Do you get the 'mittelschmerz'? If so, how do you interpret it?

[Anonymous]

Every month without exception since I was about 21 (I'm 28 now) I've had the 'mittelschmerz' pain on one side or the other. It alternates unpredictably though. For three months it'll come from the right, for one month it'll go left, and then right, and then left three times, and back to right. There's no real pattern developing. I've been charting for 6 months and it's hard for me to know what exactly the mittelschmerz is telling me.

After doing some research, I've determined that it can be anything from a follicle growing, to it rupturing, to the egg being released, to FT spasms. So how do I know which one? I guess my question is, what does this signal, and should I use it as a marker (or 'secondary' indicator) when charting? When I feel this pain, should I have already BDd, or should I do it when I feel that pain, or should I do it afterwards?

Your help is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

My guess is that it's the actual ovulation happening, the follicle bursting through. I never noticed it when I was doing natural cycles, but since I've been triggering, I can definitely feel it. And since I know when I triggered, I know that it's the actual ovulation happening. You should bd BEFORE ovulation, preferably 12-24 hours or so to time it exactly right. If you bd right when you're ovulating, the sperm may not have time to get to the egg before it's pooped out. Much afterwards, and there's really no chance at all.

[Anonymous]

OP here re: the first responder:

That's what I thought, too, but Fertility Friend places my date of ovulation the day AFTER I feel the pain (because it notices a temp drop), and I forgot to mention that I also get my positive OPKs the same time I get the mittelschmerz, which means I should use the pain as an indication that I am about to ovulate... right?

We've just been reading about the Shettles Method and we're trying for a boy. That's why I ask. I'd like to do it as close to ovulation as possible to maximize our chances.

[Anonymous]

The egg can survive anywhere from 12 to 24 hours and yes, you can have sex right after you ovulate. The sperm only take minutes to reach your tubes. If you have sex too far in advance, the "female" members may reach the target too.

[Anonymous]

The sperm only take minutes to reach the tubes, but it takes them about 12 hours to be ready to fertilize an egg. I forget what that process is called. I think your overall chance of conception will be reduced by waiting until you feel the pains to conceive, but it could be perfect timing for you, and it may help you get a boy!