Many women experience mid-cycle cramping, symptoms of which are pain in the lower abdominal area accompanied by uneasiness. To know more about what causes mid-cycle cramping, and how to go about dealing with the same, read the following article.
It’s extremely common, and absolutely harmless. Mid-cycle cramping happens to many women who experience pain around their abdominal area, and are clueless about the causes behind. If you’re experiencing the same, you need to understand that just before ovulation, the growth of the follicle, sometimes, stretches the surface of the ovary, thereby, causing pain. During ovulation, the ruptured egg follicle causes irritation in the abdominal lining, and releases blood, leading to painful cramps. Keeping track of the timeline will help in understanding the causes behind and figuring out the respective action to take for the same. Mid-cycle cramping, in medical terms, is referred to as mittelschmerz or middle pain, a condition in which a female experiences pain with ovulation. It usually isn’t a critical condition, and needs no medical assistance. However, if you’re experiencing unbearable pain, it’s recommended you talk to your health care provider who will suggest you to visit a gynecologist. For the purpose of this article, however, let’s take a look at the possible causes of mid-cycle cramping as well as how to go about tackling the pain in the most effortless way possible.
Causes
When ovulation occurs about 14 days before your period, an egg is released by the ovarian follicles, sometimes leading to mittelschmerz or pain in the abdomen. While some women may experience pain only on one side, others may feel pain all over the lower abdominal area. Medical researches state that hardly one out of five women experience abdominal pain during ovulation which may last up to 48 hours, depending upon the criticality of the pain.
Women experiencing mittelschmerz also experience light menstrual spotting, nausea before next period, and dizziness. However, this is absolutely normal since the follicle growth tends to stretch the ovary surface, thereby, causing cramps. Women who witness slight bleeding between periods need to know that since the ruptured follicle irritates the lining of the peritoneum, a brown discharge is released, which leads to pain.
Symptoms
Pain due to mittelschmerz is first experienced on the side of the ovary that is releasing an egg, and may switch each month, for the reason that ovulation occurs on an alternate ovary every cycle. Moreover, if you just let it be thinking it’s not too severe, it can occur for several months in a row, causing discomfort. Key symptoms of this ailment include sharp and sudden pain in the abdomen, vaginal bleeding, brown discharge, and pain that lasts for a minimum of six hours. Other symptoms include its occurrence for a while and treatment on its own, without having to take any particular medication for the same.
Treatment
Even though there is no medical attention required for mittelschmerz, if it is causing no critical pain, many women find over-the-counter medicines effective enough to sideline the pain caused by mid-cycle cramping. However, natural methods of relieving mid-cycle cramps are found to be the most effective in most women, where they use a hot water bottle or a heating pad to alleviate the severe cramps, and drink at least 8 glasses of water on a daily basis. Those experiencing critical cramping and spotting between periods are often recommended to rest throughout the day, and not develop any kind of stress, as change in hormones act against the regularity of menstrual cycle, thereby, causing further complications in the health of the woman. Lastly, if none of the self-help tips seem to work in your favor, it’s time you talk to your health care provider, and seek proper medication for the same, because chances in this case are, you have developed an infection or a pelvic disease, which is the reason why your cramps aren’t going away.
Mid-cycle cramping or mittelschmerz is a rare occurrence, and doesn’t require any medical intervention. You just need to take rest, and consume hot fluids, while staying away from alcohol. However, if it doesn’t go by itself, don’t delay any further, and talk to your gynecologist as soon as possible.
