Lower abdominal pain that some women have at the time of ovulation. The pain is usually one-sided and lasts only a few hours. It may be accompanied by slight vaginal blood loss. In cases of severe mittelschmerz, oral contraceptives may be prescribed to suppress ovulation.
Abdominal pains that occur midway between menstrual periods and which are caused either by ovulation or the normal short pre-ovulatory surge of estrogen.
n. pain in the lower abdomen experienced about midway between successive menstrual periods, i.e. when the egg cell is being released from the ovary. See also menstrual cycle.