Every woman goes through some degree of period pain before and during their cycle. However, some suffer more severe pain than others. Although it may be perfectly normal to experience these throbbing pains in your lower abdomen, there are times when you may wonder if there is a more serious underlying health condition.

Typical menstrual cramps maybe accompanied by nausea, fatigue, loose stools, headache and dizziness. However, most of these symptoms can be controlled by over the counter (OTC) medications.

1. The cramps are worsening despite simple analgesics
2. Prolonged pain interferes with your daily activities
3. Your periods are often accompanied by heavy bleeding or clotting

• endometriosis – where cells that normally line the womb grow in other places, such as in the fallopian tubes and ovaries; these cells can cause intense pain when they shed.
• fibroids – non-cancerous tumours that can grow in or around the womb and can make your periods heavy and painful.
• pelvic inflammatory disease – where your womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries become infected with bacteria, causing them to become severely inflamed.
• adenomyosis – where the tissue that normally lines the womb starts to grow within the

This article was contributed by Dr Sai Sudha Ram Moorthi, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Pantai Hospital Ampang. To know more about where and when to see Dr Sai Sudha Ram Moorthi at her clinic, click here.