Period Pain is Not Normal: Hospital Gynecologists Break Down the Truth for Young Women
Periods are just part of life for women, but let’s be honest—they can be a mix of good, bad, and downright exhausting. For some, it’s just a few cramps and a chocolate craving. But for a lot of young women, it’s way more intense. We’re talking about severe cramps that come with bonus symptoms like backaches, nausea, fatigue, headaches, or even diarrhea.
When the pain's that bad, it's not easy to pretend everything's okay. School gets skipped. Plans get cancelled. Even hobbies take a back step. And if the cramps are on the severe side, they can hijack your day totally.
Each person is different. Some rely on self-help—curling up with a heating pad, resting, perhaps some gentle exercise. Others rely on medicine. Most use over-the-counter medicines for pain, such as ibuprofen, other types of NSAIDs, or paracetamol, to try and push through the worst of it.
Knowing Period Pain in Adolescents
Let's discuss period cramps, particularly in teens. Some are completely normal. You may experience a throb or ache in your lower abdomen that occasionally radiates into your back or even down your legs. That's simply your uterus doing its job, contracting to shed its lining.
A little bit of discomfort is normal. But if the pain is that severe it won't allow you to do your tasks, doesn't allow you to do everyday things, or even keeps you awake at night, that's not something you can just ignore. That's a sign it's something more than the usual cramps, and you need to have it checked.
Myths Surrounding Period Pain
The following are the myths females typically hold to be true:
Myth 1: Endometriosis is a bad PMS.
Not exactly. PMS typically strikes in the last two weeks before your period and involves mood shifts such as irritability, anxiety, or fatigue. Pain from endometriosis occurs more during your period, and the most noticeable thing is pain, not mood swings.
Myth 2: Pain caused by endometriosis from having infections.
None of those are responsible for it. The reality is, no one knows for sure what the cause is. All we know is there are risk factors. It may run in families, and it is more likely if you began your period early or if you continue to get periods later in life.
Myth 3: Women under 30 don't get endometriosis.
They definitely can. Instances have been reported in women who are as young as eight and as old as 80. Most individuals who contract it are in their teens, 20s, or 30s.
Myth 4: You cannot become pregnant if you experience period pain following endometriosis.
You've heard this a thousand times, and it's just not true. Yes, endometriosis does make it more difficult to get pregnant, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it's impossible. Women are told they would never be having children, and now they're running toddlers around their living rooms. If you are attempting to get pregnant and it's taking longer than you wish it would, there are treatments available. In other instances, surgery to have endometriosis removed has enhanced fertility.
Myth 5: You'll require surgery with severe period pain.
This is the one that comes up a lot. In some women, surgery can be beneficial, but repeating it time and again is dangerous and something physicians do not suggest as an ongoing solution. It is possible to handle it differently, such as with drugs that reduce estrogen. Birth control is one of those options that can make a significant difference.
Myth 6: If you do nothing about period pain, it will only get worse.
The reality is that doctors don't even know if endometriosis always gets worse. Some individuals have huge amounts of it and hardly any pain. Others have a little bit but extremely severe pain. If you are not experiencing fertility issues, you may not require treatment at all.
How Do I Know What's Causing Them
You know, when your belly aches so badly during your period you just want to climb into bed with a warm blanket and never get up? If the pain persists for longer than a few days, it's your body's way of saying, "Hey, we need to figure this out."
When you go to the doctor, they'll ask you loads of questions. Such as when your period is due to start, how long it'll last, and what the pain's like. They may press quite softly on your belly to examine things and occasionally take a little sample from inside to ensure everything's healthy.
If they still don't have answers, they do have some nifty tools they can utilize. An ultrasound is taking a picture of the inside of your tummy with sound waves. A CT scan is like an extra detailed X-ray. And a laparoscopy is when they insert a small camera to look inside and see what's happening.
Period pain is not always just about your period. Sometimes it has to do with other things in your body, such as your thyroid, infections, or even not getting enough of some vitamins.
How Can I Manage the Pain?
While you’re figuring out the reason, there are things that can help make the pain less awful. Moving your body, even if it’s just a little walk or dancing to your favorite song, can help because it gets your blood moving and releases “happy chemicals” that fight pain.
Heat is terrific for cramps. Hold a warm water bottle against you or put a heating pad on your stomach, and it may feel a lot better.
Stress may increase cramps, so you might take a lot of time to do things. You can go for reading, drawing, listening to music or anything that makes you happy.
Soaking in a warm bath can make your belly and your back relax simultaneously.
You can also help with eating nutritious foods and staying well-hydrated. Your uterus is a muscle, and muscles tend to spasm more when you're not well-hydrated.
If your cramps are super painful, over-the-counter medication from the pharmacy such as ibuprofen might be helpful, but it works best if you take it before the cramps even begin.
The Bottom Line
Therefore, now learn why you do not need to grit your teeth and tough it out with painful menstrual cramps. In case they are preventing you from living your life or persist for days, you can visit your doctor. Proper tests will inform you and your doctor about the causes and an effective treatment plan can be devised based on this. So, take assistance from your family physician or gynecologist.
FAQs
1. Why is period pain not supposed to be normal?
Many of us were told when we were growing up, "Cramps are just part of being a woman." A little bit of discomfort is okay, but awful pain won't make you a helpmate in household tasks. Occasionally, it's your body waving a big red flag, such as with endometriosis.
2. Why am I experiencing painful periods?
Period pain can occasionally signify endometriosis or adenomyosis, in which womb tissue grows in the incorrect place. And fibroids, which are small growths in and around your uterus, can also be culprits. And infections within the womb, fallopian tubes, or ovaries can also cause pain.
3. Will my periods worsen with my age?
For others, yes. Perhaps your periods were okay when you were younger but have gotten heavier, longer, or more painful over time. Stress is involved, but so are conditions such as fibroids or endometriosis that may arise later in life.
4. Are clots normal during periods?
Completely normal if your flow is at its peak. They're fragments of the uterine lining that have clumped together before they've left your body. If they're quarter-sized or smaller, no worries.
5. Why do I have heavy periods?
Heavy bleeding, or menorrhagia, can occur for a whole range of reasons. Occasionally hormones go haywire. Occasionally fibroids or polyps are the culprit. Sometimes it's adenomyosis, certain medications, or maybe even a bleeding disorder. Occasionally it might be something more serious, such as endometrial cancer or complications of pregnancy.