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Symptom #3: you’re hunched over from pain and cramps
Alas, menstrual cramping is just part of getting your period. But painful periods, otherwise known as dysmenorrhea, can't always be chalked up to run-of-the-mill menstruation.
Primary dysmenorrhea is normal menstrual pain probably caused by an increase in activity by the uterus-produced hormone prostaglandin. The condition causes you to feel pain in your abdomen, back or thighs, especially during the first one or two days of your period. As your period continues, your uterine lining sheds and the pain should decrease.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is not a disease on its own, but is set off by health conditions like endometriosis, fibroids and adenomyosis. It could also mean you have pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a uterine infection that can extend to other reproductive organs. Secondary dysmenorrhea causes menstrual pain in your hips, low back, inner thighs and abdomen even before your period starts. Most of the time, it gets worse as your period continues, and may not go away after your period ends.
In addition to these symptoms, see your gyno if you have sudden, extreme pain along with foul-smelling vaginal discharge or fever—or you’re more than a week late. Pain that occurs before your period or comes after your period has ended is also a sign you need to visit your doctor. He or she will do a pelvic exam and talk through your menstrual cycle and symptoms. From there, an ultrasound or laparoscopy may be ordered to look inside your pelvic area. Treatment will depend on whether or not there are underlying health issues, but anti-inflammatory medications and certain birth control methods can help relieve cramping.