Painful periods and haywire hormones: Relief is out there

Key Takeaways

• Period pain is common, but it is not normal for it to be debilitating.
• More routine discomfort from periods can be managed with over-the-counter medications. Debilitating pain needs to be evaluated.
• Hormone fluctuations can happen at various stages of life. One important stage is during the transition into perimenopause and menopause.
• Hormone replacement therapy as well as non-hormonal therapy are among the prescription options available for treatment.

If you’ve started having monthly periods, the chances that you’ve had at least one painful period are pretty high. And, if you’re at the age where you’ve begun the transition into perimenopause and menopause, you may have felt like your hormones have gone haywire.

But, to quote Mrs. Doubtfire, “Help is on the way, dear!”

Period pain

Some people experience no pain during their monthly cycles. Others have what they describe as mild cramping. And then there are those whose period pain is downright debilitating.

Common over-the-counter medications we recommend for patients who are experiencing painful periods are ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®), Pamprin,® or Midol,®. It’s not always a one size fits all, so I encourage people to find what works best for them in terms of their symptoms and managing them. I think heating pads are another great over-the-counter tool to use, too.

One thing people may not realize is that you can take medications like ibuprofen on a scheduled basis, even starting the day or two before your period begins. This helps stay on top of the pain and may also help decrease the amount of bleeding you experience. Prescription formulations are also available for this method.

However, if you’re experiencing severe pain or if the pain is not relieved with over-the-counter medications, please come see us, and we can talk about further work-up and how we can help!

Hormones

Hormones can affect a lot in our bodies, and I’m sure many people reading this have experienced hormonal changes in some form or another at various stages of their lives.

Hormonal changes can present in a variety of ways. We can experience mood swings, irritability, and anxiety. We can feel tired all the time or like we’re in a state of constant brain fog. We may have temperature intolerances, and we can face weight fluctuations, or even hair and skin changes.

Menstrual cycles may also change during times of hormone alterations. Depending on your age and medical history, we can tailor treatment to your needs.

Hormones become especially important as women start transitioning into the perimenopause phase of life. More awareness is thankfully being brought to this area of women’s reproductive health. Treatment is also getting more attention, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can be beneficial not only for symptom relief, but there can be added health benefits, including bone health and heart health in the right patients.

If you’re experiencing symptoms, I recommend talking to your OBGYN to see if you’re a candidate! If you’re not a candidate or not interested in HRT, there are also non-hormonal options to help relieve symptoms.

Birth control

While commonly prescribed to prevent pregnancy, there are other benefits of hormonal birth control.

Birth control contains hormones that can help regulate periods, improve pain with periods, decrease symptoms of PMS, decrease the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers, improve acne, and treat endometriosis, among other uses.

For those interested in birth control, there are a lot of different options. And I think the important thing to remember is that it’s also not a one-size-fits-all approach. We try to tailor your treatment to your individual goals and preferences.

Examples include the traditional birth control pills in various doses and formulations. There’s also a patch you apply weekly to the skin, an injection you get every three months, or even a thin vaginal ring that is inserted on a monthly basis.

There are some longer-acting methods that some people prefer, such as the intrauterine device (IUD), which is good for three-to-eight years depending on the brand, or the Nexplanon® device, which is now approved for five years of use. There are also non-hormonal options, such as the copper IUD, that are available.

Help is available

The most important thing to remember is that you do not have to live with debilitating pain, roller-coaster-like mood swings, or any other symptoms that decrease your quality of life. There are steps we can take to help.

We’re happy to talk more and continue to find the right treatment for you! Come see us!

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