Why Do I Feel Cramps But No Period

Why Do I Have Cramps But No Period

Pelvic pain similar to a menstrual period can happen at times when no period is due or can occur because of conditions other than the monthly cycle. Sometimes it is hard to tell the exact reason for cramps that feel like a menstrual period.

The following diseases and conditions are examples of situations that can cause pain or cramps when not on your period.

When To Consult A Doctor

Cramps, but no period can be a stressful time, as you try and determine the cause of trouble and whether it warrants a consultation with your doctor. If this is the first time youve encountered cramps without a period, take a deep breath, and read below, to know when you should consider getting a medical consultation.

• If your cramps persist or return in intervals, it could be indicative of a deeper issue that must be treated.
• Look for any abnormal changes in your body or symptoms other than cramps, to narrow down where the problem lies. This can also help your doctor accurately diagnose the cause of cramps without period.
• If you have PCOD or a thyroid disorder, cramps could be an indication of hormone fluctuation. Consult your gynaecologist or endocrinologist for further examination.
• Cramps could also point at ovarian cysts or fibroids. If the pain persists or you have a history of cysts or fibroids, consult a doctor for treatment.

You Have Uterine Fibroids

Uterine Fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that can occur during your childbearing years. They can range in size from tiny growths that are almost undetectable to the human eye, to large, bulky growths that can alter and enlarge your uterus. You can also have more than just one fibroid at a time. It is common for women to have fibroids at some point in their life, as they show no symptoms and can be so small it is undetectable. However, some women who experience uterine fibroids have symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, spotting between periods, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination, and constipation. Although uterine fibroids are not usually dangerous, they can cause pain and discomfort and can lead to complications, such as anemia from heavy blood loss. Seek a doctor if you are experiencing pelvic pain that wont go away, overly heavy, prolonged painful periods, or spotting between periods.

Recommended Reading: 90 Day Employment Probationary Period Template

Period Pains But No Period: Could I Be Pregnant

Period symptoms but no period might actually be a sign of pregnancy. This is because when the embryo implants into the uterine lining, cramping may occur. Following this, breast tenderness, headaches, fatigue, and more symptoms occur as the body begins going through various changes to carry the fetus. If you suspect this might be what youre experiencing, watch for these signs of pregnancy.

A pregnancy test can detect pregnancy as early as 10 days after conception. But there are things that can make a positive urine home pregnancy test inaccurate, and here are some of them:

• Not following test instructions or misinterpreting the results
• Medications
• Blood or protein in the urine

It is also possible for a negative home urine test to be wrong:

• Taking a test too early or checking results too quickly
• Diluted urine
• The hook effect, which is something that happens when there are so many hCG molecules in the urine that they prevent the test from working properly. They are simply washed off the test, so the result will be negative.

However, the absence of menstruation doesnt necessarily mean youre pregnant. There are lots of things that can cause period symptoms like cramps without actually having periods.

Facts You Should Know About Menopause

• Menopause is defined as the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. It is the time in a womans life when the function of the ovaries ceases.
• The process of menopause does not occur overnight, but rather is a gradual process. This so-called perimenopausal transition period is a different experience for each woman.
• The average age of menopause is 51 years old, but menopause may occur as early as the 30s or as late as the 60s. There is no reliable lab test to predict when a woman will experience menopause.
• The age at which a woman starts having menstrual periods is not related to the age of menopause onset.
• Symptoms of menopause can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, hot flashes, vaginal and urinary symptoms, and mood changes.
• Complications that women may develop after menopause include osteoporosis and heart disease.
• Treatments for menopause are customized for each woman.
• Treatments are directed toward alleviating uncomfortable or distressing symptoms.

You May Like: Usaa New Car Insurance Grace Period

What To Do To Alleviate Cramps

You donât have to grit your teeth until youâre postmenopausal. Here are simple remedies that can help you feel better right now.

Take a walk. Mild to moderate cardio exercise, such as walking, cycling, jogging, or taking a Zumba class, boosts feel-good chemicals in the body that may block some of the pain signals. It also improves circulation, which can relax constricted blood vessels in the uterus that result from cramping.

Apply heat. Try a heating pad or warm bath. In an analysis of 23 studies, heat was found to be just as effective as analgesics. Heat may help by increasing blood flow to the abdomen and inhibiting pain signals.

Pop a pain reliever. Ibuprofen and naproxen are some of the best medicine for this type of pain and may reduce bleeding. These anti-inflammatories work by blocking the production of prostaglandins.

Stretch it out. Gentle exercise like stretching and yoga may help by lowering stress hormones which then lower prostaglandin levels. In a review of research studies, exercise was found to be more helpful in easing pain than over-the-counter medication.

Unusual Spotting Outside Your Period

Are you seeing light pink to brown spotting a week before your period? According to board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist Dr. Mark Trolice, âVaginal spotting one week after ovulation could represent implantation.â Implantation bleeding occurs when the fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of your uterus. This can cause some light bleeding or spotting due to the massive burrowing the embryo has to do to completely implant itself. Some of the lining of the uterus is sloughed off and passes through your cervix.

Spotting between periods is definitely more common than cramps between periods, so this can be harder for women to distinguish. Some get the spotting so close to their periods they just assume it is the start of their normal period. Normally, implantation spotting should not be heavy and should not last for more than three days. There are also other crucial signs to tell the difference between a regular period versus implantation bleeding. But itâs safe to say that if you arent used to spotting in between, and your period is not due for more than a few days, then it could be the result of conception and implantation!

