This will include a pelvic exam to check for any abnormalities in your reproductive system and to look for signs of infection. If your doctor thinks an underlying disorder is causing your symptoms, they may perform imaging tests. These can include:. Depending on the results of your imaging tests, your doctor may order a laparoscopy. This is a test in which a doctor makes small incisions in the abdomen into which they insert a fiber-optic tube with a camera at the end to see inside your abdominal cavity.
Treatment will depend on the severity and underlying cause of your pain. If PID or sexually transmitted infections STIs are causing your pain, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection. Your doctor may also suggest that you try hormonal birth control. Hormonal birth control is available as a pill, patch, vaginal ring, injection, implant, or IUD.
Hormones prevent ovulation, which can control your menstrual cramps. Surgery can treat endometriosis or uterine fibroids. The surgery removes any endometriosis implants, uterine fibroids, or cysts. If you have a hysterectomy you will no longer be able to have children. Severe menstrual cramps can affect your daily life.
We'll break down how to tell the difference between typical and severe cramps, go over what can…. The process of your uterus shedding its lining every month is called menstruation. Some discomfort during your period is common, but intense or…. Your period will also be lighter. If the contraceptive pill is not suitable for you, the contraceptive implant or the contraceptive injection are good alternatives.
The Mirena intrauterine system IUS can also sometimes help with painful periods. If your period pain has not been controlled after 3 months of treatment with painkillers or a suitable hormonal contraceptive, your GP may refer you to a specialist, which will usually be a gynaecologist. The specialist will carry out further tests to help confirm or rule out an underlying medical condition.
Tests you may have include:. If your period pain is caused by an underlying medical condition, your treatment will depend on which condition you have.
For example, if you have pelvic inflammatory disease PID , you may need antibiotics to treat the infection, while fibroids may need to be surgically removed. Period pain that's part of your normal menstrual cycle will not affect your fertility. However, if the cause is a medical condition, this may affect your fertility.
For example, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease can cause scarring and a build-up of tissue in your fallopian tubes, making it harder for sperm to reach and fertilise an egg.
Page last reviewed: 07 August Next review due: 07 August Period pain. Sometimes you may get pelvic pain even when you do not have your period. Causes of period pain Period pain happens when the muscular wall of the womb tightens contracts. Period pain caused by a medical condition Less commonly, period pain can be caused by an underlying medical condition. Medical conditions that can cause period pain include: endometriosis — where cells that normally line the womb grow in other places, such as in the fallopian tubes and ovaries; these cells can cause intense pain when they shed fibroids — non-cancerous tumours that can grow in or around the womb and can make your periods heavy and painful pelvic inflammatory disease — where your womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries become infected with bacteria, causing them to become severely inflamed adenomyosis — where the tissue that normally lines the womb starts to grow within the muscular womb wall, making your periods particularly painful Period pain caused by contraceptive devices An intrauterine device IUD is a type of contraception made from copper and plastic that fits inside the womb.
You may also have: irregular periods bleeding in between periods a thick or foul-smelling vaginal discharge pain during sex See a GP if you have any of these symptoms as well as period pain.
How long period pain lasts Period pain usually starts when your bleeding begins, although some women have pain several days before the start of their period. Treating period pain In most cases period pain is mild enough to treat at home.
Painkillers You can take ibuprofen and aspirin to help manage your pain. Pelvic examination The GP may want to feel your tummy abdomen to check it feels normal. Contraceptives You may be prescribed the contraceptive pill. A cyst is a usually harmless sac of fluid that forms in or on your body.
Ovarian cysts develop in the ovaries, typically during ovulation. Many women develop at least one small cyst every month that naturally fades. However, some women have multiple or large ovarian cysts which can cause pain or complications. In these cases, medical treatment might be needed to manage the cysts. Ovarian cysts can also be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS. This is a condition where a hormone imbalance causes many small, harmless cysts to grow in the ovaries.
This can cause painful periods, difficulty getting pregnant, insulin resistance and other health concerns. Symptoms of PCOS include irregular periods, excess hair on the face and body, weight gain, difficulty losing weight, acne and thinning hair on the head. A doctor can prescribe treatments that help manage PCOS symptoms. When the uterus and ovaries become infected, this is called pelvic inflammatory disease PID. The infection usually begins when bacteria from a sexually transmitted infection STI makes its way to the reproductive organs.
PID can also occur following a surgical procedure. While many women experience no symptoms of PID, for some it can cause painful cramps. The uterine lining, also known as the endometrium, grows inside the uterus. But if you have endometriosis, your endometrium grows outside the uterus, usually in other parts of your reproductive organs like the ovaries or fallopian tubes.
When your body tries to shed uterine tissue during your period, the endometrium growing outside the uterus has nowhere to go. It can become trapped in the body. This can cause painful cramps, heavy bleeding, irritation and inflammation. Luckily, most cases of endometriosis can be well managed with medicines and procedures.
This is a treatable condition where the endometrium grows into the muscle wall of the uterus. The endometrium can affect the entire uterus muscle, but it usually affects one spot. Adenomyosis is a benign condition, but it can cause severe cramps. Dealing with cramps every month can be as frustrating as it is painful. Luckily, there are a many remedies that might help you relieve period cramps. Bloating can cause discomfort and make menstrual cramps worse.
Drinking water can reduce bloating during your period and alleviate some of the pain it causes. Also, drinking hot water can increase blood flow throughout your body and relax your muscles.
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