During the ovulation period, a lot of women have reported to experience different kinds of pains. Some have even identified the pain as the identifying symptom of the ovulation period. Even though it is normal to feel the ovulation pain, the symptoms, and signs of ovulation may vary from person to person.
The symptoms of ovulation period are known to affect different women in different ways. There have also been many cases where a particular woman has not experienced the signs of ovulation at all. Also, there is no singular fixed time for ovulation. Different women have reported undergoing through ovulation at different times. In most cases, however, women tend to form routine with their body. This means that the ovulation period that occurs in 28 days starts roughly at the same time of each month. However, it is not a must or a necessary, proper time frame. Ovulation can happen on any day after the cycle gets completed. A lot of women also face ovulation in entirely different days of upcoming months, and it continues to vary month to month as well.
To be able to identify and track the signs and symptoms of ovulation, it is essential to be able to narrow down the period. As stated before, the period of ovulation may vary each month, but it may still give an approximate idea about when the next ovulation may take place. If the window of time for the next ovulation is narrowed down, it will be easier to identify the symptoms of ovulation period as well. The very next step that follows is to closely monitor the signs and indicators that confirm that a woman is indeed ovulating.
Ovulation is directly related to getting pregnant, so a woman should be careful. The ovulation symptoms trying to conceive are significant, and one must pay close attention to it. To be at ease during the ovulation period for a pregnant woman, she must be fully aware of how the ovulation exactly works. A woman should be investing some time to learn as many things as possible related to ovulation. This includes the signs and symptoms, and how can one easily track it. This way, the pregnancy may become a much more comfortable and quicker process to deal with.
Most Common Signs of Ovulation That Are Found In Most Women
As previously stated, it is essential to know that ovulation signs and symptoms are not universally the same for every single woman. The variation if the ovulation symptoms have been found out to be of huge margins. It has also been found that some women experience too many signs for ovulation, while others experience absolutely no symptoms at all. However, even then, there are many common symptoms of ovulation that have been reported to be experienced by the majority of women. Some of the most common signs of ovulation have been described below.
1. Change in the Cervical Fluid
The cervical fluid and its change can be considered as one of the primary indicators to know whether a woman is ovulating or not. During ovulation, or if the ovulation is going to happen soon in the future, the cervical fluid changes the color and turns into an “egg white” shape. Again, here, also different women can experience different types of cervical fluid. It is also quite evident that the cervical fluids may not look the same for each woman. However, the change in it is one of the critical indicators of ovulation. It has been usually seen that the day on which a woman experiences the maximum discharge of the watery fluid, the ovulation is most likely to take place. If a woman is having any problem with the production of the cervical fluid, then there are available products to counter that issue as well.
2. Change in the Basal Body Temperature
The basal body temperature in most women is entirely consistent before the ovulation period usually starts. This is just like a constant boy temperature that is maintained and does not change unless one is affected by fever. Similarly, when a woman is nearing to her ovulation period, there is a change in the basal body temperature. Initially, the temperature starts to decline a little bit during the start of the ovulation. After that, there is a rapid increase in the basal body temperature when the ovulation has started with full force. This change in the basal body temperature is another of the primary indicators that denote the occurrence of ovulation.
To fully use this change in the temperature to use it as an indicator, proper tracking needs to be done. This can be done by accurately tracking the difference in the basal body temperature during the ovulation period for a few months. Once the changing nature is identified correctly, it can be used to predict the occurrence of ovulation accurately.
3. Change in the Firmness or the Cervical Position
During the period where a woman undergoes ovulation, the cervix undergoes many different changes. Initially, they may be felt like standard procedures. However, when tracked accurately, the difference in the cervical position or firmness is also one of the primary indicators of ovulation taking place. For most women, it has been noticed that the cervix tends to become more open, high, soft, and wet during the time of ovulation. However, it may be difficult for a woman to be able to differentiate it at first. As stated before, the change in the cervix feels natural, and many women will not be able to tell the difference between their cervixes usually and when it undergoes ovulation. However, with accurate tracking, it is possible to be able to differentiate the change of the cervical position during ovulation. This is also a key indicator to accurately predict that a woman is undergoing ovulation.
All of these three signs that have been mentioned above can be termed as the primary ovulation symptoms. This is because one can easily predict whether the ovulation has started or not with these three signs accurately. Initiatives have been taken to help women understand how to identify these signs. With the Fertility Awareness Method, many women have been able to detect these signs accurately. Hence, it has helped them to achieve or prevent pregnancy in a more comfortable and faster way.
