5 Types of Period Cramps That Could Signal A Serious Problem

5 Types of Period Cramps That Could Signal A Serious Problem



Cramps suck. But they’re nothing if not consistent. That’s why it can be so alarming when your cramps suddenly feel different. Maybe what was once tolerably painful is now incapacitating. Or the stabby feeling you’re used to continues even after your flow is over. Or you’re bleeding more—way more. Whatever the shift is, the fact that something has changed is a red flag you shouldn’t ignore, says Alyssa Dweck, M.D., ob-gyn in Mount Kisco, New York and author of V Is for Vagina. If you notice any kind of change, don’t blow it off. Let our guide give you insight into what your cramps are trying to tell you.

You could have: uterine fibroids. These benign growths stem from inside or outside the muscular uterine wall. What causes them is unclear, but fibroids are super common, especially in women in their thirties and forties. The actual pain you feel, which Dweck describes as “off the charts,” can be triggered by inflammation or simply the fibroid itself pressing against your uterus.

What to do: Check in with your ob-gyn and tell her your symptoms, recommends Dweck. She’ll likely run some scans, which can identify if you have a fibroid and better determine whether you should have it removed. That will depend on many factors, including where it’s located and how big it is (these buggers can be as small as a button and large as a grapefruit). In the meantime, since fibroids are sensitive to estrogen, getting an Rx for birth control pills can help dial back the pain.