Mid-cycle I'm getting cramps as bad as during my TOM. I have a couple of large uterine fibroids and I'm probably not too far from menopause, although I don't have any symptoms of peri-menopause.

Does anyone else get crampy and uncomfortable when ovulating? The worst is sitting on the toilet and using the muscles in the region to go potty. It feels like a sharp pain through ovary or something.

It's called mittleschmertz. I've had it my entire life. No one knows exactly what causes it, there is one theory that says it's inflammation from the release of the fluid upon ovulation into the abdominal cavity. Mine used to last a full 24 hours when I was younger, but now it lasts about 2-6 hours. I've used that pain to make 3 babies!

I feel twinges of pain when I ovulate too. (I love being aware of where I am in my cycle! I use fertility awareness with traditional contraceptives to feel safer.) Like Elle said, that's normal for some women. What you described sounds abnormally painful though, since you compare it to menstrual cramps--but then again I don't know how bad your menstrual cramps are. Nancy, if this pain has just recently gotten worse, I would see a doctor.

Oh, BTW... My family has a history of fraternal twins... Sometimes I feel twinges in both ovaries, or two "rounds" of pain in one ovary. I've always wondered if that means I'm releasing two eggs. I asked the last OB/GYN I went to and she was just flabbergasted at my question.

I've always had it too, it's just gotten worse! *sigh* I've had a lot of ultrasounds, biopsies and so on. Everything is healthy except for those fibroids. I don't want to fuss with them though since I'll probably be free of this in a few years with menopause.