Other Signs of Ovulation That Are Found In Women
Other than the three primary symptoms that have been mentioned, there are various other symptoms of ovulation. These ovulation symptoms are mainly known as the secondary symptoms of ovulation. As the name suggests, these symptoms are not that common, and many women do not undergo such symptoms at all during ovulation. Even though these secondary symptoms are not that consistent, they are still strong indicators that the ovulation is taking place.
Some of these secondary symptoms of ovulation are given below.
- Light spotting may be noticed during the time of ovulation
- Sudden cramps or pains in the pelvis may arise of slight intensity in any side
- The tenderness of the breasts may increase
- Abdominal bloating can take place
- Sex drive may be increased during ovulation
- The sense of vision, taste, smell or hearing can get heightened in this period as well
In the initial stages, it may be quite challenging for women to be able to identify the symptoms and relate them to ovulation correctly. However, with time, these symptoms can be easily recognized by most women. The secondary symptoms vary from person to person, and a woman will know her symptoms better than anyone else. With repeated experiences, it becomes easier for a woman to be able to identify the signs and to accurately predict whether she is in the ovulation period or not. This identification is essential as it mentally prepares women to be able to withstand the ovulation period. The body can be more easily tuned in, and thus, the problems related to ovulation can be handled more efficiently.
In case a woman is trying to be pregnant, she must be aware of the ovulation symptoms trying to conceive and their effects. When a woman is fully aware of the functioning of her body during ovulation, it becomes quite easier to conceive as well. In terms of both trying to get pregnant and to avoid pregnancy, the symptoms of ovulation can be hugely beneficial.
As for those who are seriously trying to conceive during ovulation, they can start learning about the various Fertility Monitors and the different Ovulation Kits.
Pain During Ovulation – How Normal Is It?
One of the most common questions asked while discussing ovulation is that why is ovulation painful? Does the pain happen in everyone? Is the pain in ovulation normal? When is the correct time to see a doctor for it?
As per statistics, more than 50 percent of women undergo pain during the ovulation period. Among that percentage, a meager amount faces the pain a minimal number of times. Another portion of women, supposedly 20 percent or more, get the intense pain of ovulation. This is what is known as the ovulation cramps, and women can receive these cramps on a regular monthly basis. Such ovulation cramps may turn out to be very intense at times, and it can be unbearable at some points too. As a result, both the physical and mental health of a woman tends to degrade slightly during this period. However, this pain is normal, and there are no long term disadvantages of ovulation pain as well.
The pain may be intense, but it is not too much prolonged. In the case of a woman who is suffering from pelvic pain of high intensity from prolonged periods, it is highly recommended to see a doctor. Such pain can often result from other causes than ovulation, such as endometriosis, a pelvic inflammatory disease. In any other cases, ovulation pain will not restrict the activities of daily life too much. So, if a woman has trouble to do even the slightest of her daily works, it is not normal. Or, if she is having repeated pain while trying to be sexually active, then that is not normal, either.
It may even be the cases that the pains which may feel like cramps are not related to ovulation at all. There are different symptoms of ovulation pain, as well. Identifying them will surely help women to be able to deal with ovulation pain with more ease.
Signs and Symptoms of Ovulation Pain: What Is Normal and What Is Not
The pain of the ovulation can also be denoted by the German term ‘mittelschmerz.’ When translated literally, it means ‘middle pain.’ There is no particular time frame or schedule when the ovulation pain can take place. Generally, ovulation pain starts after the ovulation process is initiated. However, it is not uncommon where women have experienced ovulation pain even before the ovulation has begun. The moment when the release of the egg from the ovary takes place is not the exact point from where the ovulation pain starts.
As already stated, the intensity of the pain felt during ovulation is generally mild. However, severe pain cases have also been seen where the patients have been rushed to hospital as well for suspecting some other medical condition. In most cases, women have reported ovulation pain experience as an achy and dull feeling. The duration of the ovulation pains is not fixed either. From staying for only an hour or so to extending up to a few days, different women have different experiences. Ovulation pain can also be sometimes a sharp and sudden experience, where the pain does not stay for long. All of such experiences while undergoing ovulation pain are normal.
How Reliable is Ovulation Pain as a Symptom for the Planning of Pregnancy?
A lot of research results clearly state that the pain related to the ovulation process is an authentic proof of the starting of ovulation. The luteinizing hormone or the LH has also been a significant indicator of ovulation as the level of LH is generally the highest in the ovulation day. All the kits that predict ovulation work on the detection of the LH as their primary function. Just before ovulation, a woman is most fertile. It is at this time the LH secretion is the highest or reaches its peak.
