of new unpleasant symptoms requires additional consultation with a doctor. Taking care of your health and following your doctor’s recommendations will reduce the risk of pathological processes occurring in the body.
