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Are you feeling pain during ovulation? It turns out that about 40% of women feel your pain (literally) during their menstrual cycle. It’s called mittleschmertz (German, for “middle pain”).
This visitor during your menstrual cycle may take you by surprise. But it doesn’t mean something’s wrong.
And we know what you’re thinking. If you have sex after this ovulation pain is it too late? Did you miss your chance of getting pregnant this month? Not necessarily.
But, you are missing out on your full fertile window if you’re waiting until this ovulation pain to get busy in bed. Timing your sex before ovulation gives you the best odds of pregnancy.
Let’s dive into the truth about pain during ovulation and what it means for pregnancy.
When does ovulation pain occur?
Ovulation usually happens 12-14 days before your next period. It’s when a mature egg leaves one of your ovaries and travels to the fallopian tube. Here it patiently waits for sperm to fertilize it.
You may feel mild cramps or dull-aching pain during this time of the month. That’s ovulation pain. It usually happens just before or around the time of ovulation. It can last anywhere from a few hours up to 48 hours.
One month you may feel the pain on your right side, and the next month your left. That’s because this pain coincides with the ovary that’s releasing the egg that month.
But why does this ovulation pain happen at all? What’s causing it? Let’s take a look.
What causes ovulation pain?
The full reason why you may experience ovulation pain is still TBD. But there are some theories.
Theory #1
When the egg gets released into the fallopian tubes during ovulation, contractions happen. These help to move the egg along to the fertilization site. The leftover follicle bursts, leaving some blood and fluid in its wake. This blood and fluid can end up in your abdominal lining and pelvis, leading to irritation and pain.
Theory #2
Another theory is the pain may be due to the egg growing in size before it’s released during ovulation. This enlargement puts pressure on the ovary, leading to ovulation pain.
Theory #3
Researchers also think ovulation pain could be due to a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH). Ovulation happens about 24-36 hours after this increase in LH. This rise increases smooth muscle activity of the follicle and is associated with the release of pain-releasing substances (prostaglandins), leading to ovulation pain.
Learn more: Ovulation Pain: What to Know About Mittelschmerz
It’s important to remember that about 40% of women experience ovulation pain. So if you aren’t experiencing any, that isn’t cause for concern either. But if you are, here’s what it can feel like.
How does ovulation pain feel?
Ovulation pain can come in a few different forms: ovulation cramping, sharp pain, dull pain, pelvic pain, and throbbing.
For some, ovulation pain feels not so great. But there are some women who don’t experience pain at all.
But if you are feeling the pain, it’s probably not the kind of surprise you’re looking for. You may be thinking it’s a signal that you’ve missed your window of opportunity to get pregnant. But is this true? Let’s explore.
Does ovulation pain mean I missed my chance to conceive?
TLDR: Not necessarily. Ovulation pain does not mean it’s too late to get pregnant.
Here are more details.
The exact timing of ovulation pain with respect to ovulation is still a bit of a mystery. But scientists say it typically happens right before or during the egg’s release.
Once the egg is released, it survives for 12-24 hours. This window of opportunity is short but sweet. Sperm, on the other hand, can live for up to 5 days in the reproductive tract. That means your fertile window is much longer than those 12-24 hours post-egg release.
So even if you feel ovulation pain and have sex after, the sperm and egg may still be within the fertilization window.
Studies show there’s a 20% chance of conception on your day of ovulation, and an 8% chance the day after.
But get this: your best chance of conception? The day before ovulation. So if you wait until you experience ovulation pain, you’re missing out on some precious time.
Learn more: What Are Your Chances of Getting Pregnant on Ovulation Day?
The Inito Fertility Monitor helps you know your exact fertile window by tracking your four fertility hormones (LH, estrogen, PdG, and FSH) on a single test strip. Inito doesn’t just predict ovulation – it also confirms it – all on a single test strip.
Now we’ve officially debunked the myth that ovulation pain means it’s too late to get pregnant. But does that mean ovulation pain is reliable for timing sex?
Is ovulation pain a reliable way to time intercourse?
Knowing your most fertile window boosts your chances of getting pregnant. But pain during ovulation isn’t the best way to do this.
Why?
Here are a couple of reasons.
It’s inconsistent
For starters, ovulation pain is inconsistent. You may feel severe ovulation pain one month, and may not the next. Plus, remember that 60% of the menstruating population doesn’t feel ovulation pain.
Sperm survival
The egg only survives for 12-24 hours post ovulation. This isn’t a whole lot of time. But those 12-24 hours aren’t all you have! Sperm can generally survive up to 5 days in a woman’s body. So don’t wait around for ovulation pain to have sex. If you do, you’re missing out on some great opportunity for conception.
Speaking of opportunity … You may be wondering if more is better when it comes to sex during your fertile window. The answer is “no.” How many times you have sex is less important than when you have sex. Timing is everything.
Learn more: Is it Bad to Have Sex Twice a Day During Ovulation?
And how do you know the right time to have sex? Not by relying solely on ovulation pain – that’s for sure. Instead, use Inito to track your fertility hormone trends. Tracking your LH surge will help you know your fertile window. This maximizes your chances of getting pregnant.
Learn more: When to Have Sex After LH Surge: Your Complete Guide
The key takeaway
Feeling ovulation pain does not mean it’s too late to get pregnant! This pain usually pops up around ovulation. But, the egg lives for 12-24 hours after ovulation and the sperm can survive for up to 5 days. So try to have sex before ovulation for the best chances of conceiving.
Ovulation pain isn’t the most reliable way to time sex. Instead, track your hormones to get a more accurate read on your full fertile window.
In review
- Ovulation pain is also known as mittelschmerz. About 40% of women experience ovulation pain.
- Ovulation pain does not mean you’ve missed your chance to get pregnant.
- The egg survives for 12-24 hours post ovulation, while sperm generally lives up to 5 days in the female body.
- Having sex before ovulation gives you the highest chance of pregnancy.
- The cause of ovulation pain is not completely understood but there are some theories.
- One theory is that when the egg is released from the fallopian tube during your menstrual cycle, its empty sac breaks down and can cause pain and irritation.
- Another theory is that contractions of the fallopian tube can cause pain.
- A third theory is that the LH surge triggers contractions around the follicle which can lead to the release of pain-producing substances.
- Ovulation pain is not consistent and should not be relied upon for timing sex.
- Tracking your hormones and your menstrual cycle using the Inito Fertility Monitor is the best way to identify your fertile window and time sex accordingly.
Was this article helpful?
- Mittelschmerz | NIH
- Ovulation Detection | Reproductive Facts
- Ovulation pain: what to know about mittelschmerz | Inito
- Findings from a mobile application–based cohort are consistent with established knowledge of the menstrual cycle, fertile window, and conception | Fertility and Sterility
- What Are Your Chances of Getting Pregnant on Ovulation Day? | Inito
- Is it Bad to Have Sex Twice a Day During Ovulation? | Inito
- When to Have Sex After LH Surge: Your Complete Guide | Inito
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