Can i cramp during ovulation

Seek urgent medical help appendicitis — inflammation of the appendix can sometimes be confused with ovulation pain. Seek urgent medical help if the pain is on the right side of your abdomen and you are experiencing nausea and vomiting other gastrointestinal problems — lower abdominal pain can be symptomatic of a range of gastrointestinal problems, including perforated ulcer, gastroenteritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Suggestions on taking care of benign ovulation pain yourself include: Try to relax. If the pain is particularly bothersome, rest in bed whenever you can. Use pain-relieving medication. Apply warmth to your lower abdomen.

Use heat packs, hot water bottles or warm baths. Take anti-inflammatory medication. See your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations. The pill and other forms of hormonal contraceptive can prevent ovulation pain because they stop ovulation.

Talk over this option with your doctor. See your doctor if you experience ovulation pain that lasts longer than three days, or if you have other symptoms such as heavy bleeding or discharge. Ovulation pain and family planning Chances of conception are high if a couple have sex in the days before, during and after ovulation. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No.

View all reproductive system - female. Related information. From other websites eMedicine Consumer Health. Content disclaimer Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Reviewed on: Some people do not experience the cramping every month or do not have the same amount of discomfort every month. The sensation of ovulation cramping can range from mild discomfort to intense pain.

It may be difficult to identify the cause of the pain, especially if ovulation cramps do not occur every month. The primary symptom of ovulation cramping is pain on one side of the abdomen, and this typically lasts 3—12 hours.

However, a person who has had ovarian surgery may experience the pain until menstruation. Ovulation pain occurs right before, during, or right after the release of an egg, which is also when a female is most likely to become pregnant. As a result, the sensation may help with recognizing fertility. However, people who do not want to conceive should not use ovulation cramps to determine when it is safe to have unprotected sex — this method is not accurate, the University of California note, and could result in unintended pregnancy.

Some people who menstruate do not experience any discomfort during ovulation. A person might also recognize that they are ovulating by the following signs:. Ovulation cramps occur when one ovary releases an egg. If sperm do not fertilize the egg, the menstrual cycle continues: the egg breaks and the uterus sheds its lining.

If sperm do fertilize the egg, the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Implantation can cause cramping. It can also cause a small amount of bleeding or spotting, which can occur 3—14 days after fertilization. Implantation bleeding is typically brownish and the flow is light. Various health conditions cause abdominal cramps, which may happen to occur in the middle of the menstrual cycle and resemble ovarian cramping. Ovulation cramps typically go away on their own.

To relieve the pain, the following can often help :. If ovulation cramps go away within a few hours, a person usually does not need medical attention. Nobody is sure, but one theory is that ovulation pain is the egg breaking through the ovary wall, which releases a small amount of fluid or sometimes a small amount of blood that irritates nearby nerves. Page last reviewed: 02 August Next review due: 02 August Ovulation pain. Some women get a one-sided pain in their lower abdomen when they ovulate.

Symptoms of ovulation pain The pain can be a dull cramp or a sharp and sudden twinge. When to see your doctor See your GP if the pain is severe or you're worried. Treatments for painful ovulation Painful ovulation can usually be eased by simple remedies like soaking in a hot bath or taking an over-the-counter painkiller, such as paracetamol. If you're in a lot of discomfort, talk to your GP about other treatment options.