Periods are a natural monthly process that women and girls experience from puberty until they reach menopause, but some suffer from severe pain and other distressing symptoms. If you have painful periods, reach out to the all-female team of board-certified OB/GYNs at Main Street Obstetrics & Gynecology in Ventura, California. They can identify the cause and offer effective solutions. Call the office to benefit from expert help or schedule an appointment online today.
request an appointmentWhy do I have painful periods?
Many women have little or no discomfort during their period, while others experience problems like bloating, fatigue, mood changes, abdominal cramps, and disabling pain.
The medical name for painful periods is dysmenorrhea, which has two forms:
Primary dysmenorrhea
Primary dysmenorrhea is due to high prostaglandin levels. These chemicals increase before menstruation, causing the muscles to contract and expel the uterine lining tissue. High prostaglandin levels cause excessive menstrual cramping and pain that’s worse when your period starts and gradually improves as the prostaglandin levels fall.
Secondary dysmenorrhea
Secondary dysmenorrhea lasts longer than regular menstrual cramps, often starting a few days before your period and continuing after menstruation ends.
What conditions cause period pain?
Conditions that can cause period pain include:
Endometriosis
Endometriosis develops when uterine lining tissue (endometrium) grows outside the uterus, typically on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, or bladder. These endometrial plugs react to hormonal changes just like your uterine lining, so they bleed and shed during your period. However, because the blood can’t escape, it causes inflammation and scar tissue formation.
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis is similar to endometriosis, but the tissues grow in the muscular uterine wall.
Uterine fibroids
Fibroids are noncancerous growths. They may develop within the uterine wall, outside the uterus, or in the mucosal tissues underneath the uterine lining. They’re often painless, but large ones can cause painful periods.
Painful periods typically worsen over time if you don’t receive treatment for the underlying cause.
What treatments might I need for my period?
The Main Street Obstetrics & Gynecology team recommends treatment based on the cause of your painful periods and how badly they affect you. If you have primary dysmenorrhea, anti-inflammatory medication can help control pain. You might want to consider taking birth control hormones, which can significantly reduce period pain and bleeding.
Endometrial ablation is an option for women who don’t wish to have children in the future. This minimally invasive procedure removes the uterine lining, stopping prostaglandin production, but it’s unsuitable if you want to become pregnant.
If your painful periods are due to fibroids, the Main Street Obstetrics & Gynecology team can perform a myomectomy — minimally invasive gynecologic surgery to remove the growths.
To find out what’s causing your painful periods and get effective relief, call Main Street Obstetrics & Gynecology or schedule an appointment online today.