THAT MID-CYCLE TWINGE

UNDERSTANDING OVULATION PAIN

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Do you feel pain in the middle of your cycle? About 20 to 40 per cent of people with ovaries feel when their body releases an egg during ovulation. The medical term is mittelschmerz, and its exact cause is not fully understood - but several theories exist.

Perhaps it’s the growing follicle (containing the egg) stretching the surface of the ovary, maybe it relates to irritation of the abdominal lining or it could be the egg being released in the first place (follicle rupture).

The pain may continue due to contractions of the fallopian tubes as the egg travels toward the uterus. The bottom line is that this monthly event that can lead to pregnancy, can also be a real pain in the butt (or abdomen).