History of Mittelschmerz (Ovulation pain)

To All:

Something has been gnawing at me since the dx of 3c OVC. Since I began ovulating at about the age of 14, I have experienced "Mittelschmerz", ( the term for ovulation pain). The pain so bad that during ovulation I could barely sit from the pressure. i thought my ovary would burst. I would vomit and at times had elevated white blood cell counts. Three times I was in the emergency room for suspected appendicitis. (colonoscopies and GI series were also performed). My gyn, of 20 years said "nothing to worry about just Mittelschmerz" but did many pelvic ultrasounds to be sure. (Still the OVC was missed). She prescribed prescription strength Ibuprofen.

During those frantic days after dx, I read many OVC articles that suspected ovarian stress being a factor in developing OVC. Which may be a possible explanation of why the use of birth control pills and pregnancy lowers you risk. (PS I was pregnant 4 times and used birth control pills)

The gnawing question is (after scouring the Internet): Why there aren't any studies which may connect a history of Mittelschmerz with OVC. I presented my case to Dr. Sabbittini at Sloan Kettering. His response was that it would be hard to
find candidates since pain thresholds are hard to establish. Middlesmirtz pain can be severe like in my case or a mere pinch in other women.

I thought I would start my own informal study so as to justify further research. I would like to know how many of us with OVC dx can also say they suffered with this throughout their menstrual years.

By dianest
Posted January 6, 2009 at 11:57 am
Report post

This is interesting. I never heard the term Mittelschmerz. I started menstruating at age 11 and had terrible cramps, had to lie down; I remember going to the nurse's office in high school because it was so bad. At age 18, I started bleeding most of the month for 2 or 3 months, at which time I went to my first gynecologist. He put me on birth control pills "to regulate my period". I believe he said I had ovarian cysts (this was 1968, I didn't file medical reports back then!) I only took birth control pills maybe 2 years. All was well throughout my 20s and 30s, but at age 42 started having severe cramps and bleeding profusely. I went to many doctors who told me to take hormones, not one suggested a hysterectomy. I have always had tenderness in my left ovary when being examined, especially in the last decade. The pain during menstruation was always in my left ovary and was so severe by the time I was in my late 40s that I would wake up in the night thinking I should take myself to the hospital. I finally stopped menstruating at age 53, by age 56 was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, 1A grade 3-my left ovary only was completely enveloped in a tumor 11 cm.

By Shelter
Posted January 5, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Report post

My middle daughter ( aged 20)
have mittlesmirtz..... I mean pass out / go to the hospital pain
my oldest daughter (aged 23); has had prob with her
cramps.. even a young girl aged 11-13 she'd be in bed.... it was so bad, later on told she had endometriosi maybe....// and she had 1 etopic pregnacy, before having her first child a 9 months ago
my youngests ( aged 18) gets horrible cramps.....

I am going for ablood work and seeing if I carry the BRCA gene......

my oldest sister died this past summer from Cancer
she had OVC 3 years ago....
was treated... was in remission for 18 months
then a cancer returned,.. differnt secondary cancer....
of the lungs & liver....

she died 9 months later...

I am going to contact my girls.. my necies & sisters....
and ask them to come on here & share

By artattack59
Posted October 31, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Report post

To al interested;
I'll be attending a survivors workshop at NYU Med. Center sponsored by the GCF (Gynecologic Cancer Foundation) on Saturday. I am hoping to catch someone's ear about researching this further.

Igunadona I would love to hear the words to that song! I think we would all get a good laugh from it. Also I think your comment about appendicitis is a valid way to measure pain thresholds. Also, why can't a simple question like " Did you ever experience ovualtion pain?" be added to medical questionaires when OV patients are evaluated? This might help in deciding if this is a legitimate risk.

By momanderson920
Posted October 27, 2008 at 9:52 am
Report post

I had 6 pregnancies, three resulted in miscarriage between 10 and 16 weeks. I only used birth control for a few months. I had ovarian cysts in my 40s and would have pain between periods. I was 54 when diagnosed with Stage III3 C ovarian cancer that was in my left fallopian tube and on my left ovary, also spread to my peri aortic lymph nodes.

