Period Pain

There are many reasons for painful periods, and understanding the root cause can help you access suitable treatments. Pharmacy Online has a range of effective medicines that relieve pain and enable you to navigate your menstrual cycle each month.

With a dedicated team of registered pharmacists and an easy ordering process, your chosen medicine will arrive on your doorstep in discreet packaging.

What are menstrual cramps?

Menstrual cramps are a natural part of any woman's monthly cycle, with 80% saying they've experienced them (WHC).

They occur due to uterine contractions, which happen as the uterus prepares to expel its lining. Most people begin to experience cramping pain one or two years after their periods start, but others might not feel any discomfort.

In general, period pain is worse on the first and second days of the cycle, but some women suffer from severe menstrual cramps that impact their daily lives.

In cases like these, it's common to seek medical help, which is a sign that your periods might be severe due to an underlying medical condition. There are numerous causes of debilitating cramps, with some being more common than others.

Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)

Also known as period pain, your doctor might diagnose you if the discomfort limits your quality of life. Your menstrual cycle shouldn't be so severe that you can't join in activities or go to work, but dysmenorrhea can occur as a primary or secondary condition.

• Primary dysmenorrhea: If you're dealing with severe pain but there's no underlying cause, your doctor will call it primary dysmenorrhea.
• Secondary dysmenorrhea: Individuals with another condition that could cause painful menstrual periods have secondary dysmenorrhea.

The pain associated with the condition can vary, from dull cramps to severe pain that leaves the sufferer unable to move around.

Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are common in women of menstrual age, but most don't notice them. However, if the fibroids increase in size, they can cause severe discomfort. While fibroids are uterine growths, they're not associated with cancer but can distort the uterus.

When fibroids grow, they might increase your pain and result in heavy periods. In rare cases, they become so big that they fill the pelvic and stomach areas, causing severe bloating.

According to research from Johns Hopkins, fibroids can impact up to 50% of women, but most are small and don't cause any symptoms. If you notice extreme pain, it's essential to visit your GP.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common condition that causes extreme pain during the menstrual cycle. In regular periods, the uterine lining breaks down and leaves the body, but endometriosis tissue doesn't. Instead, it stays in the body and can grow outside the uterus.

Over time, this causes tissue and adhesions to form, resulting in extreme pain before and during your period. Because the condition is challenging to diagnose, many women are treated for dysmenorrhea initially.

A laparoscopy can identify endometriosis, and treatment options depend on the severity of your pain. Unfortunately, 10% of women worldwide have the condition, and severe cases can affect fertility.

Adenomyosis

While less common than endometriosis, adenomyosis also involves abnormal tissue growth. However, it often expands into the muscle wall instead of growing outside the uterus. People with the condition might notice intense pain and heavy periods.

PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome is another common condition that impacts millions of women worldwide. The common symptoms include heavy periods, excessive hair growth and weight gain, but some people can also experience severe pain.

The cramps often appear alongside heavy menstrual bleeding, and your symptoms can alter each month. For example, some sufferers have light or no periods but then experience blood clots and debilitating menstrual cramp pain the next month.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

As an infection that occurs in the uterus, PID usually occurs during sexual intercourse. The infection can impact the ovaries, womb and fallopian tubes, causing lower pelvic pain, urinary issues and heavier periods, which often leads people to seek medical help.

In early cases of PID, a course of antibiotics is often enough to treat the infection successfully, but some women don't notice the symptoms initially. When PID is left to worsen, it can cause scarring in the fallopian tubes, resulting in ongoing painful periods and fertility issues.

Menstrual pain symptoms and potential complications

Period pain can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on whether you have an underlying condition or primary dysmenorrhea. It's also important to remember that the pain isn't necessarily limited to the lower abdomen, as hormonal changes can affect other areas of the body.

Common menstrual symptoms include:

• Back pain
• Constipation and diarrhoea
• Throbbing or stabbing pains in the lower abdomen
• Dull pains in the pelvic area
• Trapped wind
• Leg cramps
• Headaches

While the majority of people experience these symptoms just before and the first couple of days during their periods, an underlying condition might result in more prolonged pain.

