Knowing when you ovulate can help you become pregnant if you have intercourse at that time. There are several methods of determining when you ovulate. Do you experience pain in the lower abdomen around the middle of your cycle? If the answer is yes, you might have what's called Mittelschmerz (MIH-til-sh-mer-tzh) pain. This is usually a sign that you're about to ovulate, or release an egg that's ready to be fertilized. Sometimes the follicle bursts as it releases the egg, giving you a sharp twinge of pain. Some months you might feel general crampiness as the hormones change abruptly. This method of ovulation prediction is not always accurate. Ectopic pregnancy, infection, constipation, or urinary tract problems could also cause the pain. Not all women experience Mittelschmerz pain, and the women that do, don't necessarily have it every month.
