Ovulation pain: what is it and how long does it last?
Short answer: ovulation pain is a dull or sharp pain on one side of your lower belly, about halfway through your cycle. It usually lasts from a few minutes to a day or two and is harmless. About 1 in 5 women feel it. Warmth or a painkiller usually helps. See your GP for severe pain, fever or pain that lasts longer.
What is ovulation pain?
At ovulation an egg is released from a follicle in your ovary. A little fluid or blood can come out with it and irritate the lining of your belly. You feel that as pain on the side of the ovary that released an egg that month, which is why it sometimes switches sides. It is also called mittelschmerz, German for middle pain, because it falls mid cycle.
What does it feel like and how long does it last?
- Dull, crampy or a short sharp twinge.
- On one side, low in your belly.
- From a few minutes to about 48 hours.
- Sometimes with clear mucus or a trace of blood in your discharge.
In a 28 day cycle, ovulation falls around day 14, about 14 days before your next period. Work it out for your cycle with the free ovulation calculator.
What helps?
- A hot water bottle or a warm bath.
- A painkiller like paracetamol or ibuprofen, as the leaflet says.
- Rest and gentle movement.
- If it bothers you a lot every month, contraception that stops ovulation can help. Discuss it with your GP.
When to see your GP
- For severe pain, or pain lasting longer than two days.
- For fever, vomiting or pain when peeing.
- For pain with bleeding outside your period.
- If you could be pregnant: pain on one side can then also be an ectopic pregnancy. Call straight away.
Pain as a sign of your fertile days
If you are trying to conceive, ovulation pain can be a useful sign, together with egg white discharge and a positive ovulation test. Also read how to recognise ovulation. In PERIOD. you log pain and discharge per day, so you see whether it falls around the same day each month.
Sources: NHS, Ovulation pain; Thuisarts.nl (NHG), Buikpijn. This article is general information, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is ovulation pain normal?
Yes. About 1 in 5 women feel it and it is usually harmless.
How long does ovulation pain last?
From a few minutes to about two days.
Does the pain mean I am fertile?
It falls around ovulation, so around your fertile days. It is not a reliable way to prevent pregnancy.
Want to track ovulation and symptoms? Download PERIOD. on the App Store or Google Play.
