Period pains got really bad, am I up to something? Here's what needs to be checked
Dimitris Bilalis, MBBCH, MMedSci, FRCOG - CCST, obstetrician-gynecologist surgeon, Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Great Britain ( www.bilalisgynaikologos.gr ) collaborated.
If you've gone through puberty, your period is probably regular and you know what its "normal" characteristics are for you. So, when something strange happens, you may fear that it means that something is not right with your health. "At any age, the menstrual cycle can change for many reasons, such as contraceptive pills, age-related changes or even because you have given birth," explains obstetrician-gynecologist surgeon Dimitris Bilalis.
The symptom: "Period pains are very intense"
If period pain was at a level 6 on the pain scale and now reaches a 10, this could be a sign of endometriosis. This condition, which affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age, is caused when endometrial tissue grows in other parts of the pelvic cavity. When your uterus sheds its inner lining, the endometrium, every month, the similar tissue outside the uterus tries to shed as well. As he is trapped, he causes you intense pain. Endometriosis usually doesn't come on suddenly – typically, you'll notice progressively stronger pain each month. This can start as early as adolescence or as early as the 20s.
However, symptoms may appear if you have recently stopped taking hormonal birth control pills. "The pill can mask the pain, so many women realize its intensity when they stop taking the pills," points out Dimitris Bilalis. Endometriosis is diagnosed surgically, with laparoscopy, while in some cases your doctor may suspect or diagnose endometriosis based on history, symptoms and ultrasound. Treatment may include hormonal drugs that lower estrogen levels and shrink endometrial tissue.
READ ALSO: What does your period have to do with how long you'll live?
Another culprit for period pains: uterine fibroids. These benign tumors form on or within the inner walls of the uterus. They can be the size of a lentil or a grapefruit (or larger) and are diagnosed via ultrasound. About 30% of women in their 30s and 40s develop fibroids.
Sometimes fibroids cause pain during the period, while in some cases the woman has a chronic discomfort throughout the month. The good news is that fibroids are unlikely to pose a serious threat to your health, but if you are in pain, there are medications and procedures to shrink them. Also, your doctor may recommend their surgical removal.
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