Preparing for an appointment

In most cases, you won't need to see a doctor for mittelschmerz. However, if your pain is especially troublesome, you may make an appointment to confirm a diagnosis of mittelschmerz or to explore treatment options.

What you can do

You may want to write a list that includes:

• Detailed descriptions of your symptoms
• The dates when your last two menstrual periods began
• Information about medical problems you've had
• Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings
• All the medications and dietary supplements you take
• Questions to ask the doctor

Preparing a list of questions for your doctor will help you make the most of your time together. For mittelschmerz, some basic questions to ask include:

• What is likely causing my symptoms?
• Are there other possible causes for my symptoms?
• Are my symptoms likely to change over time?
• Do I need tests?
• What treatments or home remedies might help?
• Do you have brochures or other printed materials I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions, as well.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

• How many days apart are your menstrual periods, and how long do they last?
• How would you describe your symptoms?
• Where is your pain?
• How long have you been experiencing this pain? Is it constant or does it subside after a few minutes or hours?
• On a scale of 1 to 10, how severe is your pain?
• How long before or after your period does the pain occur?
• Do you have other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, back pain, dizziness or headache?