This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
As a parent, it's natural to worry when your adolescent daughter experiences heavy and painful periods. However, with the right approach, these symptoms can be managed, and her quality of life can be improved.
According to Dr. Alfred Murage, a Consultant Gynaecologist and fertility specialist, the amount of bleeding and pain can vary from one girl to another. While some may experience normal bleeding, others may experience heavy bleeding, and the pain can range from mild to severe.
Fortunately, most teenagers experience heavy and painful periods for only a short period of their reproductive life. In many cases, the symptoms will settle down spontaneously without any specific intervention. However, in some cases, the symptoms may persist, requiring specific interventions.
Dr. Murage advises that simple home remedies such as painkillers and hot water bottles over the pelvic region can help alleviate the pain. Over-the-counter medications can also help ease heavy bleeding. However, if symptoms persist, a gynaecological assessment becomes necessary.
Many adolescents may feel confident seeing a gynaecologist on their own, but some may require an accompanying parent or close relative. Most gynaecologists will handle adolescents delicately and only subject them to a carefully balanced clinical assessment.
In many cases, a decision on the most appropriate remedy can be made instantly. However, if more serious causes of heavy and painful periods are suspected, some tests may be required. For the majority of cases, no serious cause of the symptoms will be found, and simple remedies to control symptoms will be advised.
Rarely, some girls may have a condition that requires specific interventions, such as endometriosis or hormonal imbalances. If simple remedies don't work, hormonal treatment may be offered, and the easily available contraceptive pill is very effective in controlling both pain and heavy bleeding.
Parents often worry that their young girls are being exposed to hormones early in their reproductive life. However, the safety of such treatments is proven, and the medication can be stopped at the earliest opportunity.
Each case would be judged on its own merit, but it's not unusual to hear of an adolescent requiring surgery to address severe period pains. Any such surgery tends to be conservative, balancing the relief of symptoms with preservation of future fertility.
Painful and/or heavy periods can interfere with the quality of life for adolescents, causing them to miss school days and reducing their productivity. None of them should suffer such agony in silence. Appropriate parental or guardian support should always be availed, in combination with effective medical remedies.
