Ovulation Pain / Mittelschmerz worse after having children?

[sunshinecitrus1]

I have a DS almost 4 years old now. After he was born, my midwife suggested I went back on the contraceptive pill straight away which I did. I came off the pill again around a few months ago as we are planning to try for baby number 2 and the first month that I ovulated on the right side, I was in severe pain. I really thought something was seriously wrong but once I had ovulated, the pain subsided. I have felt pain in both sides (mostly my right) with other cycles since but much more mildly although still enough to notice.

We conceived our DS very quickly first time around, I was on the pill for years prior to falling pregnant and then fell pregnant within the first month or two so my body has not really been ovulating regularly for a long while.

Has anyone else experienced worse ovulation pain / Mittelschmerz since having a child? It is something I am going to keep an eye on but just keen to hear of anyone else’s experiences x

How old are you?
I also get this but I think it’s a symptom of peri for me. I’m early forties and have had it for about 5 years.

@sunshinecitrus1 your experience sounds very similar to mine! I went straight back on the mini pill after having my 3.5yo and came off it almost a year ago ready to start trying for DC2. I used to have some discomfort with ovulation but it was definitely worse last year. I also found it would last longer. It settled after the first few cycles and I'm back down to my usual pains (some cycles slightly more than others). I think it can be a combination of things... age, having had pregnancies previously but also I think some of it comes from just being so much more aware of your body too. As PP mentioned, I think it can be a sign of perimenopause but without other symptoms or irregular cycles, I think it's unlikely to be that.

I'm 39 and had a recent GP appointment to discuss my recurrent MCs and went through quite a lot of detail and they said there was nothing I was describing that would suggest I was perimenopausal.

Yes! I’m 39 and have awful ovulation pain every month since having my DDs (second DD is 4). Much, much worse than any period pain I get. The first time it happened I thought I had appendicitis it was so bad! I have to take really strong painkillers until it subsides.

@MummyV2021 @BedsitBlues Thanks for your replies! I am 33 so not sure it is is perimenopause for me. I don’t have any other perimenopausal symptoms. My cycles are still figuring themselves out after coming off the pill but are still regular give or take a day or two.

I can completely relate to your post @Covidwoes, the first month this happened to me after coming off the pill I thought the same and I was so close to going to A&E. I even fainted on that particular morning, it was so severe but I think it was a combination of getting up too fast, hormone levels and just the pain of it (I have a history of fainting which can sometimes be triggered by anxiety if I’m worrying about something - In this case, the pain as I get terrible health anxiety). The fainting has never happened again and the following day, the pain had more or less subsided like it had never been an issue, although sometimes my side can almost feel a bit sore the day after I’ve ovulated I’ve noticed. I’m only a few months in and the last couple of cycles haven’t been as bad as that first month so I’m hoping everything settles down soon x

Yes I get this and it’s much worse after having dc. Although I was on the pill for many years and never ovulating so maybe it would always have been bad had I given it the chance!
For me it’s a few days of heavy bloating and then crampy pains on one side. Not the same as period pains but definitely as uncomfortable. And (TMI) the amount of clear discharge that I get during this time too is crazy. Then as soon as I’ve ovulated (genuinely feels like I can pinpoint exactly when it happens) it all subsides within 24 hours.
On the positive side it helps me to track my cycle and would be very useful if I ever wanted to TTC again but that will never happen.

@froglet99 Yes definitely sounds a though we share a similar experience. I agree, I know when ovulation is happening and when it has happened as the pain starts subsiding so it is useful for me in that sense at the moment as I am currently tracking my cycle to TTC again

Mine was awful after I had my kids. I ended up resorting to acupuncture, goodness knows how it works but it did!

@ranoutofquinoaandprosecco That’s good to know it worked for you and one to bear in mind, thanks!

It must be “a thing” in some women after having DC. I’d be fascinated to know exactly why it happens (and would rather it did not 😂).

Never had kids but it's definitely worse now I'm in my mid 30s.
Never noticed it at all in my 20s.

Yes after DC1, but then it was better after DC2. I assumed it was a result of caesarean adhesions.

This would make sense for me. Never considered this could be the cause of it.

Yes I have this. Don’t think it’s perimenopause as I’m 33. But it’s awful, I’m doubled over some months. Much worse than my period.