Painful Ovulation

[dogmama1]

Hello -

I was on the pill for many years, and came off last august to start trying for a baby. Due to work commitments, we have since delayed a little longer and have been using condoms in the meantime.

I've noticed in the last 6 months, when I'm ovulating, which is usually the week following on from my period. I get awful lower abdominal pain. It almost feels like my insides are twisting and I bloat. My lower tummy can go rock solid some days.

I have googled, and have read up that ovulation pain is quiet normal. But, just looking for like-minded individuals who experience this. None of my friends or family do.
My mum experienced horrificly painful periods in her teens, as I did, which is why I was first put on the contraceptive pill. Which did on the most part subside the worst effects. Of course I can't fall back into that as wanting to start a family but will look to after.

Anyone find anything that helped ease it? Make it more bearable? I am able to do my usual day to day tasks. But, it's noticeable, often find it seems to get a little more uncomfortable at night time but I don't know if that's because I've stopped and it's more noticeable whilst doing nothing.

Many thanks!

I was put on the pill from 17 after 3 years in and out of hospital because of period pains. I took it for a few months but switched over to the implant as with the pill I still had periods that were painful (but not as bad), with the implant I was lucky and had next to no periods. I stayed on the implant 3 times so 9 years total. I came off it in 2020. At first while my periods regulated the pain was less and periods lighter. However in the last year or so my periods are getting worse again. Not sure if age related or tied back to my issues when I was young. No doctor ever gave me a diagnosis and I was always sent away with pain medication. I'm 31 this year and I feel like it's just part of my life now.

Ovulation pains are quite normal. I've never been on the pill but I do get ovulation pain most cycles. Sometimes it's just a slight pulsing or tingling, other months it can feel more like a sharp stabbing pain.

I get horrendous ovulation pains but mine is due to endo…. Also horrific periods. I have to take prescription painkillers to manage the pain although they don’t take it away completely. I have an electric heat pad which helps take the edge off. It sucks, hopefully we get our BFPs soon and a break from the pain…

Respectfully, once you're pregnant that's a whole different, daily pain.. couldn't wait to not be pregnant.

I never used to notice ovulation but since having my 2nd child it feels awful, almost like a period, but usually one side. And bloating.

It can be a symptom of endometriosis. I would make a GP appointment to discuss.

I don't think I ever noticed ovulation pain until I had my first DC. After that it was very obvious - way worse than period pain.

I get awful ovulation pain, feels like stabbing/trapped wind pain to the point I often struggle to go about daily tasks that day.

Honestly before TTC my son, for years there's been times I've thought I've had appendicitis and now only have I linked the pain to ovulation after doing the ovulation sticks when trying. I now don't need any OPK's and can pin point the exact day I've ovulated and work out my AF due date and it's bang on every time. I know the day I ovulated the month I fell pregnant and funnily enough, that was the most painful month & made me officially link the pain to ovulation - I mentioned it to my two sisters & they also get pain but not quite to the extent I did.

No words of advice, but just letting you know you're not alone with the ovulation pain! I have regular cycles each month, when I was younger (teenager, now 29) there were questions about endo but I believe I don't have it as other than a painful ovulation all else is fine. I did had very painful periods and was prescribed mefenamic acid for the pain - not sure if this is something they still offer/safe when TTC but thought maybe worth mentioning, but not needed anymore and can manage standard period pain with paracetamol if ever need but rare!!

My situation sounds very similar to yours njh21. I've also just turned 30. No children yet.
Have suffered with bad periods since I started at the age of 13. Used to be sick every time, pain to the point I'd almost pass out. Used to spend 3 days in bed every cycle.
That's when my mum took my to the Gp and they put me on the pill - it did certainly take the edge off and my periods were much more bare-able every month.
I came off the pill last august, and they've ramped back up since, some months worse than others..
but, of course until now I've never experienced the ovulation pain - only since stopping the pill (bit naive sounding I know)

I get the exact same as you, some months I can become a little hysteric with it to the point I think my appendix is about to burst or somethings really wrong. Then within a few days it subsides... but it still freaks me out every month because it almost feels unnatural...
i think it doesn't help when you speak to other females and they can't relate to what your saying and it makes you feel more isolated.

I get horrible menstrual cycles. I experience pain all through the month give or take a week.
My body temp goes through the roof about a week leading up, hot sweats, hormones completely out of whack and exhausted, then my period starts and I'm in pain, totally exhausted.. I get shooting pains down the tops of my arms and my thighs, nausea and feel really low, achy and almost flu like then the period subsides and then I'm shortly after in to ovulating, pain and feeling miserable again and then a short break before it all starts again....
I'm similar to you, in I could now pinpoint my point of ovulating without tracking because it's so obvious.

Once I've had a kid, I plan to go back on the pill to stop my periods all together because this is a miserable existence.

My mum also suffered horrendous periods - she was told back then they ether treated her for her painful periods or she has a baby and puts up. So she did... but she did say after having kids her symptoms almost resolved themselves. Almost like something had been moved or something.

It certainly nice to know I'm not completely alien. It can be very depressing ....

Oh and Breast pain - through my period and ovulation I get agonising pain in my right boob. Which also terrifies me every month. It's never ending

Thank you commenting - can I ask how you came about having a diagnosis on Endo?

I've suffered With pretty awful periods since the age of 13. My GP has never explained endo to me or even suggested it maybe a possibility. Never investigated or otherwise...

I've read a little about it myself and have thought several times this sounds exactly like what I experience...

I got really bad ovulation pain, much worse than any period pain

Once you are in a position of wanting some form of contraception again, I highly recommend the Mirena coil. I hadn't realised how bad my ovulation pain was and how long it lasted until I stopped getting it (plus bonus for me is no more periods )

@dogmama1 The symptoms you experienced at 13 were not normal and what you experience now is still isn't. The pill has been masking whatever is wrong all this time. You need to push hard with your GP for investigations and don't stop until you get some answers. I am so thankful that a wonderful GP joined the dots of DD's symptoms at 15 and diagnosed her with PCOS. We know what we are dealing with and can make informed decisions as a result. Knowing isn't a cure and she takes a higher risk pill as a result but we know the pitfalls for now & things to consider in the future. When I read posts like yours I am forever grateful to that great GP - I know it's far from the norm.