Does ovulation pain (Mittelschmerz) come before or after ovulation?
Mittelschmerz comes from distention of the ovary either shortly before, during, or after ovulation. Mittelschmerz can last minutes or even days. When you feel Mittelschmerz, it may mean that you are either about to ovulate or you ovulated already. Some women only feel it for minutes, exactly at the time of ovulation, though that is not the rule. Many women who ovulate regularly do not have Mittelschmerz, so it’s not necessary for normal ovulation.
