Symptoms and what they mean for fertility

Cramps that occur outside of a menstrual period might be a sign that a person is ovulating. Ovulation cramps occur when one of the ovaries releases an egg, which typically happens halfway through a person’s cycle.

Being aware of the symptoms of ovulation may help a person identify when they are most fertile.

In this article, we explore what ovulation cramps feel like and what they mean for fertility. We also look at other symptoms of ovulation and other causes of mid-cycle cramps.

Share on PinterestOvulation cramping begins about halfway through a person’s cycle, rather than right before or during menstruation.

An ovary typically releases an egg about midway through a person’s menstrual cycle. This is ovulation.

For some people, ovulation creates a sensation of cramping or pain once a month on one side of the abdomen. If a person has these cramps every month, the sensation may switch sides from month to month, depending on which ovary releases the egg.

Ovulation cramping may happen before, during, or shortly after the release of an egg.

Not everyone who menstruates has ovulation cramps. According to the University of Florida, about 1 in 5 people who menstruate have cramping around the time of ovulation.

Some people do not experience the cramping every month or do not have the same amount of discomfort every month.

Ovulation cramping may occur if:

• the follicle where the egg develops stretches the ovary
• the release of blood and other fluid from the ovary irritates surrounding tissue

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.

Below are characteristics of ovulation cramping:

• pain or cramping on one side of the abdomen
• pain or cramping that starts midway through the menstrual cycle
• pain or cramping that switches sides, month by month
• pain that is sharp and may be severe

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:

• increased cervical mucus
• breast tenderness
• spotting or light bleeding
• increased libido
• increased basal body temperature

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. This attaching is called “implantation.”

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.

Beyond implantation bleeding and cramping, early pregnancy can cause:

• nausea
• a frequent urge to urinate
• fatigue
• vomiting

Various health conditions cause abdominal cramps, which may happen to occur in the middle of the menstrual cycle and resemble ovarian cramping.

Some other causes of abdominal cramping or pain include:

• acute appendicitis, which can present with similar symptoms to ovulation cramps
• endometriosis, which involves tissue similar to uterine lining tissue growing outside the uterus and affects at least 11% of females in the United States ages 15–44
• uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in the walls of the uterus and can cause pain, bleeding, and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen

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:

• pain that lasts longer than 24 hours
• unusual vaginal bleeding
• painful urination
• vomiting
• have missed a period

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.

If the cramping or pain is intense, a warm bath and over-the-counter pain medication may help. Anyone who experiences severe pain or cramps accompanied by vomiting or unusual bleeding should contact a doctor.

Symptoms and what they mean for fertility

Cramps that occur outside of a menstrual period might be a sign that a person is ovulating. Ovulation cramps occur when one of the ovaries releases an egg, which typically happens halfway through a person’s cycle.

Being aware of the symptoms of ovulation may help a person identify when they are most fertile.

In this article, we explore what ovulation cramps feel like and what they mean for fertility. We also look at other symptoms of ovulation and other causes of mid-cycle cramps.

Share on PinterestOvulation cramping begins about halfway through a person’s cycle, rather than right before or during menstruation.

An ovary typically releases an egg about midway through a person’s menstrual cycle. This is ovulation.

For some people, ovulation creates a sensation of cramping or pain once a month on one side of the abdomen. If a person has these cramps every month, the sensation may switch sides from month to month, depending on which ovary releases the egg.

Ovulation cramping may happen before, during, or shortly after the release of an egg.

Not everyone who menstruates has ovulation cramps. According to the University of Florida, about 1 in 5 people who menstruate have cramping around the time of ovulation.

Some people do not experience the cramping every month or do not have the same amount of discomfort every month.

Ovulation cramping may occur if:

• the follicle where the egg develops stretches the ovary
• the release of blood and other fluid from the ovary irritates surrounding tissue

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.

Below are characteristics of ovulation cramping:

• pain or cramping on one side of the abdomen
• pain or cramping that starts midway through the menstrual cycle
• pain or cramping that switches sides, month by month
• pain that is sharp and may be severe

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:

• increased cervical mucus
• breast tenderness
• spotting or light bleeding
• increased libido
• increased basal body temperature

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. This attaching is called “implantation.”

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.

Beyond implantation bleeding and cramping, early pregnancy can cause:

• nausea
• a frequent urge to urinate
• fatigue
• vomiting

Various health conditions cause abdominal cramps, which may happen to occur in the middle of the menstrual cycle and resemble ovarian cramping.

