Ovulation can it be painful

See your doctor if your ovulation pain lasts longer than three days or is associated with other unusual menstrual symptoms, such as heavy bleeding. In most cases, ovulation pain is harmless. However, severe and prolonged ovulation pain, or other pains felt in the lower abdomen, can be symptomatic of various medical conditions including:. Tests that help determine whether ovulation pain is harmless or caused by infection or disease may include:. Suggestions on taking care of benign ovulation pain yourself include:.

Chances of conception are high if a couple have sex in the days before, during and after ovulation. Some women rely on ovulation pain to help them plan a pregnancy.

Always use other methods of contraception. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Androgen deficiency in women and its treatment is controversial, and more research is needed.

IVF in-vitro-fertilization and ICSI intracytoplasmic sperm injection are assisted reproductive treatment ART procedures in which fertilisation of an egg occurs outside the body.

Bacterial vaginosis BV is caused by an imbalance of the bacteria normally present in the vagina. Bladder prolapse is when the bladder bulges into the vagina.

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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Reproductive system - female. Some women notice a little vaginal bleeding when it happens. It's a good idea to keep a diary before your visit. Let the doctor know exactly when during your menstrual cycle the pain comes on and how long it lasts.

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. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs like ibuprofen may also help, but you should not take them if you're trying to get pregnant as they can interfere with ovulation.

Birth control methods that stop ovulation, such as the contraceptive pill or contraceptive implant , can completely banish ovulation pain. Painful ovulation is fairly common and usually harmless.

But it can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. 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.

A person should contact a healthcare provider if they have cramping and:. Ovulation cramping is often mild and goes away after a few hours. It can let people who want to conceive know that the time might be right.

However, people who do not want to conceive should not rely on ovulation cramps to indicate fertility. This is not an effective way to time unprotected sex.