WOMEN
10 Reasons You Should Take Your
Bad Menstrual Cramps Seriously
C
ramps are the worst. Everyone has them, everyone
hates them, no one knows what to do about them
other than slam a bottle of Midol like it's a tequila shot at
a sorority spring break party.But cramps that are so bad
you have to call out sick or can't go out with friends are
not normal. They're commonly a symptom of endometriosis the growth of cells from the lining of the uterus outside the uterus, which can cause severe cramps, painful
sex, and even infertility and they often go undiagnosed
for decades. Some studies estimate that 10 percent of
all women have endometriosis, but most are never diagnosed. Don't live with your gut-clutching cramps. Here
are 10 things you need to know about endo.
1. Most women experience symptoms for 7 to 11 years
before they're diagnosed.
I have patients who are as young as 15, but many
younger teens also suffer from endometriosis. I saw a
patient last week who is 33 years old and has been going to doctors for her cramps since she was 16. They
all just gave her the pill and sent her on her way, but we
suspect she's had endometriosis all along. Most women
who have it aren't diagnosed until they're older because
the symptoms are so varied, and some girls may just
think that's how periods are supposed to feel.2. Symp-
toms are not just around the time of your period.
The pain during sex and the diarrhea, constipation, and
cramping might start out just the week before and during
your period, but over time it may start affecting you all
month long. For some women, symptoms may be worse
around their periods, but they can occur any time.
3. Killer cramps are not normal!
Women come to me saying they're taking 15 Motrin per
day and I'm like, "You're going to get kidney failure if
you take so much Motrin." Pain is so subjective that it's
hard to define, but if you're skipping something you really want to go to because of cramps, that is not normal
and you may have endometriosis.
4. If you think you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, you
might have endometriosis too.
More then 60 percent of women who have endometriosis also have IBS. That means if you have chronic diarrhea and constipation and are diagnosed with IBS, you
may want to get checked for endometriosis as well. Your
IBS treatment won't work if the problem is also endometriosis.
5. Painful sex is not normal!
Sex shouldn't hurt. It should feel ~*~aMaZiNg~*~. The
cells that grow outside of your uterus with endometriosis
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