We need to talk more about Period Pain -It’s NOT Normal.
Period pain is a reality for many women and while period pain may be common, it is not normal. Despite this fact, many women and even some health professionals accept it as a part of life and do not seek help. As a health practitioner, a woman and a mother this drives me crazy! Throughout my career there have been countless times I have met women of all ages and stages who have or are trying to self-manage period pain. Using over-the-counter pain medication, hot water bottles and days off believing that they just need to accept cramping, back ache, that awful dragging pain in their pelvis as a “normal” part of life. I’m here to tell you that just is not true, period pain is not normal!
Being forced to take time off from school, work or sports because of period symptoms is in my book just not an acceptable way to live your life. If you are experiencing period pain, you need to seek help to find out what is going on. Ignoring abdominal pain, back pain, cramping, heavy bleeding, bloating, and bowel/IBS-type symptoms can result in years of your life being wasted in pain and can have terrible consequences in the future for fertility.
Period pain, like most pain is a sign that something is not functioning correctly within your body. Pain is your body’s way of signalling that something is wrong, so don’t ignore your body’s cries for help. Pain during your menstrual cycle can have many causes ranging from inflammation, hormonal imbalances to pathology. While some women may experience mild discomfort during their period anything more than a 2 or 3 out for 10 on the pain scale is a sign that something is not as it should be.
Often times the mis-management happens at home, no professional health advice sought at all. It’s just accepted as “normal”. Mum had period pain, grandma had period pain, I had period pain and now so does my daughter, is a fairly common theme. We rest, we take naprogesic, we cry, we miss out on life for a day or two and then forget about it till the next month when we repeat it again! Pain medication may provide temporary relief from period pain and I totally get why women resort to it, it is not a long-term solution. Overuse of pain medication can have negative side-effects on you kidneys, liver, gut and cardiovascular system. Instead of relying on pain medication it is important to address the root cause of your symptoms.
Unfortunately sometimes the mis-management comes from well -meaning health professionals who mistakenly believe that prescribing the pill is a fix-all for irregular, painful and heavy periods. The pill does not regulate your hormones or your cycle, they are synthetic hormones and you do not get a regular "period" you engineer a "withdrawal bleed". While this may make life seem a little easier it is in fact not usually a great idea if the cause of your symptoms has not been investigated. Your GP should refer you to a gynaecologist who will do the appropriate investigating to determine what is causing your symptoms.
Your pain and other symptoms could be signs of endometriosis, adenomyosis or PCOS which all are under-diagnosed and all can have dire impact on your fertility if ignored.
Endometriosis, a condition where endometrial tissue (the bit that increases in thickness throughout your cycle and then is shed and causes the bleeding at the time of your period) grows outside the uterus and can cause pelvic pain, especially associated with menstruation can have devastating effects on you quality of life and fertility. Endometriosis can cause scarring and damage to the reproductive organs making it difficult or impossible to conceive.
Adenomyosis (a condition where the endometrium grows into the muscular wall of the uterus) can have the same consequences and PCOS, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (a complex hormonal condition. PCOS can be associated with problems such as irregular menstrual cycles, excessive facial and body hair growth, acne, obesity, reduced fertility and increased risk of diabetes).
So ignoring period pain can have serious consequences for fertility. Endometriosis, for example, can cause scarring and damage to the reproductive organs, making it difficult or impossible to conceive.
Unfortunately, many women with these conditions suffer for years before receiving a diagnosis. The average time for diagnosis of endometriosis in Australia is 7-10 years! This is unacceptable. Women should not have to suffer for years with pain and other symptoms before receiving a diagnosis and proper treatment.
So What to try before going down the medical route?
So before you find yourself in the gynaecologists office what things might you try first? In my office I first consider diet, do we need to modify it to a low inflammatory, addressing deficiencies like magnesium, considering the gut microbiome and it's effect on your hormones and pain. Diet can play a significant role in managing period pain. Eating a diet low in inflammatory foods, such as processed foods, sugar, and alcohol, can help reduce inflammation in the body. Incorporating foods that are high in magnesium, such as leafy greens, nuts, and seeds, can also help alleviate period pain. The gut microbiome can also have an impact on hormone levels and period pain. Eating a diet rich in probiotics, such as yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut, can help improve gut health and may help alleviate period pain.
If you or someone you know is struggling with this come in and see me for a chat about it. I have many years experience in this area, having a severe case of endometriosis, a miscarraige, ectopic pregnancy, fallopian tube removal and then fortunately two healthy children in addition to a teenage daughter and many patients who have struggled with these issues I can help. Whether that's in my office or directing you to the right specialist. It is important to seek help from a qualified healthcare professional if you are experiencing period pain.