Really severe ovulation pain?

[DianaPrincessOfThemyscira]

Since I was 30 (36 now) I have experienced ever increasing ovulation pain. I can pinpoint it exactly as I was back at work after my last baby.

It’s so bad that I can feel the pain across my mid-section, like a band. I can’t find any comfortable position and it reduces me to tears because painkillers don’t touch the pain at all.

Last night I was woken by thigh pain. May not be related but I remember as a young teen I used to have the same when I had my period. Then I had very bad period pain but not ovulation.

Is this normal? I’m reading conflicting info on Dr Google and while I’m happy to go to the doctor it seems a bit pointless if she just tells me to take a painkiller!

I have very regular periods, don’t take contraception and am definitely not pregnant.

I get this. Get pain in my knee as well which is strange. Went to doctor as am ttc and wanted to rule out anything sinister. Doc sent me for smear and pelvic ultrasound, took bloods. All negative. Told me to take pain relief and consider contraception. Felt robbed off really.

Go back to your GP. Your symptoms could be a sign of endometriosis - they are very like the endo symptoms I had. It might not be that, of course, but it should be ruled out, because if it is endo, you'll need treatment to stop the pain.

I only developed ovulation pain whilst TTC my third. I was worried something was wrong. I get a very odd feeling of there being an object inside my abdomen that is really uncomfortable when I sit down, it's really hard to explain and quite unpleasant. I also get sharp pains in my abdomen as well.

GP sent me for a transvaginal ultrasound, there were no issues.

Thanks all. I’ve got make an appointment with the GP for my skin so I’ll ask about this then as well.

I was going to suggest endometriosis also. Have a look at: www.endometriosis-uk.org/endometriosis-symptoms

This is how my pain started, months after childbirth. Eventually had surgery for endometriosis and adhesions (latter most likely caused by CS). Do NOT be fobbed off; hopefully your GP will be sympathetic, but be prepared to push for a gynae referral. And if you get one make sure you've done your research on treatment for endo as you're likely to be fobbed off on that as well! Best of luck.

Oh. I joined the thread just to say I’ve had the same since the birth of DTs 5 years ago. I was just going to say my dr just prescribed strong cocodamol and didn’t seem interested.
But could it really be endo after 30 years of unremarkable menstruation?

You have my sympathy though, it’s awful, isn’t it? I end up doubled over on the floor. My least favourite bit is when the cold sweat breaks out.

I had this after I had my daughter, and it was endometriosis. Surgery and the mirena coil have eased the symptoms a lot, for now at least.

Endo can creep up on you, Alfred so I would definitely persist with your GP. Pain that makes you double-up and break out in a cold sweat is typical of endo. Whatever it is, being doubled up in pain is not right and goes beyond the 'take some painkillers' advice, so you need to insist your GP refers you for further tests.

I get this since having my baby. At its worst I thought it was another kidney stone! Hard to believe it can be so severe but seemingly nothing else going on for me, just one of those things now (joy)

I hadn’t considered that endo could be an issue that starts later than the onset of periods tbh. But it is getting worse and I just want it better! Seems really unfair to get periods at 11, spend three days every month in pain till I was 20, then ten years of unremarkable periods and now pain again . For the first time I’m getting period pains as well although not the same as when I was a child - then it was more like early labour, that dull ache across the back - now I get stomach cramps.

I used to get terrible ovulation pain (would last a few days, made me cry, made my legs hurt and required super strength Feminax to even dent it). It actually got worse over the years and has now disappeared as I am 51 and peri-menopausal. So I know it was that rather than endo or similar, it was always right in the middle of my cycle.I used to get very heavy and painful periods too.

My sympathies OP but it might be worth getting checked out to be safe?

I had exactly this I thought I was dying I really did. doctor made me have pelvic mri and also ultrasound examination. The only thing that has helped is the mini pull, no ovulation no pain - drastic though

Were you on the pill for years at all OP?

Yes I took microgynon between the ages of 16-26, came off and had three babies between 26-30, mirena from about 30-34.

I took cerezette briefly between babies but stopped and used condoms instead as I kept forgetting to take it.

Just waiting for my Gynae referral at the moment for exactly the same thing. GP's exact words were "the only way to stop ovulation pain is to stop ovulation". But I can't have oestrogen only pills due to family history with DVT.
I've had two ruptured ovarian cysts in the last twelve months, one required surgery.
This all started after I had DS nearly three years ago. Please don't be fobbed off, you know your body and if it doesn't feel right, ask for a referral.

Another recommendation that you ask about endometriosis. I was much better whilst on the pill and during the baby years and it crept back after the last baby. Ovulation pain is not uncommon, nor is pain in 'odd places'.

I had exactly your symptoms Dianna. I knew when I was ovulating due to the pain that used to occur which was so intense I was on the verge of vomitting then hot sweats and feeling as though I was going to pass out. I’m no drama queen but on more than one occasion whilst alone when it happened I felt like dialing 999. Periods were horrendous. At the age of 44 (my family of two was complete) I had a total hysterectomy (including ovaries) where it was found I had endometriosis. My bladder was affected but I made a full recovery. No sign of anything sinister. I was put on hrt patches which I stopped using in my late 50s. I had hot flushes for a while when I stopped using the patches but no pain which was such a relief.

I asked that @DianaPrincessOfThemyscira as I was too and it had most likely masked the endo for years. The hormones post-birth likely caused a period of rapid growth. Endo can be very debilitating if left to grow.

Can I ask how long the ovulation pain lasted with all of you , I was unwell for nearly one week per month

For me ovulation pain lasted a week and a half, and period pain a week and a half. I had a few days each month with little pain if I was lucky. I had endo on my ovaries - not a lot, but it was agony, and extremely debilitating.

Thanks all. I’m shocked that so many of you essentially spend the majority of the month in pain - it’s so bad it has me in pain but generally lasts two days or less so copeable.

I will call the doctor tomorrow as I forgot today.

I was like elanaf - my ovulation pain merged into my period pain. I was lucky if I got a few pain free days after my period ended before the ovulation pain began again.

elenaf not elanaf, sorry.

Same here - used to get a few days away ovulation pain plus a few days period pain. Eventually got so bad I was in pain at least 3 weeks a month, and spread into my lower back, hips and legs as well. Awful.