Womens Healthcare

i'm feeling...

• A lump or pressure
• Abnormal smear test
• Frequent periods/bleeding
• Heavy periods
• Infrequent periods/bleeding
• Menopausal
• My fertility
• Not wanting to get pregnant
• Painful periods
• Pelvic pain
• Urinary incontinence
• Vaginal discharge
• Weight and skin changes

which means...

Painful periods

Dysmenorrhoea (dys = pain, menorrhea = bleeding) is the medical term for painful periods.

Many women experience period pains or cramps on the first couple of days into the period. This is often called primary or spasmodic dysmenorrhoea, and is not usually linked to any problem with the womb (uterus). There may also be general discomfort associated with other premenstrual symptoms e.g. swollen breasts, abdomen, genitals, wrists and ankles. If the pain is worst before or after the heaviest days of the period, we often describe this as secondary dysmenorrhoea.

Getting help

If you wish to make an appointment to seek further advice and or treatment, please contact Dr Harrington's secretary.

it could be...

• Adenomyosis

  Adenomyosis is where the endometrial cells grow in the muscle of the womb.

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• Endometriosis

  A condition where, for reasons that we do not know, the endometrial cells start growing outside the womb, typically in the pelvis. When they bleed internally they can lead to a lot of pain, especially during sex and around the time of the period.

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• Fibroids

  Fibroids are very common benign, non-cancerous growths (tumour) of the muscle and fibre of the womb (uterus).

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• Normal for you (dysmenorrhoea)
• Ovarian cysts

  The ovary produces an egg by producing a small cyst (often called a follicle). When the cyst bursts the egg pops out. Sometimes the cyst does not burst and goes on to get bigger and bigger, causing problems with pain and bleeding.

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• Pelvic infection

  A condition where infection has passed from the vagina, through neck of the womb and up to the fallopian tubes.

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