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Post Ovulation Pain
Question
I am experiencing post ovulation cramping. I have searched the internet for answers and thought I would post the question here so others could learn too.
It begins on post peak day 3 or 4 and will continue off and on for several days stopping around day 12 post ovulation. I have been experiencing this pain monthly since August. It usually starts in the morning about two hours before I wake up. This month the cramping was causing me to have an upset stomach. I am also experiencing constipation during this time. I am currently taking 200mg of sustained release progesterone for PMS symptoms and began this treatment in December. My doctors in my local area have no solutions and say I shouldn’t be concerned.
Nicole
Answer
Last Updated: February 21, 2015
There are a few simple things that might help the quality of your ovulation, and perhaps decrease the cramping. Having a “clean” burst of the follicle releasing the egg is desirable. The rupture of the follicle is dependent on prostaglandins, a type of hormone. Follicle rupture can be helped by:
1. Supplementing with Omega 3 fatty acids – flax oil or fish oil 1000 mg.-3000 mg.daily – either capsules or in liquid form. The Omega 3 supplement will help ensure the follicle produces the correct type of “good” prostaglandin
2. Avoiding Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Naproxen. These oppose prostaglandins and may prevent good rupture of the follicle.
3. Excessive animal fats in the diet will counteract the beneficial effect of the Omega-3’s and cause production of “bad” prostaglandins through excessive arachadonic acid
4. Excessive sugar (or carbohydrates), causing excess insulin, will impair function of the follicle. Mild exercise 15 minutes daily will improve insulin resistance and help decrease harmful effect of excessive insulin on the follicle.
More vegetables and fiber in your diet will automatically decrease adverse effects of animal fats and carbs, as well as helping constipation. If these lifestyle and diet changes do not help within three months, consider getting an ultrasound looking for an ovarian cyst. Also, endometriosis can typically cause luteal phase or premenstrual pain. The only way to determine if you have endometriosis is a diagnostic laparoscopy. Good luck!
Dr. Mary Davenport
1. Supplementing with Omega 3 fatty acids – flax oil or fish oil 1000 mg.-3000 mg.daily – either capsules or in liquid form. The Omega 3 supplement will help ensure the follicle produces the correct type of “good” prostaglandin
2. Avoiding Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Naproxen. These oppose prostaglandins and may prevent good rupture of the follicle.
3. Excessive animal fats in the diet will counteract the beneficial effect of the Omega-3’s and cause production of “bad” prostaglandins through excessive arachadonic acid
4. Excessive sugar (or carbohydrates), causing excess insulin, will impair function of the follicle. Mild exercise 15 minutes daily will improve insulin resistance and help decrease harmful effect of excessive insulin on the follicle.
More vegetables and fiber in your diet will automatically decrease adverse effects of animal fats and carbs, as well as helping constipation. If these lifestyle and diet changes do not help within three months, consider getting an ultrasound looking for an ovarian cyst. Also, endometriosis can typically cause luteal phase or premenstrual pain. The only way to determine if you have endometriosis is a diagnostic laparoscopy. Good luck!
Dr. Mary Davenport
Answered By:
Mary Davenport, MD, MS
Mary Davenport, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician/gynecologist from the Oakland Region of California, offers telehealth services over MyCatholicDoctor.com She graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency at UC San Diego. Dr. Davenport is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and serves on the Advisory Board of the California Association of Natural Family Planning.
