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Original poster

To contract the GP about ovulation pain

38 replies

Covidwoes · 06/03/2022 20:30

Since having DD2 at the start of last year, I get awful ovulation pain. It affects my entire day, and today the only thing that worked was dihydrocodeine (which I had left over from a wisdom tooth removal last month!). Even after that took effect, I could still feel it. The first time I had it (when my period came back 7 months PP) I was worried it was appendicitis! I have now realised it's ovulation pain, as it occurs every month around a fortnight before my period is due, and lasts a whole day before it disappears. I am not on any contraception at the moment, and don't wish to go on any hormonal versions, but I am due to get a copper coil fitted soon. Is it normal for ovulation to hurt this much?! It really wipes me out.

OP posts:
Bibbitybobbityboo86 · 06/03/2022 20:41

I went to the dr with this- I got referred to have a scan and the found cysts on my ovaries. The nurse giving me the scan said the cysts can make ovulation pain worse.

Calamityjane1987 · 06/03/2022 20:46

I have nothing useful to add except to say I’ve found a similar thing since having my children. I had never experienced ovulation pain before, but since having my children I get it for about two days. It feels like lots of pelvic pain and stretching. I’m now on month 6 of my period returning and I’d say it’s lessening.

lapasion · 06/03/2022 20:49

I also had ovulation pain for months after my second, but it has lessened now and I generally only feel a slight twinge. However, if it’s so bad it’s affecting your life, then definitely see a sympathetic doctor. It could be a symptom of something.

Original poster
Covidwoes · 06/03/2022 20:50

@Calamityjane1987 I'm also on month 6 or so, and unfortunately for me it seems to be getting worse! I wonder if having kids is something to do with it maybe.
@Bibbitybobbityboo86 that's interesting about the scan. I've only ever had my ovaries 'seen' during pregnancies and nothing was mentioned, but I guess cysts could develop afterwards?

OP posts:
Quornflakegirl · 06/03/2022 20:52

I’ve had this since as long as I can remember, pre dc too. For me, the pain is so bad I can’t even sit down comfortably, it’s a sharp shooting pain that is terrible for most of the day. I ovulate on both sides at the same which I can clearly feel, it hasn’t entered my mind to see the GP about it but it would be wonderful if there was a reason why it’s so extremely painful and something that can be done.

Fireflygal · 06/03/2022 20:55

@Covidwoes, I've always had ovulation pain and understand it could be cysts bursting. It means that seeing them one a scan will be difficult as it depends on the time of the month and fluctuations on hormones.

Mine last for days at a time, not all the time over than period but sporadically. I haven't found much helps but it's always on one side.

GenderCriticalTrumpets · 06/03/2022 21:01

Oh same the pain is horrendous! Like I can hardly walk it hurts so much..and almost like someone has blown me up with a pump!

Sillyotter · 06/03/2022 21:16

I also get ovulation pain and it turned out to be cysts that come and go. They just left it at that so I guess I just have to live with it? Not much use but getting a diagnosis might not help, definitely should be looked into though just in case but don’t get your hopes up

HiKelsey · 06/03/2022 21:19

Could be a cyst like others said but I know a woman at work who has had 4 children. Awful ovulation pain and has just found out she has endometriosis like me. But for me the pain is like a knife being twisted round and round in my ovaries and I tend to pass out (I've got one child so it was bad before not just after)

Mykittensmittens · 06/03/2022 21:24

I’ve had this and have had extensive private healthcare investigations for many years as mine were so debilitating. I ended up seeing someone in a university hospital as they wanted to research it more.

I was scanned while the pain was going on, and as the specialist suspected it’s an egg being released into the Fallopian tube and a small amount of fluid during the release going into the abdominal cavity. That fluid release is a massive irritant.

Most people don’t realise the ovaries and the Fallopian tubes aren’t a water tight fit - there is a gap.

My ovulations were bad. On the day pain which was so bad I couldn’t stand, I felt sick, I was doubled over. For 48 hours after I was bloated and tender.

Specialist, consultant and investigate professor who was writing his paper on this all agreed the same thing. The pain is down to a fluid release at the time of ovulation that irritates the abdominal cavity.

Bibbitybobbityboo86 · 06/03/2022 21:27

I developed the cysts after giving birth. I found out I had them when my daughter was 4

Zaksamuel3 · 06/03/2022 21:28

I've had 4 children and I only started with thisbafter my last child so 7 years ago. Some months are better than others sometimes it feels like a stitch when I get up it pulls other times its that stabbing sharp pain that makes me double over. I've had a scan and was all clear. Just something I have ti live with I suppose

sunnydaywalk · 06/03/2022 21:31

I've had this since my twins were born, over 10 years ago now. I've often wondered if it's because I had a c-section and maybe there is some kind of endometrial tissue where it wouldn't normally be - I've no idea if that's even a possibility.

