M ITTELSCHMERZ Andrea Naranjo Rebeca Escobedo Rivera Yerko Tabali Pasten Andrea Naranjo Rebeca Escobedo Rivera Yerko Tabali Pasten Universidad de Antofagasta Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Departamento de Obstetricia y Puericultura Obstetricia y Puericultura 16 noviembre 2009

Mittelschmerz is one-sided lower abdominal pain that occurs in women at or around the time of am egg is released from the ovaries (ovulation) D EFINITION

A LTERNATE N AMES Midcycle Pain Ovulation Pain Midcycle Pain Ovulation Pain

O VERVIEW About 20% of women experience mittelschmerz, or pain associated with ovulation. The pain may occur just before, during, or after ovulation.

C AUSES There are several explanations for the cause of this pain. Just prior to ovulation, follicle growth may stretch the surface of the ovary, causing pain. At the time of ovulation, fluid or blood is released from the ruptured egg follicle and may cause irritation of the abdominal lining. Mittelschmerz may be felt on one side one month, then switch to the opposite side the next month, or it may be felt on the same side for several months in succession.

A DVANTAGE The pain is not harmful and does not signify the presence of disease. In fact, women who feel this pain may be at an advantage when planning or trying to avoid pregnancy.

O VULATION AND P RENGANCY A woman is most likely to become pregnant either just before, on the day of, or several days after ovulation, although birth control methods that rely solely on predicting ovulation are far from completely reliables.

S YMPTOMS & S IGNS  One-sided  Recurrent or with similar pain in past  Typically lasting minutes to a few hours, but may extend as long as 24 to 48 hours  Usually sharp, cramping, distinctive pain  Severe (rare)  May switch sides from month to month or from one episode to another  Begins midway through the menstrual cycle Lower abdominal pain that is:

D IAGNOSIS & T ESTS Other diagnostic procedures (such as an abdominal ultrasound) may be performed to rule out other causes of ovarian pain if ovulatory pain is prolonged. A pelvic examination shows no abnormalities.

T REATMENT No treatment is usually necessary. Pain relievers (analgesics) may be needed in cases of prolonged or intense pain.

P ROGNOSIS (E XPECTATIONS ) The outcome is expected to be… EXCELLENT!!

C OMPLICATIONS

C ALLING Y OUR H EALTH C ARE P ROVIDER Call for an appointment with your health care provider if ovulation pain seems to: - Be last longer than usual - Occurs with vaginal bleeding.

P REVENTION Hormonal forms of contraception can be taken to prevent ovulation Ovulatory pain and therefore But otherwise there isnt known prevention

CONCLUSIONS Mittelschmerz should not have any complication at all. In fact, its an advantage for womens who wants to get pregnant. Mittelschmerz must not get confused with pain during the menstruation.

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