What is it?

Mittelschmerz is German for "middle pain"- which means ovulation pain that occurs in the middle of the month. The pain is typically one-sided, located in the lower abdomen, and sharp. Usually, mittelschmerz is a normal phenomenon, and does not require any medical attention, and can be treated with pain relievers. If the pain is severe, a pelvic examination is required to look for other diagnoses such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and appendicitis. Further evaluation may include a pelvic ultrasound. If ovulation pain is causing great discomfort, and pregnancy is not wanted, birth control pills may be the solution.