How Can You Tell Whether Youre Having Period Pain Or Not
It can be hard to tell between period pain and other symptoms for some women, it can be hard to distinguish between period pain and other conditions. One tell-tale sign can be the length of your cramps. For example, during your period you may experience cramping for a couple of days or for the duration of your period. Whereas if youre pregnant for example, you may experience cramping which lasts a few weeks to a few months.
If you do have a positive pregnancy test and cramps it is important to see a doctor to make sure that you do not have something called an ectopic pregnancy.
Symptoms which may indicate other health conditions include:
- Your periods are heavier or lighter
- High temperature
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Irregular bleeding or bleeding after sex
- Passing urine more often
- A change in vaginal discharge
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms you should consult your doctor.
Timing might be a clue usually, period pain lasts for several days. It normally begins just before or when the bleeding starts and may continue for a few days or for the whole time you bleed. You can also have pain during the middle of your cycle when you ovulate. Teenage girls can sometimes experience more period pain when they first start their periods.
What Other Conditions Can Cause Pain But No Period
There are several other conditions that can mimic period pain, including endometriosis, a condition where tissue, like the lining of the womb , is found elsewhere in the body. This can lead to irregular or heavy periods and cramp-like pain in the lower tummy, back, and pelvis. If you are experiencing symptoms of endometriosis it is important to get checked out by your GP.
Women can sometimes feel that attributing symptoms to stress reduces their significance, but it can have a powerful physical effect on the body
Another explanation for period pain with no period, particularly in older adults, could be the fact that they are approaching the menopause. Hormone imbalances around this time can lead to hot flushes, sleep difficulties, and cramping. Periods become increasingly irregular near the menopause so can cause cramping, period-like pains without the bleed.
Ovarian cysts usually cause one-sided pelvic pain. Often cysts are tiny and resolve by themselves, but larger cysts can twist, giving much more severe pain, which is an indication to seek urgent medical help. Ovarian cancer is a less common cause of pain, but could be associated with bloating, changes in your normal cycle, and the urge to pee more often. Again, if you are worried, seek urgent medical advice as you may require an examination and scan.
Why Do I Have Problems With My Bowels When I Have My Period
It is common to find that your bathroom habits change while you are menstruating. The hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle also affect the bowel. For example, your body produces a higher level of prostaglandins when you are menstruating. Prostaglandins are responsible for causing uterine contractions, but can also cause your bowels to contract. Right before your period starts, you also have an increase in progesterone, which can slow down your bowel contractions. Because of these chemical changes in your body, you may experience constipation or diarrhea.
Diarrhea
Many women find that they experience more frequent bowel movements during their periods, and many have episodes of diarrhea in the first day or two of menstruating. Ibuprofen works by blocking prostaglandin production, so if you have a lot of trouble with loose bowels, ibuprofen can help.
Constipation
Due to the slowing of bowel contractions just prior to menstruation, it is common for to experience constipation around the onset of your period. Be sure to drink lots of water, eat plenty of dietary fibre , and get some exercise to help alleviate the discomfort of constipation.
Existing bowel problems
If you have ongoing problems with your bowels, such as irritable bowel syndrome , your bowel symptoms may worsen during your period. You may also have more cramping and other PMS symptoms. Some women with IBS find that using the birth control pill improves the bowel symptoms associated with menstruation.
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Bleeding And Pain In Early Pregnancy
Any amount of vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain in early pregnancy can cause concern that something is wrong with your pregnancy. However, up to one in three women have these symptoms during the first twelve weeks of their pregnancy and it does not necessarily indicate a problem such as a miscarriage. If you have a scan showing a pregnancy in the womb with a heartbeat there is a 95% chance that your pregnancy will continue provided the bleeding settles down.
What To Do If You Get Further Abdominal Pain Or Vaginal Bleeding
Most women who have had a scan confirming an early pregnancy with a heart beat do not need a further scan in the early pregnancy unit. It is understandable to be concerned if you get more symptoms, however, in most women there is nothing to worry about.
If you get mild or moderate bleeding wear a pad and monitor the loss over the course of two days. In most cases the bleeding settles. If it increases in its amount during this time or persists as fresh bright red bleeding after two days then contact the early pregnancy unit for advice.
If you have heavy bleeding or bleeding with clots please contact the early pregnancy unit for advice.
If you get mild or moderate abdominal pain take pain relief and have a bath. Usually this helps relieve pain. If this does not help then either contact your GP or the early pregnancy unit if you are already under their care. We do not accept self-referrals.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust contributes to life in the Leeds region, not only by being one of the largest employers with more than 20,000 staff, but by supporting the health and well-being of the community and playing a leading role in research, education and innovation.