By grammy_linda
Posted October 27, 2008 at 8:40 am
Report post

Hi
I would suggest contacting Cancer Care, they look for topics to have their trainings on. If you have not yet perticipated, they are one hour discussions held by top specialists on all types of cancers. I take classes that are of connected to OVCA quite often.
Carolyn Messner ( DSW,MSW) is director of Education and Training
1 800 813-HOPE (4673)
teled@cancercare.org
or the web site www.cancercare.org
Their classes are always one hour (by toll free number) and have usually three of the top specialists in the particular field, followed by allowing listeners to ask questions.
As for what I have heard, those who have been diagnosed ( OVCA ) have had more than the norm of both pain and clotting being passed during menses, so I do see that you have a valid question I hope you can get answers to.
Hugs
Linda

By inguadona
Posted October 27, 2008 at 2:16 am
Report post

I just found this post via a websearch. I've had Mittelschmerz since I was 14 or so. No Hx of OVC (yet), but I've always been concerned. So let me know if a study gets started. ( I think if you've ever gone to the doctor thinking you have appendicitis, that qualifies as a reliable pain threshold for Mittelschmerz!)

I actually wrote a blues song about this in high school. (Well, lyrics in search of music.) Still have it. (The lyrics and the Mittelschmerz, that is. At 53, I'm thinking that pain will be ending pretty soon.)

Interested to know if there are any reliable studies showing a connection.

By nimawey
Posted July 25, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Report post

One of the things that my husband ensures that I not forget now that I have been diagnosed with OC is that anything out of the ordinary is definitely worth being concerned over. There's no such thing as overreacting when it comes to our health and diseases that can kill us if left unattended... it would be nice if those who couldn't possibly get OC would see things the same way. =P

I certainly wish you luck in convincing your doctor to take action in looking into the possibility of Mittelsmirtz and OC. I didn't have Mittelsmirtz, but I did have other cyclic oddities that I wish my GYN would have taken some action... any action... to make sure my health was good.

By WolfpackGirl
Posted July 25, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Report post

I am so glad you are thinking along these lines. I am 33 and not a cancer patient (that I am aware of). I too have experienced Mittelschmerz for the past 2-3 years. It is always around my ovulation time and causes pain severe enough to impact my daily activities for 12-24 hours. It usually occurs on the left side. I truly believe that whenever our bodies register pain, it isn't 'nothing to worry about'. Pain is our body's natural way of telling us that something is wrong. I too have been told that the pain is common and doesn't mean anything. My pain began to be severe after 5 year of birth control, followed by a miscarriage. I can't help but wonder if there is a connection. I wanted to add to your post. I hope that some concerned doctor out there will pick up and begin to research this. What a tremendous breakthrough it would be if we could pre-diagnose and treat the cancer!

By cmcgrady
Posted July 25, 2008 at 8:33 am
Report post

Lisa,
Please go to meghansmessage.com, that is where my daughters story is, Dr. Sabbatini was not her doctor in the begining, he became her doctor a couple weeks latter.
Cheryl

By artattack59
Posted July 24, 2008 at 10:30 am
Report post

To all responders:

I have to apologize for not posting sooner. I attended the OCNA conference in Dc a couple of weeks ago. I tried, I feel unsuccessfully, to bring up the topic of Mittelsmirtz as a possible risk factor. I did approach the subject with one of the guest speakers from the Department of Defense. (Yes, believe it or not they have an Ovarian research team) In her presentation she mentions studies in progress that may possibly link inflammation as a risk factor for developing cancer. So I thought, she( can't recall her name at the moment) was one to speak to. Her answer left me with more questions. She said Mittelsmirtz did not really produce inflammation. The pain is due to bleeding caused by ovulation and from this blood needing to be absorbed. ( I do remember hearing this before ...have to re-research it). Also she said Mittelsmirtz affects about 1 in five women.The questions I have then are:

Is the comment "it happens to 1-5 women" mean it is too common for further study?

Doesn't the fact that some women's ovaries bleed every month or every other month sound like a problem that could cause long time stress?

Since we are not making much progress in diagnosis, Why can't Mittelsmirtz be researched and at least possibly listed as a risk factor?

The Dept. of defense is trying a novel diagnostic test : Training dogs to sniff out ovarian cancer. Although a great idea, it sounds much more far fetched than researching a possible connection of Mittelsmirtz and ovarian cancer risk.

If it can at least be found to be a risk then suffers could have routine CA125 levels checked like they would if there was a strong family history. (Since I personally had no family history, It might have been caught it at stage 1 instead of 3C).

I re- approached the subject with Dr. Sabbittinni at Sloan. His response was not negative to the idea but ,again, reiterated that a control group would be hard to establish. I learned that although Dr. Sabbittinni is well know is heading trials, it doesn't mean he has sole authority for beginning a study.

I feel inadequate in reporting all of this. I was one of the newest survivors to attend (I'm less that one year in first remission). I felt a mix of awe as well as intimidation towards the organizers and guest speakers. Their respective wealth of knowledge and experience left me both relieved that they were in "charge" and inadequate because I have so much to learn. The conference left me overwhelmed with information that it was hard to remember everything,. But rest assured, there is so much new research currently being focused on OC that we hopefully will see some progress in detection and/or in treatment soon.

