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 Show
Aug 2, 2018
Announcer: Interviewer: We're talking with women's expert Kirtly Parker Jones. She's the expert on all things woman. Here is the scenario, Dr. Jones, it is that time of the month and I know menstrual cramps are normal. I know that. But for whatever reason, it just feels more painful this time compared to any other time. Or so it seems like. I know I won't die for menstrual cramps, but it feels pretty darn close. Am I normal?Dr. Jones: Okay. First of all, let's talk about how common period cramps are and that is about 16 percent to 90 percent of women have cramps. So that's a big range, depends on which study you do. Of those people, about 2 percent to 29 percent of them have severe dysmenorrhea, meaning severe pain, enough that it disrupts their life.Why Are Your Periods Different?Well, why would one period be different than the other? Well, it could be the amount of exercise you had. It could have been how much sleep you had. It could have been your pain tolerance. Maybe your hormones were a little bit different. Maybe you made two eggs that month so you made a little more estrogen that month. So not all months are exactly the same with respect to cramps. So what happens with the really bad ones? Well, you're not going to die, but there are people . . . Interviewer: That's the good news.Dr. Jones: And it's vital to the health of the uterus that you make it, but it makes not only the blood vessels constrict, so the lining will come out, it makes the uterus cramp. But prostaglandins also can cause diarrhea and it can cause fainting. And when you're dizzy and you're feeling nauseated and throwing up, then everything hurts more. So sometimes it's enough that people actually throw up and pass out. Sometimes, they don't. Are Your Periods Getting Heavier or More Painful?Now, if you told me that your periods were getting heavier and heavier or not heavier but more and more painful, I would begin to think that as each period got worse, there was something going on. So a woman who said, "I just had one of the worst periods of my life." I'd think, "Fine." If you said, "My periods are getting worse and worse," I'd think of two conditions:
So for women who are having really bad periods but they're getting worse and worse and worse, (a) we have very good therapy for periods, but (b) we may need to do a little investigation. If it's just the worst period of your life and it's only this one, it's probably not going to be so bad next time. And the good news is you're probably normal. Announcer: Have a question about a medical procedure? Want to learn more about a health condition? With over 2,000 interviews with our physicians and specialists, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll find what you want to know. Check it out at TheScopeRadio.com.
For Patients
Find a doctor or location close to you so you can get the health care you need, when you need it. Related PodcastsWhy are my period cramps so unbearable?During your period, your uterus contracts to help shed its lining. These contractions are triggered by hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. Higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with more severe menstrual cramps. Some people tend to have more severe menstrual cramps without any clear cause.
Are unbearable period cramps normal?You've probably heard that pain with your period is part of being a woman. It's not true. Painful periods that impact your daily functioning aren't normal. This could be a sign of endometriosis, a disease where tissue normally found in the lining of your uterus grows elsewhere in your abdomen.
When should you go to the hospital for severe period cramps?When Should You Go to the Hospital for Severe Period Cramps? If your cramps are so severe that you are incapable of going 24 hours without doubling over in pain, vomiting, or fainting, then you need to go to the emergency room.
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What should i do if my period cramps are unbearable
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