Some other causes of abdominal cramping or pain include:

• acute appendicitis, which can present with similar symptoms to ovulation cramps
• endometriosis, which involves tissue similar to uterine lining tissue growing outside the uterus and affects at least 11% of females in the United States ages 15–44
• uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in the walls of the uterus and can cause pain, bleeding, and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen

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:

• pain that lasts longer than 24 hours
• unusual vaginal bleeding
• painful urination
• vomiting
• have missed a period

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.

If the cramping or pain is intense, a warm bath and over-the-counter pain medication may help. Anyone who experiences severe pain or cramps accompanied by vomiting or unusual bleeding should contact a doctor.

The first signs of fertilization after ovulation in women. Tips NMK

Our ancestors determined the onset of pregnancy using folk signs. An accurate diagnosis of the success of conception appeared only in the early 60s of the last century. The author of the now popular rapid test that measures the level of hCG in the urine, was the German scientist Sondek. And what signs of pregnancy will allow the expectant mother to guess about the birth of a new life without diagnosis?

A bit of theory

Ovulation is the moment when the egg leaves the corpus luteum, ready to meet the sperm. This date occurs approximately in the middle of the cycle, 4-7 days after the end of menstruation.

If the woman’s reproductive system is functioning normally, unprotected intercourse during ovulation leads to conception. The event can take place a few days before the expected date: the activity and viability of spermatozoa persists for three days.

The union of the sperm with the egg takes place inside the woman’s fallopian tubes. It leads to the appearance of a special element – a zygote. From this point on, the woman can be considered pregnant.

The resulting zygote actively divides, creating cells of the future embryo. The fifth day is considered the date of its transformation into a blastocyte. If at first the embryo floats in the fallopian tubes, now it is trying to gain a foothold in the endometrium of the uterus. When this moment comes, the woman’s hormonal background changes, and she feels the first symptoms.

The stages of in vitro fertilization in our center are almost exactly the same, only the zygote is formed in the laboratory, under the supervision of specialists. The formed embryos are implanted into the uterine cavity, and after a few days the success of the procedure is determined.

The sooner a woman finds out about pregnancy, the better: any disturbances in the functioning of the body, improper regimen, stress can negatively affect the development of the baby.

First signs

It is impossible to assess the success of conception immediately after the end of ovulation. At this moment, the attachment of the embryo to the uterine cavity has not yet occurred, and the hormonal background of the woman is still stable. Sometimes pregnancy may not occur:

• if there was no ovulation;
• the egg was not viable;
• there is a discrepancy between the immune systems of the spouses.

If the process was successful, the following symptoms may occur.

Lower abdominal pain

Most expectant mothers experience discomfort in the lower abdomen, reminiscent of menstrual pain. Such spasms are not a signal of the growth of the uterus, the period is still too short. They are a kind of reaction of the body to the successful implementation of conception.

Our specialists recommend that women who decide on IVF should carefully monitor their own feelings. Cramps in the lower abdomen should last no longer than 14 days. If they do not disappear, discomfort may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. An urgent visit to a personal doctor is required!

Gastrointestinal disorders

Hormonal changes affect the productivity of all systems and organs of the expectant mother. After the embryo attaches to the uterus, stool disorder, heartburn, nausea and vomiting may occur.

Taste preferences change, and habitual products cause rejection. Such phenomena can be a symptom of pregnancy if they began 7-10 days after unprotected intimate contact.

Mood changes

Their cause is the same hormones. A woman can suddenly become whiny, compassionate, overly emotional. It should be understood that this is only a temporary state caused by the restructuring of the body, and treat it with understanding. Pregnancy planning is a process that requires maximum patience and composure. Psychological stress in expectant mothers is often already at the limit, and the changes that occur with the body are beyond their control.

Breast tenderness

The phenomenon is observed in 90% of cases. A couple of days before the expected date of menstruation, the breast grows and becomes more rounded. The nipples darken, and their width increases. As a result, the woman feels tension and soreness in the chest area. This is a symptom that the body is preparing for future feeding.

Signs of cystitis

Restructuring of the hormonal background reduces the woman’s immunity. As a result, there are various ailments caused by the penetration of pathogenic flora. The beginning of pregnancy is often accompanied by frequent urge to urinate and discomfort, reminiscent of the symptoms of cystitis. It can continue until delivery.

Basal body temperature

If you are planning to conceive, make it a rule to keep a basal body temperature chart. Its value rises during ovulation, and then returns to normal. The temperature is stable at around 37, and is it growing? Congratulations, this is one of the symptoms of a successful conception! If the indicator has not changed, but there are other signs, a miscarriage is possible.

If you notice one of the symptoms, perform a pharmacy rapid pregnancy test. The optimal period is at least 10 days after intercourse. However, express diagnostics cannot be considered 100% reliable. Be sure to contact our center for advice.

Ovulatory syndrome. Symptoms. Diagnostics. Treatment.

Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary into the abdominal cavity, under the action of hormones produced by the pituitary gland. And this happens, as a rule, 14 days before the onset of menstruation.

Most often, this moment passes unnoticed, but sometimes it is accompanied by discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen and lasts from several minutes to 48 hours.

The appearance of such pains in the middle of the cycle is called ovulatory syndrome.

According to statistics, every second woman has experienced such pain at least once in her life, and every fifth woman experiences them in every menstrual cycle.

The causes of such pains are not fully understood, but foreign researchers identify several theories:

• “Growing follicle” – in each ovary at the beginning of the menstrual cycle contains 10-15 follicles, each of which contains an immature egg. But only one follicle reaches the required size, i.e. becomes dominant. And according to some researchers, in the process of growth of this follicle, the ovarian capsule is stretched, which leads to such pains.

• “Rupture of the follicle” – on a certain day of the cycle, under the influence of a peak release of LH (luteinizing hormone) produced by the pituitary gland, the wall of the dominant follicle is torn, and the egg is released into the abdominal cavity. It is this moment of wall rupture that some women, according to researchers, feel.

• “Contractions of the fallopian tubes” – after leaving the ovary, the egg enters the fallopian tube, which begins to peristalize (contract), pushing it into the uterine cavity. Such contractions can also cause discomfort and cause pain.

• “Spasm of smooth muscle cells” – it has been proven that under the influence of the release of LH into the blood during ovulation, the level of prostaglandin F2-alpha indirectly increases, which in turn causes a contraction of smooth muscle cells, both in the ovary itself and in the ovarian ligament itself.

• “Irritations of the peritoneum” – normally, during each ovulation, a small amount of fluid, and sometimes blood, enters the abdominal cavity, which is one of the diagnostic signs of ovulation that has occurred on ultrasound. Sometimes this fluid irritates the peritoneum, causing pain. Gradually, this fluid is completely absorbed by the beginning of the next menstrual cycle.

Thus, it is possible to distinguish the criteria for ovulatory syndrome:

• Pain in the lower abdomen
• More on the right or left, depending on which ovary ovulated
• Occurring two weeks before menses
• May vary in severity from slight discomfort to severe pain
• Lasts from a few minutes to 48 hours

Occasionally, women experience spotting in the middle of their cycle, which is also referred to as a symptom of ovulatory syndrome. The reason for this is that on the eve of ovulation there is a slight decline in hormones. This leads to the fact that the endometrium begins to be rejected as during menstruation. But since this decline in hormones is short-term and after ovulation, hormones begin to rise, rejection stops.

Therefore, discharge in the middle of the cycle, if any, is insignificant and disappears within 2-3 days.

Sometimes other serious diseases and conditions can occur under the guise of ovulatory syndrome:

• Inflammation of the appendages
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Appendicitis
• Cystitis
• Perforation of gastrointestinal ulcer

Therefore, if the pain lasts more than 2-3 days, does not go away after taking analgesics, is accompanied by an increase in body temperature above 37. 5, dizziness, vomiting with blood, loss of consciousness, it is necessary to seek emergency help.

When diagnosing ovulatory syndrome, first of all, all diseases that cause pain in the small pelvis are excluded. This is inflammation of the uterine appendages, and ovarian apoplexy, which requires emergency surgery.

Therefore, the most informative diagnostic method is ultrasound of the pelvic organs, which reveals signs of ovulation that has occurred and excludes other pathology.

Most often, ovulatory syndrome does not require special treatment, for many women it is enough to take an analgesic or a warm compress on the stomach. When pain occurs in each menstrual cycle and is painful, adequate treatment is to take hormonal contraceptives that completely suppress the ovaries, preventing ovulation and, as a result, pain.

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Our specialists

Dubinskaya Ekaterina Dmitrievna
Obstetrician-gynecologist, endosurgeon
Professor, MD

Gasparov Alexander Sergeevich
Obstetrician-gynecologist, endosurgeon
Professor, MD

Dmitrieva Natalya Viktorovna
Obstetrician-gynecologist, leading expert-reproductologist
Candidate of Medical Sciences

Masanova Daria Valerievna
Obstetrician-gynecologist, reproductive specialist
Head of ART programs, master class

Radkova Marina Vasilievna
Obstetrician-gynecologist, reproductologist, ultrasound expert
Assistant of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, FPC MR RUDN University

Lychagin Andrey Sergeevich
Head of the department of innovative technologies in the field of andrology and urology, urologist-andrologist, ultrasound doctor, sexologist
Candidate of Medical Sciences

Alyoshkina Elizaveta Vladimirovna
Obstetrician-gynecologist, endocrinologist, reproductologist.