Take Back Your Life: Find Help to Alleviate Painful Periods

Periods are often uncomfortable. Most women experience painful menstrual cramps at some point. 

Because that’s such a common experience for people with a uterus, it’s unfortunately frequently dismissed. But if your periods are consistently painful, know that you don’t have to live that way. 

Here at Prestige Healthcare OBGYN in Atlanta, Georgia, board-certified OB/GYNs Charis Trench-Simmons, MD, and Lorenza Simmons, MD, work with women to find relief. 

As gynecological specialists, we can help determine what’s causing your pain. Just as importantly, we work with you to find lasting relief. 

If you’re ready to take back your life, we’re here to help. 

Understanding painful periods

Pain during your period is normal. A lot of women can manage the discomfort with at-home care like over-the-counter pain relievers and heating pads. Pain so severe that it interferes with daily life is a different story. 

The medical term for period pain is dysmenorrhea. It comes in two forms. 

Primary dysmenorrhea comes directly from your menstrual cycle and usually only lasts a day or two. Secondary dysmenorrhea comes from some abnormality in your reproductive system and can cause longer-lasting and more severe pain. 

Treating period pain

If you’re regularly dealing with painful periods, Dr. Trench-Simmons or Dr. Simmons works with you to figure out what’s behind that excessive discomfort.

Usually, we start with a pelvic exam. We may use additional diagnostic tools like an ultrasound to look for abnormalities that could cause your pain.

If you’re experiencing primary dysmenorrhea, medication often helps. We might recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or contraception, which helps many women with painful periods. 

For secondary dysmenorrhea, effectively alleviating the pain starts with figuring out what’s causing it. 

If you have pelvic pain paired with abnormal uterine bleeding, for example, you may have fibroids. These growths on your uterus can cause longer, heavier periods paired with pain.

If you have fibroids, we work with you to find effective treatment options, from monitoring and medication to surgery. We partner with you until we find something that brings you relief. 

Endometriosis is another common cause of secondary dysmenorrhea. This condition develops when your endometrium — the tissue that lines your uterus — grows outside your uterus. 

Your endometrium thins and breaks down during your period. But with endometriosis, it doesn’t have anywhere to go. That can cause serious period pain. 

Fortunately, hormonal birth control and other medications often effectively treat endometriosis and its associated pain.

In short, you have options to eliminate excess period pain from your life. To figure out the right one for your body, call our office or book an appointment online today.