Period is synonymous to pain where some women suffer acute pain before and during mensus. The extent of pain is so high that they sometimes need to take injections to control it. Pain and cramping during the period is normal but pain after period is a serious thing.
“Mild cramps during the period are very much normal as these occur due to uterus contraction but cramps after period are not normal,” says Dr. Madhulika Sinhha, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka, Delhi.
Menstrual cramps that start with the onset of the period and continue until menstruation is over is normal and is termed as ‘plasmonic dysmenorrhea’. Whereas cramps that start around a week ahead of periods are not considered as normal where they may indicate some kind of pathology, this is ‘congestive dysmenorrhea’ Dr. Madhulika further explains.
After five-six days, bleeding stops which shows that your periods are over. This means that pain and cramps should also subside and normally they do too. But in some cases, girls and women do suffer cramping after completion of a monthly cycle. This, according to a gynecologist, is not a normal thing and needs medical attention. The affected lady should consult a doctor to find if there is an underlying serious issue.
Also Read: Surprising Health Benefits of Menopause for Women
Introduction to Secondary Dysmenorrhea
These cramps that persist even after menstruation fall under the category of ‘secondary dysmenorrhea’. These may occur during or after a period which is not due to uterus contraction but other reasons. Painful bowel movements, bloating, fatigue, etc. Are the initial symptoms of this condition. Here are the common causes why cramping after period occurs.
Presence of Ovarian cysts
If you have a cyst on the ovary, it may cause irregular bleeding and cramping which is why you suffer pain even after mensus. However, these won’t give any major symptoms until and unless they are huge in size.
Along with cramping, the lady would also suffer bloating, heaviness in the stomach if there is an ovarian cyst. This can only be treated with proper medication therefore, consulting a good gynae is important.
Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that may emerge anywhere in the female uterus. The symptoms depend on the size of the fibroid where it can get from normal to worse. Cramping may occur due to uterine fibroids too accompanied by pain, heavy periods and irregular bleeding, etc.
Also Read: Understand All About Fibroid During Pregnancy and Its Possible Treatment
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Cramping after periods may also indicate a pelvic inflammatory disease which is caused by an infection in a woman’s reproductive part. This may aggravate to infertility if left untreated. Also, the diagnosis of this infection is difficult. Apart from cramps, pain in the lower abdomen, unusual discharge, fever, pain during urination, etc.
Women, who suffer cramping after period need to speak to a doctor immediately.
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