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Period Pain But No Period
Many women will skip a period from time to time. Even when she knows it is not from a pregnancy, a woman can become worried about the lack of a period. Actually, the period may simply be delayed. However, if you get period pain but no period, you will be more anxiety and want to know what causes it. Keep reading on to find answers.
Why Do I Have Period Pain But No Period
Many women experience pain in their abdomen from time to time that feels like period pain and cramps however your period may not be the cause of this pain. These feelings of discomfort could be because you are ovulating, constipated or feeling overly stressed. If you are experiencing period cramps but no period regularly or infrequently you should discuss your pain with your GP, theyll be able to determine what is causing this and help you to find the best medication or treatment for you.
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When Should You See A Doctor About Abnormal Bleeding
“You need to see a doctor if you dont have a monthly period or have more than one period per month. Feeling lightheaded or dizzy when you stand is also concerning,” says Dr. Schrop. She also urges women to see a doctor if they experience bleeding after going through menopause, or if they experience bleeding while pregnant.
Finally, Dr. Schrop says to see a gynecologist if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Bleeding that requires more than one tampon or sanitary pad in an hour, for several hours in a row
- Bleeding or spotting between periods
- Bleeding after having sex
- Nipple discharge
Other Causes Of Bleeding Irregularities
Stress and lifestyle changes Stress and lifestyle changes, such as gaining or losing weight, dieting, changing exercise routines, traveling, illness and other disruptions to your normal daily routine can impact your menstrual cycle and cause irregularities.
Birth control Going on or off birth control pills can affect your menstruation. Some women may experience irregular periods or miss periods for up to six months after stopping birth control pills. Other forms of birth control, such as IUDs, can cause period irregularities or cause your period to stop. Birth control pills that only contain progestin may cause bleeding between periods.
Medications Some anti-inflammatory drugs, anticoagulants , hormone medications or steroids can affect menstrual bleeding.
Hormone imbalances An excess of estrogen and progesterone can cause heavy bleeding. This is most common for girls in the first year or so of having her first period and for women nearing menopause.
Uterine polyps or fibroids Uterine polyps are small growths in the lining of the uterus, while fibroids are tumors that attach to the wall of the uterus. Both are usually benign but can cause heavy bleeding and pain during periods.
Endometriosis Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue that lines your uterus begins to grow outside the uterus, sometimes growing on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestines or other digestive organs. This condition can cause painful bleeding, cramps and painful intercourse.
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Box 1 Life Threatening Causes Of Abdominal Pain
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Generalised peritonitis with shock
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Placental abruption and other complications of pregnancy
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Toxic shock syndrome
One unusual cause of shock-like syndrome in pregnancy is supine hypotension. If a pregnant woman is laid on her back for a prolonged period the uterus obstructs the inferior vena cava resulting in a decrease in venous return, cardiac output, and hypotension. If the uterus is palpable above the umbilicus, lie the patient in the left lateral position.
Symptoms Of Painful Periods And Heavy Bleeding
Signs and symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding include:
- Bleeding for more than seven days
- Bleeding that soaks through one or more tampons or pads every hour for several hours in a row
- Need to use multiple pads to control menstrual flow
- Need to change pads or tampons during the night
- Menstrual flow with blood clots larger than a quarter
- Flooding of clothing and bedsheets with menstrual bleeding
- Symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue and shortness of breath
Symptoms of menstrual pain include:
- Lower back pain
- Pain that starts a few days before the period, worsens during the period, and lasts two to three days after the period ends
- Throbbing or cramping pain in the lower abdomen that can be intense
- Lower back pain during menses
Patients should see their doctors if:
- Their periods stop for more than 60 days
- Their periods become erratic
- They have any vaginal bleeding after menopause
- They suddenly get a fever and feel sick after using tampons
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Can Medications Cause Vaginal Bleeding
Some medications, such as anticoagulants can make you more likely to bleed. If you are taking an anticoagulant and are experiencing vaginal bleeding, you should speak to your doctor right away. Do not stop taking any prescribed medication unless instructed to do so by your doctor.
Hormone replacement therapy after menopause can sometimes cause irregular bleeding. This is not a cause for concern and should settle down after several months.
Abnormal vaginal bleeding is also common when you start using hormonal contraception . If it does not go away or is bothering you, talk to your doctor.
Abnormal bleeding can also occur when you change or stop your hormonal contraception.
Reasons To Worry About Spotting After Period
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Expert Management For Painful Periods And Heavy Bleeding
For most women, menstrual cycles occur about every 28 days, and periods last four to seven days. Abnormal menstruation includes problems such as heavy bleeding, known as menorrhagia, irregular menstrual bleeding, and pain during periods, known as dysmenorrhea.
