It’s normal for your periods to change as you move through the phases of life. You might experience more or less bleeding at different points, and cramping can vary in duration or severity. While periods aren’t always comfortable, they should never bring extreme pain.
For women living in or around Fairbanks, Alaska, the team at Interior Women’s Health is an invaluable resource for all aspects of women’s health, including painful periods. If you encounter pain that’s intense or seems outside of your norm, we’re here to help.
There’s a point in every menstrual cycle when your body sheds the thickened lining of your uterus (unless, of course, there’s an embryo implanted into that tissue). Cramping occurs as your uterus contracts in an effort to help expel the tissue.
Period cramps are triggered by a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin, which is present at higher volumes during menstruation.
Menstrual cramping can feel like a dull, continuous throbbing, or it can have peaks of sharper pain. These sensations can come and go over time, or can continue steadily for hours at a time.
Some women experience painful cramping every month. For others, their periods are relatively painless. Many women have variations in how uncomfortable their periods are, with some months being easier to manage than others.
It’s also important to note that some women have intense period cramping from the very start. Very often, they simply learn how to adapt to their discomfort, under the belief that their cramping must be normal.
While a degree of discomfort is normal during monthly bleeding, your periods should not cause substantial pain. If you find yourself altering your normal routines due to painful cramps, it’s worth the time and effort to schedule a diagnostic assessment.
Here are some women’s health conditions that could be causing your painful cramping:
Each of these conditions has several treatment options. Determining the cause of your intense cramping is the first step.
When it comes to pain, it’s difficult to find the right words to accurately describe how you’re feeling. Pain is incredibly subjective, as each of us has different pain tolerance levels. Essentially, we are all trapped inside our own bodies, and what feels excruciating for one person might only be uncomfortable for another.
What matters is how pain feels to you. If period cramping is making it hard to focus on anything else and is interfering with the way you go about your daily routines, then it is absolutely worth having it checked out by a specialist.
So many women accept pain as a normal part of their lives. While none of us can fully avoid discomfort and pain, there’s no need to live with intense cramping each and every month. When you’re ready to look for solutions, we are ready to meet with you and discuss which diagnostic tools are right for you.
Once we find out the cause of your heavy cramping, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of all available treatment options. You’ll have our full support as you navigate this process.
Scheduling a visit with Interior Women’s Health is a fast and easy process. You’re always welcome to call our administrative professionals to check availability. You can also access our online booking resource if that is more convenient.
