Periods, painful
See your GP if you have severe period pain or your normal pattern of periods changes for example,if your periods become heavier than usual or irregular.
You should also see your GP if you have symptoms of secondary dysmenorrhoea,such as intense pain or heavy or painful periods.
Your GP may try you on the combined oral contraceptive pill .This can ease period pain because it thins the womb lining and reduces the amount of prostaglandin your body releases.
A thinner womb lining means the muscles of the womb don't have to contract as much when it sheds as part of your monthly menstrual cycle. Your period will also be lighter.
If the combined contraceptive pill isn't suitable for you, contraceptive implants or injections are good alternatives. The Mirena intrauterine system (IUS) can also sometimes help with painful periods.
Your GP may want to carry out a pelvic examination to help diagnose or rule out other conditions.
They'll insert gloved, lubricated fingers into your vagina to feel for any abnormalities in your womb or ovaries.
Pelvic examinations are only carried out by qualifiedhealthcare professionals, such as GPs or gynaecologists.
The examination won't be carried out without your permission (consent) . You can also choose to have a friend or relative present, ora practice nurse to act as a chaperone.
In some cases your GP may also order a pelvic ultrasound, which will clearlyhighlight any abnormalities.
If your period painhasn't been controlled after three months of treatment with painkillers or the combined contraceptive pill, your GP may refer you to a specialist.
This isfor further investigations to rule out an underlying medical condition.
To help determine the cause of your period pain, the gynaecologist may need to carry out:
If your period pain is caused by an underlying condition, your treatment will depend on which condition you have.
For example, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may require antibiotics to treat the infection, while fibroids may need to be surgically removed.
Read about period pain (dysmenorrhoea), including associated symptoms, when to see your GP, causes, diagnosing underlying conditions, and treatment.
Period pain occurs when the muscular wall of the womb tightens (contracts). Mild contractions continually pass through your womb, but they're usually so mild that most women can't feel them. During y
Period pain usually starts when your bleeding begins, although some women have pain several days before the start of their period. The pain normally lasts 48 to 72 hours, although it can last longer.
In most cases period pain is mild enough to treat at home. Painkillers You cantake ibuprofen and aspirin to help manage your pain. However, don't take ibuprofen or aspirinif you have asthma or s
See your GP if you have severe period pain or your normal pattern of periods changes for example,if your periods become heavier than usual or irregular. You should also see your GP if you have sympto
Period pain that's part of your normalmenstrual cycle won't affect your fertility. However,if the cause isan underlying condition, this may affect your fertility. For example, endometriosis and pelvi