What is the term for abdominopelvic pain in the middle of the menstrual cycle caused by irritation of the peritoneum by small amounts of bleeding associated with the rupture of ovarian tissue during ovulation?

• A. Dysmenorrhea
• B. Mittelschmerz
• C. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• D. Placenta Previa

Answer: (B)

Mittelschmerz is the term for a mid-cycle ovulatory pain. It happens when the ovarian follicle ruptures to release an egg, and a small amount of blood and fluid irritates the peritoneum, producing transient lower abdominal pain around the time of ovulation. The pain is typically unilateral, may last for a few hours to a day or two, and can be accompanied by light spotting or mild nausea. This distinguishes it from cramps that occur with menstruation (dysmenorrhea), which are tied to uterine contractions during menses, from pelvic inflammatory disease, which is an infection with fever and abnormal vaginal discharge, and from placenta previa, which involves painless vaginal bleeding later in pregnancy.