Why Is My Period So Bad This Month

What Causes Cramps With No Period

Lots of women get pelvic pain and cramping, but your period isn’t always to blame. Cysts, constipation, pregnancy — even cancer — can make it feel like your monthly visitor is about to stop by.

It can be tough to tell whether having cramps without a period is caused by something simple or more serious. But there are common reasons for cramping without your period.

Youve Lost Or Gained A Ton Of Weight

Fluctuating weight can mess with your menstrual cycle, making your periods a lot shorter or lighter. Thats because when you gain weight, storing more fat in your body can affect your hormone levels and throw them out of balance. In a similar way, losing weight from restricting calories can put your body into stress mode and create an imbalance of hormones. Dr. Akopians notes that your body needs a healthy balance between protein, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins, to keep operating normally.

How To Tell If Cramping Is A Sign Of A More Severe Problem

Cramping is painful but this can be your body telling you something is wrong. If over-the-counter pain medications dont help, you are crippled with pain or notice the cramps start before the period and last long after, speak to a doctor.

You could also experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting and digestive problems that could signal your cramps are caused by an underlying health issue. One sign your cramps are an underlying health issue is that you have cramps but no period.

Check out this article to find out more about why you sometimes get cramps, but your menstrual cycle isnt regular:

• Why do I have cramps but no period?

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Should I Use Douches Wipes Or Feminine Sprays

Smells caused by infections need to be treated with prescription medicines. Perfumed sprays dont make infections go away, they just cover up the smell for a short time. If you notice a bad smell or think you may have an infection, see a doctor or go to a health clinic right away.

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If You Have Significant Cramps Post

It might be: a dislodged intrauterine device . Although some mild, initial cramping is normal after implantation, any severe pain or pain lasting more than a few days might indicate a problem with your IUDs placement.

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• Here’s How To Check Your IUD Strings

Anytime youre inserting something into the uterus, it might not be sitting the right way, or could have been dislodged or expelled, says Masterson.

What to do: Make an appointment with your doctor, who will do a pelvic exam first to see if the IUD strings are visibly coming out of the cervix. If not, an ultrasound will likely be performed. We want to make sure its in the location its supposed to be, and hasnt moved or migrated, Masterson explains.

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You Have Cervical Stenosis

A rare but uncomfortable problem, Dr. Akopians says this occurs when the cervix narrows or closes up completely. This may occur after previous surgery of the cervix or uterus, such as a LEEP procedure for an abnormal pap or an endometrial ablation for heavy menses. Cervical stenosis may also be due to low estrogen levels during perimenopause. As a result, blood stays trapped in the uterus or is only able to trickle out slowly. If you experience bad cramping, despite a light flow, talk to your doctor.

When To See A Doctor

Have you asked yourself, Why do my cramps hurt so bad? If yes, that means that you have noticed that your menstrual cramps are not with the normal strength as usual. This is the first indication that you should go and see your doctor.

Your doctor will ask you about the symptoms that are present in your specific case and menstrual cycles. Your doctor will most probably do a full pelvic exam. The doctor should explain to you how long do menstrual cramps last and if it turns out that your cramps are not caused by your period, you will have to do additional tests to find out the exact reason. When you will discover the right cause of your cramps, your doctor will prescribe you a menstrual cramps cure.

To prevent menstrual cramps from happening, maintain a healthy lifestyle. Choose carefully the food that you are eating, exercise several times in the week and try to walk at least an hour every day. If you are willing to try some new diet or do any treatments, talk to your doctor first.

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Is It Normal For Period Blood To Smell

Does period blood smell even if nothing is wrong? Yes, though it is usually pretty faint. A normal period consists of blood, menstrual fluid, excess tissue, and an unfertilized egg. This combination of bodily fluids and tissue may have a slight smell to it, often metallic because of the iron in your blood, but it generally is not very strong or overpowering. Some people cant smell their periods at all.

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Why Does It Happen

Experts arent totally sure about what causes this phenomenon, but hormone fluctuations throughout your menstrual cycle are the most likely culprit.

Before your period, prostaglandins, which are hormone-like fatty acids, are produced to help your uterus shed its lining.

Excess prostaglandins make their way into your bloodstream, which can cause a whole bunch of period symptoms, like cramps, period poop, and farts dont pretend you dont know what Im talking about.

Cyclic changes in your sex hormones, mainly estrogen, can also cause you to feel run down, along with causing your more run-of-the-mill period symptoms, like cramps, breast tenderness, and mood swings.

