What does ovulation feel like

The blood and fluid from the follicle are released into your pelvis during ovulation which can irritate the lining of your abdomen and cause discomfort. The pain women experience during ovulation should be manageable and short-lived. If you're feeling extreme discomfort during your cycle, you may have a more serious condition known as endometriosis.

This condition can cause pelvic pain at any time, but it is typically more severe around ovulation and menstruation. Endometriosis can also cause discomfort during sex , making it difficult for women who are timing intercourse to try to conceive. While a common culprit, endometriosis isn't the sole cause of ovulation pain. Other possibilities include:. Call your doctor if you experience heavy bleeding, fever, or pain for more than a few days around ovulation, as this may signify a more serious condition.

Tracking ovulation is essential when trying to conceive. While you may have heard ovulation occurs on day 14 of your cycle, this is an approximation. Every woman ovulates on their own schedule—including those with a "textbook" day cycle. Ovulation generally happens between days 11 and 21, which is a wide range. A woman's fertile window lasts from the days leading up to and just after ovulation , as sperm can live up to five days inside the female body. While ovulation pain is not the only symptom to be on the lookout for when trying to conceive, paying attention to your body's cues is important when timing intercourse.

Research suggests ovulation pain can be felt on the same day the luteinizing hormone LH peaks. Ovulation pain is one way to determine your body is gearing up to release an egg, but your body has other ways of telling you ovulation is near. Women should also pay attention to their changes in their cervical mucus, libido, and basal body temperature BBT to help determine their most fertile days. Fortunately, there are several options available for relieving mid-cycle pain. These include:.

While over-the-counter pain relievers are effective in relieving ovulation pain, some studies have suggested NSAIDs may negatively impact fertility. That said, women with endometriosis are more likely to experience severe ovulation pain, so it's unclear in these cases whether it's the health conditions or medications that are impacting fertility.

If you do prefer to take a pain reliever, acetaminophen has the least evidence of interfering with ovulation. Ovulation pain should diminish on its own after a few days.

If you're experiencing mid-cycle pain that doesn't go away after a few days or is severe, you should notify your healthcare provider to see if further testing is recommended. Birth control pills that prevent ovulation can be an effective solution for women who are not trying to conceive.

Call your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms during ovulation:. You should also contact your provider if you have any period-related issues that are new, worsening, or feel abnormal. More than half of women will experience ovulation pain at some point in their lifetime with 1 in 5 women reporting mid-cycle discomfort each month. These symptoms are usually mild and can be relieved with at-home treatments. If you're experiencing severe pain at any point during your cycle, contact your doctor to schedule an appointment.

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. It can last just a few minutes or continue for a day or 2. 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.