This archive report was first published on 30 June 2020.
As a parent, it's natural to wonder if your teenager's painful periods are normal or a sign of something more serious.
Published on June 30, 2020, a recent article highlighted the importance of distinguishing between normal and abnormal pain during menstruation.
Cramps, or dysmenorrhea, are a common experience for many women during their period. However, while some pain is normal, severe or persistent pain can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is not caused by any underlying medical condition and is common during the first years after menstruation starts. The pain usually reduces over time and can be managed with home remedies like hot water bottles and over-the-counter pain killers.
Secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, is caused by underlying medical conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, cervical stenosis, and endometrial polyps. The pain seems to get worse with each period and often resists usual over-the-counter pain relief or home remedies.
So, how can you tell if your teenager's painful periods are normal or a sign of something more serious? Look out for symptoms like severe pain, heavy bleeding, or a flow that's too light, irregular periods, or hirsutism, which is hair growth on unusual places like the chest.
Encourage open communication with your daughter and ask her to track her symptoms in a journal. This will help you identify any unusual patterns or symptoms that may indicate an underlying medical condition.
Be your daughter's main support system and take her for counseling to ensure her mental health is in check. A diagnosis of a long-term condition like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or Endometriosis can be disheartening and lead to depression.