Chemical changes in your brain, such as fluctuations in serotonin and other chemicals related to mood states, may also trigger some PMS symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. These include fatigue, sleep problems, food cravings, and depression.

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Menstrual Product Left In Or On Too Long

If youve left your tampon, pad, or menstrual cup in for too long, you might notice an overpowering smell of blood.

How often should you change your menstrual products? Well, that can depend on the products you prefer:

• Pad: Every four to eight hours, or as needed

How to treat it: Changing your menstrual products on time can reduce unwanted odors and help lower your risk of urinary tract infections, STIs, and toxic shock syndrome.

Period Blood Smells Like Rotten Eggs

We all know that period blood has a bit of an odor. But why does it sometimes smell like rotten eggs? There are a few possible explanations for this.

One is that your diet may be affecting the way your body smells. If you eat a lot of sulfur-containing foods like egg yolks, garlic, or onion, your sweat and other bodily fluids will likely have a stronger sulfur smell. Another possibility is that you have an infection in your reproductive tract, which can cause changes in vaginal discharge and make it take on a foul odor.

Finally, if you have any sort of liver disease or malfunctioning liver enzymes, this can also lead to changes in the way your body smells. If youre concerned about the way your period blood smells, its best to see a doctor to rule out any potential medical causes. In the meantime, try eating less sulfur-rich foods and see if that makes a difference.

And be sure to practice good hygiene during menstruation to help keep things smelling fresh down there.

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Random Reasons Why Your Period Is Totally Out Of Whack

Heres what to do when everythings NOT coming up roses.

Most women’s cycles last anywhere from 21 to 35 daysbut about one in 10 have irregular periods or super heavy bleeding, according to the National Institutes of Health. That can mean lots of things, from a period that goes MIA, to periods that are completely unpredictable, to bleeding that drags on for eight days or more, to random spotting.

“Most women are pretty attuned to their period, though changes can occur through decades and after kids,” says Alyssa Dweck, M.D., an ob-gyn in in New York. “But if you still think something’s wrong with your period after a month or two, get it checked out.”

Jessica Shepherd, M.D. , an ob-gyn in Chicago, notes that sometimes, changes can be a sign of something more serious. “We may look for an STD or do a biopsy to make sure it’s not something that needs to be treated,” she says.

Here are a few reasons why your period might go wonkyand what you can do about it.

Can I Use Scented Menstrual Products

The menstrual care aisle at the store can be overwhelming for many reasons. There are just so many different products, all claiming to be the key to an easier period. And, of course, there is the section of products with delicate floral scents, promising to hide all period smells.

If you want to avoid unpleasant menstrual odor, the best thing to do is to follow these basic hygiene steps:

• Bathe or shower at least once a day to keep your body clean and avoid odor
• Use only water or pH balanced, unscented, and purpose-specific washes for your vulva

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Can Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Cause Menstrual Cramps

Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the female reproductive tract that is most commonly caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections. Left untreated, PID can cause inflammation, scarring, painful menstrual cramps, and infertility.

most often occurs because sexually transmitted infections that cause PID can create scar tissue and adhesions in the pelvic region. During menstruation, hormones influence the uterus and surrounding structures including the scar tissue and adhesions which can increase inflammation, bleeding, and pain,” says Shilpi Agarwal, MD, a board-certified family medicine and integrative physician in Washington, DC, and a columnist for Everyday Health. If caught early, PID can be treated with antibiotics, but antibiotics wont undo any structural damage caused by the infection. Practice safe sex, and get tested frequently for any sexually transmitted infections, especially if you have severe period pain, Dr. Agarwal advises.

Your Diet Is Not Good

We just talked about prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and their role in menstrual cramps. But what causes your body to produce them in large amounts? Much of it has to do with your diet.

A diet full of vegetable oils, refined grains, sugar, and alcohol is almost guaranteed to make your periods miserable. Because of the ways these foods damage your cells, disrupt your hormones, and interfere with cell communication, these foods will send your immune system into a firestorm. And that means prostaglandins and pain.

Alcohol is especially problematic for women with painful periods because it reduces the livers ability to detoxify estrogen and toxins. Did you know that havingjust 2 drinks per daycan double the amount of estrogen in your body?! As shown in the diagram above, estrogen increases PGE2 by stimulating the COX-2 enzyme.

Having too much estrogen will also cause heavy periods, sore breasts, bloating, moodiness, and pretty much all of the things that we hate about periods in the first place! So nix the booze until youve made enough progress in your healing, okay?

