Ovulation pain is often normal. It is usually linked to your periods.
Some women get pain on one side of their lower tummy when their ovary releases an egg (ovulate). This is about 14 days before your period.
Symptoms of ovulation pain
The pain can be a dull cramp or a sharp and sudden twinge.
It's usually on either the left or right side of your tummy, depending on which ovary is releasing the egg.
It can last a few minutes or continue for 1 to 2 days.
Some women notice a little vaginal bleeding when it happens.
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if:
- the pain is severe or you're worried
What we mean by severe pain
Severe pain:
- always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
- you cannot sleep
- it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
- you cannot work due to the pain
Moderate pain:
- always there
- makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
- you can manage to get up, wash or dress
Mild pain:
- comes and goes
- is annoying but does not stop you from doing things like going to work
It's a good idea to keep a diary before your visit so that you can tell your GP:
- exactly when the pain starts during your menstrual cycle
- how long it lasts
Easing ovulation pain
Ovulation pain can usually be eased by:
- soaking in a hot bath
- taking painkillers you can get without a prescription, such as paracetamol
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen may also help. But you should not take them if you're trying to get pregnant as they can interfere with ovulation.
If you're in a lot of discomfort, talk to your GP about other treatment options.
Birth control methods, such as the contraceptive pill or contraceptive implant stop ovulation. So you will not have ovulation pain.
Types of contraception - sexualwellbeing.ie
Causes of ovulation pain
The cause of ovulation pain is not fully known. It may be caused by the egg breaking through the ovary wall. This releases a small amount of fluid (or sometimes blood) that irritates nearby nerves.
Ovulation pain is common and usually harmless. But it can sometimes be a symptom of an existing medical condition.
For example:
- endometriosis
- scar tissue - if you've had surgery, scar tissue can restrict your ovaries and surrounding areas
- ovarian cysts - these may form when you ovulate and contain a small amount of blood, but they usually resolve by themselves
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - sexualwellbeing.ie
STIs such as chlamydia can cause inflammation and scarring around the fallopian tubes.
Some of these medical conditions can result in fertility problems.
Contact your GP if you are worried about any of these conditions.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
