I have been experiencing mittelschmerz each cycle since I got off the pill 6 months ago (since my husband and I are ttc, this is good because I know when i'm ovulating). I did not experience this prior to going on the pill 4 years prior. After describing my symptoms of mid-ovulatory pain, my doctor told me that mittelschmerz were common (20% of women have these). However, I experience this pain for about 5 days on or around my ovulation date (i've been charting).

What could be causing such prolonged symptoms? The pain is usually never severe, but it has lasted anywhere from 3-5 days each cycle. Is it possible that I am ovulating more than once within the cycle and therefore experiencing prolonged pain?

Also, now that i'm off the pill, I experience cramping (menstrual cramps) the 3 or 4 days prior to starting. Before I went on the pill four years ago, I only experienced cramps on the day I started. Does anyone have any feedback on why all of these pre-pill and post-pill changes have occured or any explanation for the prolonged mittelschmerz?

I am healthy, 125 lbs, 5'7" tall, and 30 years old; I have not have any fluctuation of weight post pill.