Q.

1. I have painful periods. What should I do to relieve the pain?

Taking painkillers or analgesics would be the obvious answer. Most of the pain during periods in the teenage period, gradually decrease with age. Before painkillers, for mild pains a hot water bath or hot fomentation may give considerable relief.

Q.

2. Why is there pain during periods? Does it get better with age?

Pain during periods is possibly due to the release of prostaglandins. Often painful periods are transient in nature and settle with age. Occasionally due to various diseases like endometriosis and infections, the pain may get progressively worse. What starts initially around the time of periods may last the entire month causing considerable discomfort.

Q.

3. Severe pain starts before my periods and lasts beyond the bleeding. My doctor says it can be worrisome. Can you explain?

There are roughly two types of pain during periods. One type occurs during the bleeding phase, which is common and usually not associated with disease. In the second type where pain starts well before the period begins and ends later, could be associated with diseases like pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis.

Q.

4. I used to take two painkillers for my periods. Now I need more than six. Is there a reason to worry?

Increasing need for painkillers could possibly but not necessarily be suggestive of a gynecologic disorder. It would be wise to check with your doctor.

Q.

5. When is it necessary to have an operation for painful periods?

Only when conventional analgesics are not able to control pain or the need of medicines becomes prohibitively high with possible harm, is an operation considered. Also abnormalities diagnosed during pelvic examination or in the course of an ultrasound could warrant a surgery for further evaluation.