Ever feel like your insides are being twisted when it’s that time of the month? Mild discomfort, bloating, or even pain in the lower abdomen are all common with periods. But if you’re experiencing heavy flow and debilitating pain that causes you to miss work or school, there’s a deeper reason painful periods.
Here are some reasons you’re experiencing heavy and painful periods:
What Exactly Are Heavy Periods?
First, let’s look at some situations that indicate you have heavy periods or menorrhagia:
- You need to change your pad or tampon every 1 – 2 hours.
- You are bleeding for more than 7 days.
- You are passing blood clots larger than 2.5cm.
- You are avoiding daily activities, such as exercise.
- You feel tired or short of breath.
Reasons for Painful Periods
There are two types of painful periods (dysmenorrhea): primary and secondary. If you experience intense pain before or during menstruation, you have primary dysmenorrhea. But if you’ve had normal periods earlier in life but are now experiencing pain, it may be secondary dysmenorrhea.
Causes of painful and heavy menstruation include:
Fibriods
Fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that develop in or around the uterus. They are made of muscle and fibrous tissue and are extremely common among women. Since they don’t cause symptoms during normal circumstances, many women don’t even know they have it.
The size of fibroids plays a critical role. They can be as small as the size of a grain and as big as a melon. While there is no dangerous fibroid size, a mass larger than 5cm can cause issues. It might push internal organs and distort the uterus. This results in painful and heavy periods.
Endometriosis
It is one of the leading reasons for painful periods. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. This could be your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic lining.
Every month, this misplaced tissue thickens and breaks down, but can’t exit the body. As a result, you experience pain and inflammation. Endometriosis brings a whole lot of other symptoms, including:
- Severe pelvic pain during periods
- Irregular periods
- Pain with urination
- Pain during sexual activity
- Fatigue or low energy
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Every month, your body experiences a rollercoaster of hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Most importantly, during the weeks leading up to your menstrual period, hormone levels drop. Many women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Physical symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Tender breasts
- Acne
- Fatigue
- Lower back pain
- Abdominal pain
Symptoms typically go away once you start bleeding.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. PID is caused by sexually transmitted bacteria that cause inflammation of the reproductive organs and pain.
In addition to painful periods, you might also experience:
- Pain during sex
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Painful urination
- Fever
PID can often lead to serious complications, such as infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Consult with your OBGYN to understand the best course of action.
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