Lisa

By cmcgrady
Posted July 24, 2008 at 9:54 am
Report post

I also suffered from Mittelschmerz & was hospitalized several times before they started me on the pill in my teens. I also know Dr. Sabbatinti, he was my daughter, Meghan's doctor, she passed away last October 22nd at the age of 22 from ovarian cancer. Let me know if I can help.
Cheryl

By leahrun
Posted July 24, 2008 at 12:13 am
Report post

I cannot believe I found this discussion. I don't know where to begin. My grandmother had ovc, and I have been suffering with Mittelsmirtz pain for at least 15 years now. It is so bad each foot step I take is excruciating. My pelvic area is so tender all the time. My cycle has changed in the last 3 years in which I bleed inbetween periods. When I am ovulating I can't fit into the clothes I normally do. I have been researching ovc for quite sometime now wondering is there more to mittelsmirtz. I am finally getting an ultrasound tommorrow. Am I overreacting? or am I not doing enough? Thank you for your posts...you are couragous women. God bless you!

By BarbU
Posted July 12, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Report post

Interesting discussion regarding this type of pain. I too started menstruating at age 10 and had extreme pain with every cycle. The pain was not inbetween the cycle but during the actual menstral period. I once was hospitalized for the pain when I was 16. Afterwards I was basically told to use a pain pill and the heating pad to get through each period. I had one pregnancy and then used birth control pills for 9 years. I ended up having a hysterectomy at age 32 but they left my ovaries since they said the ovaries were not diseased and it would be better to produce my own hormones rather than take hormone replacement drugs. I did have endometriosis which was discovered during my operation. Over the years, even though I no longer had periods, I felt pain in both left and right ovaries which could have been around the ovulation time but it was difficult to know. I had several pelvic ultrasounds over the years but it was determined that all was well. Obviously that was not the case, since I was diagnosed with Stage III C ovarian cancer in February, 2007. It will be interesting to see what your doctor at Sloan Kettering says when you present him/her with the information you have gathered. Thanks for taking this on and looking for additional information.

By mjill
Posted July 11, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Report post

Wow! This is so interesting. I also had Mittelsmirtz though not as bad as some people but only on side of the ovary that developed the tumor. Doesn't this sound like more than mere coincidence. BTW, anyone with daughters needs to send them for ultrasounds as soon as they turn 30. This is what I did because my Mom had OVC and because of early detection mine was found at Stage I.

By momanderson920
Posted July 10, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Report post

Found this article about the connection between inflammation and cancer. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/92737.php
I wonder if the mittelschmerz is a form of inflammation of the ovaries and thus the cancer connection.

By momanderson920
Posted July 8, 2008 at 8:37 am
Report post

When I did have pain in my ovary midmonth in my 40s, it was only on the one side, my right. And it wasn't every month. My left ovary had the cancer, none on the right. My pain was on my right side....I wonder if the doctor's left is my right? If so, that is suspicious since I too had pain on one side in the middle of the month between periods.

By Gabriele
Posted July 7, 2008 at 9:38 am
Report post

I am becoming soo angry at docs who dismiss our very real symptoms as "probably nothing." I remember my first gyn (in 1970!) who smoked during consultation. They called him "Goldfinger" in my town. You can imagine why...
Dodie, please send your daughter ASAP to the gyn. I don't have any children but sent my two sisters. They live in Germany and told me not to worry because their annual exam includes a pelvic ultrasound. How is that for prevention? We have a great deal to catch up with the rest of the world.

By Carmeta
Posted July 7, 2008 at 9:23 am
Report post

On my list of things to tell my gyn-onc, which I never did bring up, is that my periods usually came every 21 days instead of 28. Once in a while they were as close as 18 days. That meant I ovulated a lot! My mittelschmerz took my breath away and was significant enough that I went to a doctor about it; that's how I learned as a teenager about mittelschmerz. That was the same intense stabbing pain I felt during my uterine biopsies and several months before my dx.

By karenst
Posted July 6, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Report post

One other thing I just recalled. During my pelvic exams...my right side (the ovc side) was always very tender when the doc was examining me. I mentioned this several times to my docs right up to my last exam 1 year before my dx and was told it was nothing. Sure turned out to be "something" to me. Continuing good luck!
Karen

Welcome to Inspire!

Explore topics in this discussion:

31 replies

Add to the discussion

OCNA on Twitter

Group leaders

You