There are certainly only a few women who have never had to struggle with severe abdominal pain. The pain can have various causes and can occur during your period or at any other time.
In the following we will explain where severe abdominal pain can come from and what you should do about it.
Severe abdominal pain - the most important facts at a glance
- During your period, severe abdominal pain and cramps can be caused by movements of the uterine muscles.
- Severe abdominal pain before your period can be a symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in women.
- Occasionally, severe abdominal pain can also be caused by various conditions, such as endometriosis.
- If you have very severe abdominal pain, it is often advisable to make an appointment with your gynaecologist.
- Whether treatment is necessary and what it should look like depends on the exact trigger of the severe abdominal pain.
Severe abdominal pain during the period.
During the menstrual cycle, the lining of the uterus builds up in preparation for a possible pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilised, the lining is shed again during the period.
Since the uterine muscles contract again and again during this process, it is not uncommon to experience abdominal pain and cramps during your period.
This is basically perfectly normal. However, if the pain in the lower abdomen is very severe during the period, it naturally has a considerable impact on everyday life. Sometimes women with severe abdominal pain also have a noticeably heavy menstrual period.
Severe abdominal pain without periods
Women can experience severe abdominal pain not only during their period, but also during any other phase of the menstrual cycle.
Before your period, for example, it can be a symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This is known to affect many women. PMS can cause physical symptoms like abdominal pain and cramps, as well as psychological problems like sleep disturbances and mood swings. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, premenstrual syndrome can have a huge impact on women's daily lives.
What can help with severe abdominal pain?
An occasional twinge in the abdomen is certainly tolerable and should not affect most women significantly. However, severe abdominal pain and cramps can quickly become downright uncomfortable, making appropriate countermeasures highly recommended.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do yourself to relieve your symptoms. Exercising can help with period pain and PMS symptoms, among other things.
Apart from that, you should also pay a little attention to your diet and cut out foods that promote inflammation. Instead, go for products like fresh fruit and vegetables. Warm herbal tea and a hot water bottle, for example, can also help you relax and to some extent reduce cramps and abdominal pain before and during your period.
Severe abdominal pain due to illness
Cramps and severe abdominal pain are not always directly related to the menstrual cycle. It is quite possible that they are caused by health problems.
Possible disease-related causes of abdominal pain include, for example:
- Endometriosis
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Cysts on the ovaries
- Endometritis (inflammation of the lining of the uterus)
- Inflamed fallopian tubes or ovaries
- Tumours on the female genital organs
In addition, problems with the digestive tract or the urinary tract can of course also make themselves felt with abdominal pain. The cause of the complaints is therefore by no means always to be found in the area of the female genital organs.
When to go to the doctor with severe abdominal pain?
Due to the many possible illnesses, it is often advisable to make an appointment with your gynaecologist if you have severe abdominal pain. This is especially true if the pain does not subside over a long period of time and you also have other symptoms such as a racing pulse, constipation or fever.
Your gynaecologist can examine you to find out if your symptoms have an organic cause or if they are simply period pain or a PMS symptom.
The examinations needed to make a diagnosis may include a medical history, ultrasound scans, gynaecological examinations, blood tests and urine tests.
Depending on the diagnosis, appropriate treatment may be necessary. Of course, the exact treatment depends on the exact cause of your severe abdominal pain.
Why you should use menstrual underwear
If you suffer from severe period pain, you should at least make your menstrual products as simple as possible. We recommend that you use period underwear. These practical panties provide reliable protection during your period. At the same time, they are very comfortable and easy to use.
In our shop, you can order period underwear either individually or as a set, such as the Weekiss menstrual underwear complete set. Try it out. We're sure you'll love the comfort.
Severe abdominal pain - our conclusion
As you can see, there are many possible causes of severe abdominal pain. If it is a harmless cycle disorder, it can usually be relieved quite easily with simple measures such as more exercise and a balanced diet.
If you have very severe abdominal pain and perhaps other problems as well, you should not hesitate to contact your gynaecologist as soon as possible. After all, she can not only recommend suitable treatment measures, but also rule out possible diseases as the cause of your severe abdominal pain.
