Friday, June 22, 2007♥
Mittelschmerz
Because I have never heard of this ovulation cramp or mid-cycle cramp from anyone before, I went to do some research online. God, I feel like a founder.
Medical Condition known as: Mittelschmerz
A German word that means "middle pain," mittelschmerz is simply pain during ovulation.
An estimated
one in five women experience ovulation pain at some time during their reproductive years
(reproductive years!?). Some have it every month, while others have it only occasionally
(thank God its occasionally).WhenDuring your ovulation period, about 2 weeks from the first day of your period.
Make it a habit to count your days or at least keep track of when your period starts, then at least when something like that happen, you can let the doctor know. Cos they will usually ask for it to help diagnose what it is.
Signs and SymptomsThe main symptom of mittelschmerz is a distinctive, one-sided lower abdominal pain. The pain occurs on the side you're ovulating.
The pain usually lasts a few minutes to a few hours, but it may continue for as long as a day or two. It may be sharp, or it may be a dull ache that feels like a cramp. It may be associated with a small amount of vaginal bleeding, possibly caused by the rapid drop in estrogen that occurs at the time of ovulation. (
yup, there will be a teeny bit of bleeding)
CauseDuring your menstrual cycle, the female sex hormone estrogen causes your uterine lining (endometrium) to thicken every month to create a nourishing environment for a fertilized egg. Soon afterward, a follicle — a tiny sac in your ovary that contains a single egg (ovum) — ruptures and releases its egg (ovulation). If the egg becomes fertilized by contact with a sperm on its way to your uterus, the egg implants in the lining of the uterus. However, most often the unfertilized egg passes through your uterus and out of your body. Shortly thereafter, your uterus releases this lining, and your menstrual flow begins.
Mittelschmerz occurs during ovulation, when the follicle ruptures and releases its egg. No one knows for sure what causes mittelschmerz, but it's possible that just before you ovulate, follicle growth stretches the surface of your ovary, causing pain. You feel it on the side of your abdomen that contains the ovary that's releasing an egg. It's also possible that blood or fluid released from the ruptured follicle irritates the lining of your abdomen (peritoneum), leading to pain.
TreatmentYou don't really have to see a doctor (or 2 for that matter) unless its really god damn serious. Just take some cramp pills, do your normal hot water trick and rest. Unless you really feel like you are dying, then go get the doctor to pierce a needle in your ass.
Everything sounded right for me. A bit of bleeding, roughly 2 weeks into the cycle. Other than the fact that it will usually be on one side of the tummy. My guess is that when the pain kicked in, the whole area just felt painful and I couldn't exactly identify where the pain came from. Like how you have a toothache and you don't know which tooth it came from, something like that.
I was thinking that it might be a good indicator if you are into family planning. The cramp day is probably the best day to get it on and have a baby. But well, thats if your cramp wasn't like mine yesterday. How to even do anything when you can't even stand up properly.
