Many women experience pain, (known as dysmenorrhoea), or some form of discomfort during their period. A cramping pain is felt in the lower abdomen or back and in most cases does not interfere with normal activities and is not a reason for concern. However, if period pain is severe or your periods suddenly become more painful, consult with your doctor.

Manage your period pain effectively with:

• Over-the-counter painkillers
• A covered hot water bottle placed against your abdomen or lower back
• A relaxing hot bath
• Some exercise which often helps to relieve pain

Pelvic inflammatory disease or PID is inflammation of the internal female reproductive organs which normally occurs following an infection. Symptoms may include:

• Pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen between periods as well as during a period
• Fever (Temperature of 38 ºC or more)
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Abnormal vaginal discharge

Consult with your doctor for diagnosis and if positive, he or she may prescribe antibiotics and painkillers to treat the problem. If you have abdominal pain, had sexual intercourse in the past 2 months and your period is more than a week late, you may be having an early miscarriage. Severe pain could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. If this is the case, consult with your doctor immediately. More period pain than normal may be experienced for the next few menstrual cycles after an IUD is fitted. This will last for a few cycles but things should return to normal thereafter!

Likewise if you have been on the oral contraceptive and discontinue it, painful periods that were experienced prior to taking 'the pill' may return.

In both these situations, basic self-help measures described above should be enough to ease period pain. Endometriosis occurs when fragments of the endometrium, (the lining of the inside of the uterus), are deposited in other parts of the body, particularly the pelvic cavity.

Symptoms vary considerably from woman to woman however common causes include:

• Abnormal or heavy menstrual bleeding
• Severe abdominal pain and/or lower back pain during menstruation

Other symptoms that may be experienced with endometriosis are:

• Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse)
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Pain during defaecation

First step is to consult your doctor! Medicines may be prescribed to treat the condition or alternatively surgery may be required.

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