Read Also: New Hire 90 Day-probationary Period Template

Recommended Reading: Brown Stuff Instead Of Period

How Do I Know If It Is Appendicitis Cramps

If you have pain on the right side of your stomach that begin suddenly and only get worse, it could be appendicitis, and you should seek medical attention immediately.

Appendicitis cramps will only happen on the right side of your stomach. They can happen close to your belly button and start to spread lower but will remain on the right side. Another way to identify appendicitis cramps is if they feel worse when you move, tense your stomach, or sneeze.

You Probably Have Endometriosis

Endometriosis can result in severe abdominal pain, no period or pregnancy symptoms

Within the uterus and during your period, the endometrium is washed out through the vaginal canal Sometimes, its possible the endometrium goes through the fallopian tubes into the abdomen, ovaries, and outer surfaces of the uterus.

If this happens, you should feel severe belly pain that is worse before, during and after period.

If you are experiencing cramps that are now severe while menstruating, its likely endometriosis.

Other symptoms are

Don’t Miss: Can You Donate Plasma On Your Period

Period Cramps But No Period: 15 Possible Causes

May 08, 2020

As if cramping during your period wasnt burdensome enough, its possible to have cramps without a period, too.

Pelvic pain is a catch-all term for pain in the lower abdomen, below the belly button but above the legs. Period cramps are one type of pelvic pain, but a number of other things can also cause pelvic pain, some of which dont involve the reproductive system at all.

When you have cramps without a period, it can be hard to tell if its your period thats causing them, or another condition.

Determining the root cause of pelvic pain requires some detective work, and should involve a conversation between you and your doctor. The purpose of this article is to help you understand some possible reasons one may have pelvic cramps but no period.

This article is *not* intended to diagnose any condition, or replace medical advice. If you are in extreme pain, go to the ER immediately.

Sexual Assault Or Domestic Violence

Theres also a big association between tight pelvic-floor muscles and domestic violence or sexual assault, says Dr. Brucker. Its very common for women who have been abused to hold a lot of tension in this area and have difficulty relaxing those muscleswhich can cause physical symptoms and also make exams and intimate relations more painful, as well.

RELATED: 9 Best Workouts to Do When You Have Your Period

Physical therapists trained in pelvic-floor medicine can often help women with tight pelvic-floor muscles. Its not just doing kegal exercises, which involves contracting and uptraining to tighten the muscles, says Dr. Brucker. Theres also a lot of downtraining to relax and stretch those muscles out. Women with a history of abuse may also benefit from psychological counseling, as well.

Also Check: Usaa New Car Insurance Grace Period

Does Period Pain Mean That My Contraception Isnt Working

Not necessarily you can still get period pain with many contraceptives that are working properly. On the other hand, getting bleeding or pain could mean your contraceptive has failed. If you are worried you may be pregnant, you can purchase a pregnancy test from most supermarkets and pharmacies. Alternatively, your doctor will be able to confirm a pregnancy.

You may still experience period pain even if you are using contraception some methods wont help you manage period pain, including:

• Condoms

• Copper contraceptive coil

Some contraception can reduce period pain using hormonal contraception like the pill can help to reduce the pain you experience during your periods. In some cases, you may still get cramping but it may be less severe than before because the pill contains hormones which induce changes in the body to prevent pregnancy.

If your period pain does not get better with a few months of treatment your GP may wish to refer you to see a gynaecologist.

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:

• Vomiting

• 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.

Back to top

Recommended Reading: Period Blood Stains On Sheets

Cramps That Arose Recently And Are Severe

Tell your doctor. Regardless of whether youre having severe cramps without a period or with one, any new, intense pain needs medical attention. It may not be serious, but you wont know until you get it checked out.

• Have vaginal bleeding you werent expecting, in addition to severe pain.
• Have already been diagnosed with a condition that causes pelvic pain, and the pain suddenly changed .
• Have other symptoms in addition to pelvic pain, like nausea, vomiting, or a fever.

• Cystitisinflammation of the bladder caused by a Urinary Tract Infection . You may have a UTI if it hurts when you pee, you have to pee frequently, you feel like you have to pee even when your bladder is empty, or you feel pressure in the lower abdomen.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia. They dont always cause symptoms, but possible symptoms include bleeding between periods, pain while peeing, and abnormal vaginal discharge.
• Ectopic Pregnancywhen an embryo implants somewhere outside the uterus and begins to grow. Symptoms include sharp pelvic cramps, vaginal bleeding, nausea, and dizziness.
• Appendicitisor inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms include sharp pain in the lower right part of the torso, vomiting, and a fever.
• Kidney Stonesa build-up of salt and mineral deposits in the bladder or kidneys. Symptoms include pain in the pelvic area and lower back, and blood in the urine.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and other tissues that form a sling across the pelvis, which holds together the vagina, uterus, bladder, rectum, and other pelvic organs, according to the NLM. Just like any other part of your body, your pelvic floor can become weak or injured, particularly after pregnancy and childbirth, and cause symptoms such as pelvic pain, lower back pain, and the feeling of pelvic pressure or fullness that are akin to those during your period.

The standout difference from menstruation pain? If you can feel a bulge inside the vagina or, in more extreme cases, you can organs start to push out of the vaginal opening, per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , then you are probably dealing with pelvic floor muscular problems.

Other symptoms include pain during sex, burning feeling in the vagina and while peeing, leaking urine when you cough, laugh, or exercise, and leaking stool or hard time making it to the bathroom in time. To determine whats going on, ACOG says that your health care provide will typically conduct vaginal and rectal exams in which you may be asked to cough or strain to see if you leak.

You May Like: 90 Day Probationary Period Template