I've realised that if I take paracetamol and ibuprofen as soon as I feel the first twinge, and use a hot water bottle it tends to resolve after a couple of hours. Not easy if you get caught in a situation where this isn't possible - occasionally I've ovulated at work and have almost vomited due to the pain Envy

It really is a horrible pain - I almost feel bloated too. If you do go to the doctor and get some good advice please come back and update - I've meant to go to the dr but I always thing they will just dismiss me... Ive never heard anyone else describing this, I always think I'm being a bit ridiculous Confused

CalamityJaney · 06/03/2022 21:32

I also suffer the same and each month it happens I think I should make an appointment with the GP and then never do. The pain is debilitating for around 12-24 hrs and has been worse since I had my 2nd baby. It wakes me in the night it’s so bad. I’ve wondered whether it’s cysts or endometriosis but suspect it’s as Mykittensmittens has said in her post. Will be interested to hear what your GP says.

letmesleep123 · 06/03/2022 21:35

I had this between my first and second child. It was so bad I didn't feel I could go into work, sharp twisting knife kind of pain. The GP prescribed pain killers but I really hated the idea of having to take them every month.

Strangely it stopped after I had my second son.

Lipstucky · 06/03/2022 21:45

@Mykittensmittens I have been diagnosed with exactly the same thing. Mine wasn't every month, it was every 2nd month (ish) and only on one side so it was only happening with one ovary. But lasted a week each time.
Can I ask what treatment you were offered if any?

SpicePumpkin · 06/03/2022 21:46

It's not something I would see the GP about but only because I work in obstetric & gynae imaging so it's something I see day in day out and mostly it's completely normal. But if you are really concerned obviously it's always better to speak to someone. I always find Nurse Practitioners more helpful than Gp's though.
Every woman has cysts that come and go with ovulation. When your ovulating the ovaries releases and egg from the dominant follicle and leaves behind a Corpus Luteum. This can fill with fluid and the cyst can burst and cause pain, discomfort and bleeding. The joys female reproduction & hormones!

isurvived3under2 · 06/03/2022 21:47

I get this, it got worse after my first baby and much worse again after having twins. I now take a multivitamin (mainly magnesium and vit B6) and it's sooo much more bearable. I did see the GP who sent me for a scan but they didn't find anything.

Original poster
Covidwoes · 06/03/2022 21:55

These replies are so helpful, thank you ladies. @SpicePumpkin I also have a (diagnosed) rectocele prolapse, which feels so much worse during ovulation. I don't know if that possibly makes a difference too? I just find it so painful that it's hard to look after the kids! I'm very lucky today was the weekend so DH could help.

@isurvived3under2 that's good to know your multivitamin has helped. Definitely worth trying!

@CalamityJaney, like you mine has been much worse since my second baby.

@sunnydaywalk I definitely need to be more proactive at taking painkillers sooner.

So many responses where we are just expected to 'get on with it' as women. It's so disheartening women's health is like this! Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Covidwoes · 06/03/2022 21:56

@Mykittensmittens sorry meant to include you in my previous post. That's interesting about the fluid release. It definitely feels like my entire abdominal cavity is irritated.

OP posts:
ThatsALotOfPassionfruit · 06/03/2022 22:01

Yes mine was awful, I felt like I could hardly weight bear on the leg on the side I was ovulating.
I was scanned and they found nothing unusual.
I was having dreadful periods too and after some arm twisting I went on the pill and it’s solved it all, no pain, no periods. I didn’t realise how bad my mood was around ovulation until I went on the pill and didn’t feel dreadful each month

lunar1 · 06/03/2022 22:11

When I had this my cysts needed to be removed. See the doctor so they can check.

I think women are conditioned to expect agonising pain and just carry on, we are entitled to medical care, often there is a cause and treatment.

Mykittensmittens · 06/03/2022 22:15

@Lipstucky @Covidwoes

Treatment for me was a suggested mirena to stop
ovulation and stop the issue. I knew this already as only had the pain when my cycle didn’t have ‘messing’ and was natural. Anything like the pill, implant etc will stop it.

I also was told the reason it was one side more than the other was that the fluid leak was dominant on one side. Right for me. But the people writing the paper told me that of all the cases they’d studied it was 80% right and 20% left and the didn’t yet understand why.

Also they told me ovulation alternates often - so right one month, left the next.

Lipstucky · 06/03/2022 22:27

Thanks @Mykittensmittens
I was prescribed the progesterone only pill which has sorted it right out and I presume I just stay on it until menopause now.
My digestive system was really affected by it too (I suppose the fluid was irritating everything in the abdominal cavity) and it hasn't been quite right ever since which is annoying, but the horrific pain is gone which feels like a miracle!

LibrariesGiveUsPower · 06/03/2022 23:00

I had this for years, pain was crippling. I’m on the mini pill now and don’t get it anymore.