Talk:Mittelschmerz
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[edit] I
I believe there is a medieval use of this word that was not related to menses... anyone, anyone? I think it is related to the vernal equinox? --Renice 16:28, 18 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] OED citations
I'm storing these notes on usage from the OED here until I (or someone else) can incorporate relevant parts:
Brit. /mɪtlʃmɛɪts/, /mɪtlʃməɪts/, U.S. /mɪdlʃmɛ(ə)rts/ Forms: 18- Mittelschmerz, 19- mittelschmertz, mittelschmerz. [< German Mittelschmerz, lit. ‘middle pain’ (1875 or earlier) < mittel MIDDLE a. + Schmerz SCHMERZ n.] Lower abdominal pain occurring in the middle of the menstrual cycle in some women, thought to be related to the occurrence of ovulation.
- 1890 J. S. BILLINGS National Med. Dict. II. 162/2 Mittelschmerz, intermenstrual pain.
- 1893 S. POZZI Treat. Gynaecol. II. iv. 287 The so-called inter-menstrual dysmenorrhœa (‘Mittelschmerz’ of German writers) is only called dysmenorrhœa by a misapplication of the term.
- 1895 Lancet 28 Dec. 1625/1 Dr. J. Halliday Croom read a paper on So-called Mittelschmerz, sometimes called a form of dysmenorrh{oe}a.
- 1942 C. MAZER & S. L. ISRAEL Diagnosis & Treatm. Menstrual Disorders ix. 135 The pain undoubtedly emanates from the ovaries, since neither hysterectomy nor resection of the presacral nerve..eliminates mittelschmerz, but bilateral oophorectomy does. *1971 Vogue Nov. 60/2 Have intercourse as near ovulation as possible. This can be detected..by the pain that some women experience (Mittelschmerz).
- 1993 Mother & Baby Feb. 80/4 The pains are called ‘mittelschmertz’ (middle pains) and are quite common.
--Renice 16:34, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