Ultrasound technology has also been used to detect the ovulation period successfully. It has been found out that the ovulation cramps are a good indicator of ovulation. In many cases, it has been found that the ovulation period has started a few days later after the side pain or the cramps began. Therefore, the ovulation pain cannot be used to time the sexual activity, in case if someone is looking for pregnancy. The ideal time to have sex to get pregnant is actually before the ovulation. Even though the ovulation pain is quite a reliable indicator of the upcoming ovulation, it is not a hundred percent accurate. Therefore, to detect the most fertile period of a woman, ovulation pain should not be considered as an ideal way.
Implantation Cramps and Ovulation Pain: What Are the Main Differences?
A lot of women have reported that during the embryo implantation period, they have suffered severe cramps. Generally, the process of embryo implantation takes place after a few days of ovulation. Therefore, these cramps are not ovulation pain, and these occur separately.
The women who are undergoing such pains just a few days after ovulation are bound to think of this as ovulation pain. However, that is not the case. The cramps felt due to the embryo implantation are just as painful. Therefore, when a woman is undergoing such pains, there can be many reasons. It can be embryo implantation or ovulation or can be something completely different too. It is tough to differentiate between them as the nature of the pains is the same.
Reason for the Occurrence of Normal Ovulation Pain
There has been no specific cause detected as of yet, which triggers ovulation pain. There is no clear answer to why is ovulation painful either. There are a lot of theories that state the cause of the pain. Some of the most accepted methods are given below.
- When the process of ovulation takes place, the rupture of a follicle on the ovary takes place. This rupture expels the egg required for fertilization. In addition to the expelling of the egg, extra fluids may also be released. This causes the sensation of a dull and mild ache.
- When the egg bursts out of the follicle, it generally ruptures the ovary. This sudden burst may cause this sudden and sharp pain that many women feel while ovulation takes place.
- When the ovulation is about to happen, the uterus or the fallopian tubes can get sudden spasms. This may be another cause of ovulation pain.
A lot of women have reported that the ovulation pain generally tends to be more intense in one side of the pelvis. It is quite reasonable as the ovaries regularly alternate while ovulating each month. Therefore, it can happen that one side is ovulating more than the other in that ovulation period. Hence, ovulation pain is more intense on one side than the other.
Endometriosis: Can Ovulation Pain Act as a Symptom
The sudden, intense, and prolonged pelvic pains can be caused by endometriosis anytime. The pain due to endometriosis is, however, very severe and can be even more intense during the menstrual cycle. Most of the women have an awful experience with endometriosis, where their daily workings have been affected. The pain is sometimes so intense that even sexual activities cannot be completed with ease. Hence, such pains can create problems in finding out the ideal time to have sex to get pregnant.
During the ovulation period, abnormal cramps can have many reasons; endometriosis is one of them. The other notable reasons are-
- The infection of the fallopian tubes can also cause intense ovulation pain.
- The mid-cycle aches and pains can be caused by ovarian cysts and fibroid as well.
- For the women who are under fertility drugs, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can also be the cause of the intense pelvic pains.
Treatment of Ovulation Pain: What are the Best Ways
Ovulation pain varies hugely from woman to woman. For some, it may be sharp and stingy, but can be over in a moment. For others, it may be mild but can last a few days. In most of the cases, the general tendency is to take pain relievers and pain killers to cope with the pain. Drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are well known for dealing with ovulation pain.
Some studies have also found out that regular pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen have increased the time to pregnancy upon usage. This result is still under research.
All of these conditions together get mixed up. As a result, the exact cause of the pain or the delaying pregnancy is complicated to detect. Endometriosis can cause both severe pain and infertility as well. Women who undergo severe pains due to endometriosis are more likely to take such pain killers. Particularly in their cases, it can be challenging to say why their pregnancy gets delayed.
Pain relievers like acetaminophen have been found out to have the lowest chance of affecting fertility. There are various remedies available for dealing with the ovulation pain as well. Therefore, pain relievers are not the only option. These remedies include resting, using a heating pad, or taking a warm bath.
Right Time to Contact a Doctor
Severe and prolonged pain during ovulation period should be checked out by doctors. A doctor should be contacted immediately under the following conditions-
- Acute pain is experienced
- The occurrence of severe diarrhea or vomiting
- Breathing trouble is experienced
Ovulation pain can cause such intense pelvic cramps. However, it can also be caused by endometriosis, appendicitis, or different complex diseases. In severe conditions, quick visits to doctors are highly recommended.
Conclusion
The ovulation pain generally felt can be termed as normal. If however, ovulation pain is interfering with the daily lifestyle of a person or is providing interruptions to an active sexual life, treatments should be done. With visiting doctors, the specific causes can be known, and effective treatment can be immediately given. Thus, the conditions can become much normal under such circumstances.
