Mittelschmerz

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition

If you're a woman who sometimes experiences pain on one side of your lower abdomen and you don't know what it is, keep track of its timing. If it occurs midway through your menstrual cycle, about 14 days before your next menstrual period, you're most likely experiencing a condition called mittelschmerz. A German word that means "middle pain," mittelschmerz is pain with ovulation.

An estimated one in five women experience ovulation discomfort at some time. Some have mittelschmerz every month, while others have it only occasionally.

Most of the time, mittelschmerz doesn't require medical attention. If you need treatment for mittelschmerz, over-the-counter pain relievers and other self-care strategies are available. If your pain is troublesome, your doctor may prescribe an oral contraceptive.

Symptoms