Potential complications include:

• Depression and anxiety
• Being unable to work or enjoy social activities
• Frequent migraines and leg cramps
• Pelvic pain that comes and goes throughout the month
• Damage to the reproductive organs
• Fertility problems
• Lethargy

Diagnosing the causes of period pain

As there are numerous potential causes of menstrual cramps, your GP will want to perform a thorough exam and evaluate your symptoms. Some people receive a dysmenorrhea diagnosis when there's no other potential cause for the pain.

Pelvic exam

A physical pelvic exam lets your GP assess the health of your reproductive organs and feel for any cysts or inflammation.

During an external exam, your doctor will use their hand to feel your lower abdomen and might recommend an internal exam. The internal exam can help your GP decide whether they'll refer you for extra tests.

Ultrasounds

Ultrasounds can also be beneficial for specialists to see your reproductive organs and review any issues with their structure. The scan can flag up the thickness of your endometrial lining and identify cysts or fibroids.

However, ultrasounds can't get an accurate idea of any deeper issues, such as small fibroids. While transvaginal ultrasounds are the best way to see what's going on, some people refuse them due to the potential discomfort.

MRI & CT scans

MRIs use radio waves to create detailed images of your internal organs, while CT scans can create combined X-rays that let specialists get an accurate view of your reproductive system. Both are painless and popular options for individuals who deal with severe pain.

Despite their benefits, these diagnostic tests aren't usually first-line options for people in the UK, as they're expensive. However, if you're willing to pay for private healthcare, you could get a scan that will help with diagnosis.

Laparoscopy

If you have other symptoms along with menstrual cramps and traditional treatments don't work, your GP might refer you to a specialist. Laparoscopies are popular diagnostic procedures for conditions like endometriosis and fibroids.

The procedure uses a small camera inserted into your abdomen, enabling the specialist to look for abnormalities. A laparoscopy is the only way to diagnose endometriosis properly.

Treatments to reduce menstrual cramps

There are numerous treatments to explore when dealing with menstrual cramps, and the right one for you depends on your diagnosis. In many cases, it's a matter of trial and error or a combination of treatments.

Homecare measures

Some people find simply using a hot water bottle or heating pad can minimise their symptoms, while others might use TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machines. These devices stimulate the nerves and relieve pain.

Taking a warm bath and wearing a heat patch throughout the day can also ease menstrual pain, but these measures often aren't sufficient for dysmenorrhea or other conditions.

Painkillers

If traditional painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen don't help your cramps, there are other options to explore, including:

• NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are powerful medicines that can relieve menstrual cramps. Popular options include mefenamic acid and naproxen, which are more effective than ibuprofen.
• Opioids: Individuals with endometriosis or other menstrual conditions that are characterised by severe pain might find that codeine-based medicines reduce their cramps.

It's important to remember that while these pain relief options are powerful, they can also cause side effects. Long-term usage of NSAIDs could impact your stomach, while opioids are addictive.

Understanding how to protect your stomach and only taking anti-inflammatory medicines during your period can prevent complications.

Hormonal birth control

Contraceptive pills can regulate your periods and reduce painful cramps. There are two types of control available: the combined and mini pill. Both have their benefits, but people with a history of migraines should avoid the combined pill.

Using hormonal birth control can also regulate your moods and relieve premenstrual syndrome symptoms, making them a popular treatment option.

New advances also mean people have more flexibility with their treatment. If you don't like taking pills, hormonal therapies are available in:

• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• Injections
• Patches
• Implants

While birth control is an effective treatment, it can cause a range of side effects. For this reason, some women choose to avoid it.

Surgical procedures

Sometimes, the best way to ease period pain is by treating the issue surgically. People with endometriosis can have surgery to remove any scar tissue, while surgeons can also get rid of cysts and fibroids.

If other treatments fail to work and you're still dealing with painful periods, these procedures can help. Women who don't plan on having any - or more - children might choose to have their uterus removed, which can reduce period pain and other symptoms.

Reduce pain and stop your periods holding you back with Pharmacy Online

Nobody should have to dread their menstrual cycle each month, and the range of treatment options available means you can find a solution that gives you a better quality of life. Our pain relievers can help you get to work and enjoy social activities without worrying about the next waves of discomfort.

Complete a short online assessment

Pharmacy Online is fully registered in the UK, and we ask all patients to complete a short online assessment before ordering medication. The evaluation allows us to understand your medical history and review suitable treatments.

You can order your medicine, and we'll ship it to your door. With speedy delivery options, our medicines treat menstrual pain and let you live your life. Please get in touch if you have any questions.