This article is intended to give you answers to the major questions you probably have related to ovulation pain. What is ovulation pain? What causes ovary pain during ovulation? What are the signs of aching during ovulation? Why is there sometimes ovulation pain after ovulation?

Ovulation pain is a variety of ovarian pain which occurs in about one woman in five in their child-bearing years. Typically, ovary pain from ovulation happens about two weeks before the menstrual cycle, when one of the ovaries releases an ovum or egg. Intensity of ovulation pain varies from woman to another. Some women feel mild discomfort, others experience extreme pain and cramping. Soreness during ovulation can last for a few minutes or a few days. Another name for discomfort during ovulation is Mittelschmerz, which is German for "mid pain."

Ovulation pain can be a symptom of an underlying gynecological disorder, but this is generally not the case. Nevertheless, severe, prolonged ovary pain during ovulation (exceeding two or three days) or heavy bleeding should be brought to the attention of your doctor.

Why do some women have aching during ovulation? The exact cause of soreness during ovulation is still being researched, but researchers have come up with some educated guesses.

The most likely theories center on ovarian follicles, the sac-like structures in which eggs develop. One theory suggests that during ovulation, the follicle bursts open, releasing the egg into the fallopian tube. It could be that the expanding follicle stretches the membrane of the ovaries, triggering aching during ovulation.

Another theory suggests that when the ovum matures, it bursts from the follicle, which causes internal bleeding. Perhaps this bleeding may irritate the lining of the uterus, causing painful ovulation.

Once again, ovulation pain is quite common and in most cases is not a symptom any underlying disease. But sometimes it can be a sign of a problem that's developing. These are some of the possibilities.

Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease - Pelvic inflammatory disease is also known as PID. It occurs when there is inflammation in a woman's reproductive system. Frequently, women who are already suffering from gonorrhea or chlamydia also get pelvic inflammatory disease.

Ectopic pregnancy - An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg begins to develop outside the ueterus - usually in a fallopian tube. A woman with an ectopic pregnancy is likely to have cramping in the abdominal area and vaginal bleeding. It is a dangerous situation and requires professional medical attention.

Endometriosis - Endometriosis occurs when the endometrium, or lining of the uterus grows elsewhere outside the uterus. Typical symptoms of endometriosis include pain during intimacy and menstrual discomfort.

Ovary cyst - These are fluid-filled sacs that grow on your ovaries. Usually, an ovarian cyst is not dangerous, but this is not always the case.

Salpingitis - This is usually the result of an infection in a fallopian tube that causes inflammation.. It's more common than a lot of people think, and it is the cause of one of every six hospital admissions that are related to a woman's reproductive system.

What about ovulation pain after ovulation? Pain after ovulation may be caused by a small leakage of blood from the ovary during ovulation. This leakage may trigger irritation. The seriousness of this kind of pain following ovulation depends on how much leakage there has been and a number of other variables. Other conditions related to the reproductive system, such as fibroids or PCOS can also cause pain after ovulation. You should talk about these topics with a medical care provider.

Keep in mind that the discomfort from an inflamed appendix is can be mistaken for ovulation pain. If your pain is constant and growing worse on the right side of the abdomen, with nausea and vomiting, seek medical attention without delay.

There are other diseases and disorders that can cause discomfort similar to ovulation pain too. These are mostly gastrointestinal problems, such as a perforated ulcer, gastroenteritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Again, ovulation pain is more often than not harmless and is temporary, although it can be especially painful for some women as long as it lasts. It is important to know when mid-cycle pain can be a symptom of something more dangerous. As with most illnesses and diseases, diagnosing a problem early increases the chances of a favorable result.