Ovulation Pain (Mittelschmerz): Causes & Treatment

Many women experience mild discomfort or cramping around the time of ovulation. This temporary pain is known as Mittelschmerz, a German word meaning “middle pain,” because it usually occurs midway through the menstrual cycle. For some women, ovulation-related painful episodes can feel like mild pressure, while others may notice sharper cramps on one side of the abdomen.