Mittelschmerz
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is mittelschmerz? Mittelschmerz (MIT-el-schmerts) is pain or discomfort that may happen to females before, during, or after ovulation (ov-u-LAY-shun). Ovulation is when an ovary in your body releases an egg. Ovulation usually happens once a month, about two weeks before your period. Mittelschmerz is not serious, but can be very uncomfortable. Mittelschmerz pain usually goes away within a few minutes to hours, but may last as long as one or two days.
What causes mittelschmerz? No one knows the cause of ovulation pain. Mittelschmerz pain may happen because the ovary stretches before an egg is released. The actual release of the egg may also cause this pain.
What are the signs and symptoms of mittelschmerz? You may have sharp, aching pain and cramping on one side of your lower abdomen. The pain may be on the right side one month, and on the left side the next month. Other signs may include nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), and spotting of blood or discharge from your vagina (vah-JEYE-nah).
How is mittelschmerz diagnosed and treated?
- Your caregiver will examine you and ask you questions about your symptoms. Your caregiver will need to know about your periods. Use a calendar to keep track of when your periods start and end. You may need a pelvic exam to check for other possible causes for your pain. During a pelvic exam, your caregiver checks your vagina, cervix, and uterus for problems. You may also need to have an abdominal ultrasound. This is a test that lets caregivers see your ovaries, uterus, and the inside of your abdomen. Sound waves are used to show pictures of your abdomen on a TV-like screen.
- Resting in bed may help decrease mittelschmerz pain. You may use a heating pad (turned on low) or a hot water bottle over the painful area. Do not sleep on the heating pad or hot water bottle because it can burn your skin. Soaking in a warm bath may also help your discomfort. Medicines that may decrease or stop mittelschmerz pain include:
- Over-the-counter pain medicine: You may use over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, for pain or swelling. These medicines may be bought without a caregiver's order. These medicines are safe for most people to use. However, they can cause serious problems when they are not used correctly. People with certain medical conditions, or using certain other medicines are at a higher risk for problems. Using too much, or using these medicines for longer than the label says can also cause problems. Follow directions on the label carefully. If you have questions, talk to your caregiver.
- Oral contraceptives: If your pain continues, your caregiver may suggest oral contraceptives (kon-trah-SEP-tivs), or birth control pills. Birth control pills stop you from ovulating, which stops mittelschmerz pain.
- Over-the-counter pain medicine: You may use over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, for pain or swelling. These medicines may be bought without a caregiver's order. These medicines are safe for most people to use. However, they can cause serious problems when they are not used correctly. People with certain medical conditions, or using certain other medicines are at a higher risk for problems. Using too much, or using these medicines for longer than the label says can also cause problems. Follow directions on the label carefully. If you have questions, talk to your caregiver.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
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