UT Southwestern gynecologic surgeons, specialists, and their teams are nationally recognized for their expertise in womens health care. We participate in research to improve diagnosis, management, and treatment for heavy, irregular, painful periods. Our specialists are also faculty members, dedicated to educating future womens health doctors and other care providers.
What Can I Do To Reduce Cramps
Menstrual cramps can be quite painful, but there are a few things you can do to help get some relief:
Heat
Have a soak in warm bath, or use a hot water bottle or heating pad on your abdomen.
Anti-inflammatory medications
These include ibuprofen and naproxen. These are most effective if you start taking them a day or two before your period is expected to arrive.
Hormonal birth control
The birth control pill or other hormonal methods of birth control can be used to significantly reduce your menstrual cramps.
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Could Endometriosis Be Causing Your Abdominal Pain
most commonly reported menstrual disordermedical professionalWhat is endometriosis? What are the symptoms?
- Period pain: Although many women experience cramping during their periods, those with endometriosis describe their level of abdominal pain as being far worse than usual. The pain can begin before menstruation starts and extend several days into the period. Lower back pain is not uncommon. The Mayo Clinic advises women to contact their healthcare provider if severe pain and cramping lasts longer than two-to-three days.
- Spotting: Light vaginal bleeding prior to or between periods.
- Pain with intercourse: Pain during or after sexual intercourse is common for those with endometriosis.
- Pain with bowel movements or urination: These symptoms are more likely to occur during a womans period.
- Excessive bleeding: Endometriosis can cause occasional heavy periods or bleeding between periods in some women.
- Infertility: Endometriosis is often first diagnosed in women who are seeking treatment for infertility.
- Additional symptoms: Other symptoms women with endometriosis can experience include bloating, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea, especially during menstruation.
What Else Can Cause Symptoms Like Period Pain
Some other causes of period-like pain are:
In addition, cancers in the pelvis such as ovarian cancers can cause irregular bleeding, pain, changes in the urine, bloating and vaginal discharge
What you should do about these symptoms if you are experiencing symptoms such as period pains at a time during your cycle that you are not expecting to or you have cramps but no period, you should seek medical attention. Your doctor will be able to help diagnose the cause and suggest the next course of action required.
You may need an STI test if you know that you do not have one of the above conditions, consider an STI test. STIs such as chlamydia can cause abdominal cramping/pain and bleeding between periods. You can get an STI test from:
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Box 7 The Questions That Should Be Asked About The Pain Pqrst
Pain related questions
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Timingwas onset sudden or insidious, did it change over time?
Painprecipitating and palliative factors, quality, timing, and radiation
Precipitating and palliative factors may give important clues. The patient with peritonitis will usually lie still with movement or coughing worsening the pain. In contrast the patient with colic will often be restless, trying to find a comfortable position.
Qualityabdominal pain is commonly described as peritoneal or colicky. If the parietal peritoneum is aggravated then the pain will be well localised to the area of the pathology. In contrast, visceral pain tends to be poorly localised. Pain arising from foregut structures is felt in the upper abdomen, pain from mid-gut structures is felt around the umbiliacus, and the hind gut is felt in the lower abdomen.
Colicky pain is usually attributable to spasm of a tubular structure, often around a blockage. Colicky pain is therefore more commonly biliary, intestinal, or ureteric in origin.
Radiation of the pain may assist in diagnosis. Renal pain tends to radiate loin to groin. Diaphragmatic irritation, for example, ruptured ectopic, may radiate to the shoulder tip because of their common innervation .
Systemic symptoms symptoms may be helpful in diagnosis but can also be misleading. For example, constipation is associated with obstruction but is not always present. It is important to establish the patients normal bowel habit.
Medical history
What’s ‘normal’ Vaginal Bleeding
So-called ‘normal’ vaginal bleeding varies widely between women and can be different for you at different stages of your life. Generally, all women experience a menstrual period approximately once a month approximately every 21 to 35 days and it lasts between 1 to 7 days.
Teenagers and women approaching menopause are more likely to have irregular periods, meaning that the gap between periods is less than 21 days or more than 35 days, and the length of this gap can change from month to month. It is also common for women aged between 30 and 50 years of age to experience heavy periods. Some types of hormonal contraception can also cause the frequency and heaviness of your periods to change, as can big changes in your life such as leaving home or breaking up with your partner. Sometimes stressful life events can cause you to skip a period entirely.
Bleeding between periods is very common in fact, it happens to most women at some point during their lives. However it is not considered normal to bleed frequently in one month, or to bleed between your periods for several months. Bleeding after having sex should always be discussed with your doctor, regardless of your age. There are many possible causes for bleeding between periods and most of them arent serious, but you should speak to your doctor if you bleed between periods as it can occasionally signal something serious.
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