7 Simple Ways To Reduce Ovulation Cramps
7 Simple Ways To Reduce Ovulation Cramps.
Hey beautiful!
Ever felt like you just finished your period and a few days after, you’re feeling those little jabs in your belly? Not to worry, it’s probably that time of the month to make babies.
In this article, you’ll discover how to free yourself from the cramps that come along with ovulation. Grab your popcorn and let’s dive in!
But First…What Is Ovulation?
Ovulation is a phase of the female menstrual cycle that involves the release of an egg (ovum) from one of the ovaries. After it’s released, the egg moves down the fallopian tube and stays there for 12 to 24 hours.
If fertilized, the process of conception begins, if left unfertilized the egg breaks down and the uterine lining the uterus (womb) is shed out during your period.
A typical menstrual cycle is 28 days. However, every menstrual cycle is different with ovulation happening midway of a menstrual cycle, but it varies in different women.
It happens about 2 weeks before menstruation begins.
Roughly 1 in 5 women experience mid-cycle ovulation pain. For many women, painful ovulation is bothersome but it is a normal part of the menstrual cycle.
Normal ovulation signs include:
Bloating
Nausea
Headaches
Mood changes
Abdominal pain
Breast tenderness
Increased sexual desire
Slight rise in body temperature
Vaginal secretions (clear, wet, and stretchy).
Ovulation Cramps: Why Do They Happen?
Ever wonder why you still have cramps after menstruation? Not to worry, here's the reason;
Eggs (ovum) grow inside a follicle, which is a fluid-filled sac. This follicle eventually stretches and ruptures to release the egg. This rupturing process is what's responsible for ovulation pain.
Fear not, for this is a normal part of the ovulation process.
However, if your ovulation pain lasts for more than 3-5 days, please see your doctor.
While ovulation can be harmless, severe symptoms can pose as the signs of a more serious condition like:
Endometriosis: a disease condition in which the tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus in places where it doesn’t belong. It can also cause pain during ovulation.
Scar tissue: scar tissue caused after a caesarean section (childbirth through surgery) can cause ovulation pain.
7 Simple Ways to Reduce Ovulation Cramps
Just before you think the world is about to end whenever you have ovulation cramps. Hold on. Here are basic remedies to it:
If your symptoms are minor, or if they tend to disappear as soon as they come, you probably don't need to do anything. But if they don't, here are the simple ways to ease the pain:
1. Keep the Area Warm:
Warmth helps soothe ovulation pain. Place a heat pack on the painful area, or soak yourself in a warm bath with some bath salts.
Also, you can use a heating pad to add some warmth directly to your lower abdomen to ease the pain, but never sleep with the heating pad on your body.
Warmth works well because it:
Eases cramps
Relaxes muscles
Enhances blood flow to the pain area.
2. Try Light Exercise:
Regular physical activity can reduce cramps. Exercises like walking, yoga, and swimming help to reduce ovulation pain by increasing blood flow and releasing endorphins (hormones that make you feel good).
However, if the pain is unbearable and you don’t have the strength for energetic workout, just do light stretches that target your lower back.
Also, you can gently massage your lower abdomen with an essential oil or massage oil (works like magic).
3. Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy that helps reduce ovulation cramps.
It involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points in the body, for the treatment of various mental and physical conditions, most especially pain.
However, it must be done by an acupuncture professional to get the best results.
4. Adjust Your Diet:
Certain foods can aggravate ovulation pain. You should avoid processed foods, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol during ovulation.
A diet rich in fibre and nutrients helps to reduce inflammation and reduce ovulation pain.
Fruits and vegetables like Berries, Coconut, Oats, Seafood, Parsley, Avocado, Lentils, Cucumber, Eggplant, Bell pepper, Okra, Tomatoes, Spinach, Celery and so on also help in reducing ovulation pain.
(Pro tip: Vitamin E and Vitamin B6 help reduce the breast tenderness that comes with ovulation).
5. Herbal Remedies:
Herbal remedies like ginger, garlic, chamomile, and peppermint also help reduce ovulation cramps
They contain anti-inflammatory properties, which helps reduce stress and pain.
You can decide whether to use in form of aromatherapy, topical oil on painful area or take as tea.
However, consult your Doctor before trying any herbal remedy.
6. Take Over the Counter Pain Relief Medications:
Over the counter pain medications like ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin, or acetaminophen can help reduce ovulation cramps.
However, it’s important you follow the instructions on the label and not exceed the recommended dosage.
Also, anti-inflammatory pain medications like Ibuprofen or naproxen are dangerous for people with kidney or stomach problems. If you fall into either of these categories, consult your Doctor before usage.
7. Consider Hormonal Birth Control:
If all else fails, try using hormonal birth control methods. It’s the most effective treatment for painful ovulation.
Hormonal birth control like the pill or a hormonal IUD (intrauterine devices), can help regulate ovulation and reduce the pain associated with the process.
Birth control pills prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation. If you take hormonal birth control pills, you won’t ovulate, and your painful ovulation will also disappear.
However, before choosing any hormonal birth control method, see your doctor and weigh the pros and cons involved. Discuss if they'll be the right choice for you or not.
Wrapping Up
Ovulation cramps can be easier to manage with the right remedies.
Next time you have those little annoying jabs in your abdomen, choose either of the remedies listed above. Before you know it, those cramps would be gone (like smoke into thin air).
Who knows, you might even never experience ovulation cramps ever again.
However, if your ovulation pain lasts for more than 3-5 days, please see your doctor.
Catch you in the next blog post! Stay litty.