During ovulation, women go through many changes, which can be mostly attributed to hormonal fluctuations. Bloating is one such occurrence most women experience around this time. When an egg is released from ovaries, a series of events are likely to follow. Due to hormonal changes, your body retains water which in turn leads to bloating. Ovulation bloating usually lasts for a few hours to two days.
Causes of bloating
If you are closely monitoring your ovulation cycle in an effort to conceive, you may have observed how your body is affected around this time. Majority of women experience certain level of discomfort and vaginal discharge when the mature egg is dispatched. This happens in the middle of menstrual cycles and some women experience pain in the lower abdominal area. This is termed as mittelschmerz. Often, you may have noted this uneasiness when you are halfway to the onset of your next period, but may not have known its cause.
Now that you know, you can blame it on the hormones. When Estrogen and Progesterone levels rise during the ovulation phase, your digestive tract is affected, leading to swelling and bloating. You may observe some weight gain due to water retention. This goes away without causing much problem in a day or two. These symptoms are mild to none in some women and may need medicinal intervention in others.
Women also experience mood swings, owing to the surge of hormones. This leads to cravings for salty and processed foods. Consumption of these foods during ovulation also causes water retention and bloating. Bloating in ovulation phase may also be caused due to the presence of an ovarian cyst or due to an hormonal condition known as PCOS. If the bloating and the associated abdominal pain lasts for more than two to five days, you should consult a medical practitioner to diagnose the health condition.
Measures to find relief from bloating
You can follow certain measures to relieve bloating and the discomforting pain during ovulation. Drinking plenty of water helps in controlling the irritation of digestive tract. You should try and reduce salty, junk and processed foods including sodas and sugary drinks. Taking magnesium supplements is known to help. Following a regular exercise routine and being physically active has been proven to completely reduce the discomforts associated with ovulation.