Want to get real help now?Join our Body Bliss program and break free from period pain.

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Your Gut Isnt Healthy

Okay, this is a BIG one. The health of your GI tract is so intricately linked to the rest of your body . Practically every patient who comes to me with chronic health issues has some degree of imbalance in their digestive system.

When our guts are healthy, good things happen for us. We absorb our nutrients. Our friendly gut bacteria help us detoxify estrogen and reduce inflammation. Our hormonal systems are balanced. All good things!

But when our guts are not healthy, it sets the stage for all of the things that we dont want. Our metabolism doesnt work right. We become full of inflammation. Our immune system is imbalanced and we can develop autoimmunity. It can ruin our thyroid function. We cant get rid of excess estrogen. We cant absorb the nutrients we need. And the list goes on.

More specifically, when the bacteria and other microbes in our gut are out of balance, there are some key factors that directly contribute to period pain. Unfriendly bacteria have something called lipopolysaccharide on their outer surface. LPS is, by far, one of the most toxic and irritating substances known to the human body. And when the gut isnt healthy, LPS can move across the gut barrier and get into the bloodstream.

This creates a cascade of inflammation, revs up the immune system, blocks detoxification, and can specifically cause pelvic pain. In my practice, Ive been able to link LPS with headaches, acne, and a host of other chronic conditions.

Dont get me wrong!

You Have Random Pelvic Pain

Pelvic discomfort just before your period and during the first few days of your period can be normal. You may also experience some sensitivity around ovulation. But if you have pelvic pain at other times during your cycle, that may signal a problem.

Another possible sign your cramps arent normal is if you experience pain during sex. Some causes of painful sex are also responsible for abnormally bad period cramps.

If severe cramping is accompanied by fever, vomiting, dizziness, unusual vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, or if the pain is especially severe, call your healthcare provider immediately.

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To Prevent Future Bouts

Here are some things you can start doing to improve your periods and prevent, or at least reduce, those icky period flu symptoms during your next cycle:

• Exercise regularly.Exercise has been shown to improve a lot of the discomfort associated with periods, including cramps, depression, and lack of energy.
• Eat healthy foods. Eating healthy is always a good idea, but making healthier choices in the two weeks leading up to your period can reduce PMS symptoms. Cut back on your alcohol, sugar, salt, and caffeine intake.

Youre Living With An Eating Disorder

Much like extreme stress, eating disorders impact periods significantly through something called hypothalamic suppression, says Dr. Miller. This disrupts the secretion of the hormones that lead to the production of estrogen and the production of the hormones that stimulate ovulation and progesterone.

Consequently, not only does the uterine wall lining not grow, but the signals to shed this lining are also not produced. This results in light or no periods over time.

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What I Can Do To Relieve Pms

Many of the things that help ease cramps can also help with PMS. Here are some different ways to relieve PMS symptoms:

• Take over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen , naproxen , or acetaminophen . Always follow the instructions on the bottle. Talk with your doctor before taking pain medication if you have an allergy to aspirin or severe asthma.

• Do aerobic exercise, like walking, running, riding a bike, swimming, or any activity that gets your heart rate up. Regular exercise is ideal.

• Do breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga.

• Get plenty of rest. Sleeping regularly every night can help with stress, mood changes, and feeling tired or fatigued.

• Eat healthy foods like fruits, veggies , whole grains, and yogurt.

• Limit fat, salt, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.

• Make sure you get enough vitamins in your diet, or take vitamin supplements. If you dont get enough calcium, take a supplement of 1200 mg of calcium daily. Magnesium and Vitamin E might also help.

• Use hormonal birth control . Your doctor can help you find a birth control method that can help with PMS.

My Period Is 4 Days Early What To Expect

If your period is four days early, then its likely due to implantation. Implantation can cause you to have spotting or slight vaginal bleeding that last for hours or days. You should wait for some days then take a pregnancy test. Other causes like stress, eating disorders, emergency contraception can affect your period too.

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Garlic Onions Or Another Type Of Food

Your breath isnt the only thing that can be affected by a garlicky meal or a strong cup of coffee fragrant foods can change your vaginal odor, too. As anyone whos peed after eating asparagus can tell you, certain foods can cause some funky smells as they make their way out of your body. That doesnt mean you should skip your favorite foods just wash them down with plenty of fluids.

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If youre really active, and youre drinking a lot of water and flushing everything out, I would anticipate that the smell would go away much more quickly, says Dr. OConnor.

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