What is period pain like?

[DozyRosiePosie]

Sorry I’ll try and explain properly what I’m asking!

I’ve always been very fortunate not to suffer from period pains. I get a headache and diarrhoea and vomiting, but never abdominal pain or cramps.

I’ve had some tummy pains all day and I don’t know if they’re period cramps or something else! Because I’ve never had cramps or pain with it before, I’m not actually sure what they’re like.

The pain I’ve got is in my lower belly, just below my belly button. It’s in the middle and not towards the left or right. It feels like a very sharp stabbing pain which comes and goes randomly. Breathing in and out doesn’t make it worse or change it at all, but if I suck my tummy in (like holding it in to look skinnier, hope that makes sense) the pain is VERY sharp and unbearable. it feels like I’m being stabbed with glass.

My period isn’t due but it’s very irregular so could be due to start soon. It doesn’t follow a pattern or schedule and comes as and when it wants so even though it’s not due, it might be starting soon. It’s always been like this and I’m in my early 20s now so I think it’s just going to be how it always is.

Does this sound like period pain? If not, what else could it be?! It’s ok right now, and I can obviously avoid sucking in my tummy which makes it a lot worse, but it’s also coming and going randomly and it’s really painful

Mine feels quite similar to the cramps you get with food poisoning/norovirus.

My period pains weren't like that and were much lower down. Sometimes appendicitis pain starts around the navel so if you start to feel unwell, get a temperature or the pain gets really bad, call 111 for advice.

Wind can cause all sorts of terrible pains

Sound a bit too high to me. Personally i find it a dull cramping pain very very low down, which sometimes spreads in to the upper thighs as a sort of numb ache (I know that sounds impossible!). Never sharp or as high as the belly button. I'd guess constipation, but hey it checked out if you're in a lot of pain.

If periods are v irregular, you could have PCOS. Any issues around acne, facial hair? If you do (and I guess even if not) these pains could be from an ovarian cyst maybe? Not necessarily scary but certainly in need of investigation if it is. Try to speak to GP in morning.

It doesn't sound like period pain to me. My period pain starts with mild waves of discomfort (the uterus starting to contract) and as the contractions grow stronger the pain increases. It eventually peaks, then the waves get milder again until they stop.

Have you been investigated as to why your periods are so unpredictable? Have you been tested for endo or PCOS? Could you be pregnant?

Any urinary changes? Pain, stinging, going more often? The position you describe is also over the bladder.

IF I ever got period pains, it was mild, cramping, pulling sensations in the pelvic area- not usually one side or the other either. Resolved by 2 ibuprofen, IF I ever needed to take anything which is rare.

I get period pain around my belly button area, and sometimes higher. Never had it in my thighs though! It can be a sharp pain, or a dull ache.

My period pain is just above the Pubic area so really low down and like someone else said it travels into my thighs and sometimes my back. I would say your pains too high.

Doesn’t sounds like period pain I’ve ever had. I’ve had a lot of period pain!

Constipation?

Hi,

I’ve had blood tests done for my periods but they were all normal. My GP wasn’t concerned as I’m not overweight and it’s not a new thing, they’ve always been like this

Although I’ve never had tummy pains with my period before, I have had that achey pain in my thighs someone else commented about. I sometimes get an achey vaginal pain too. But these pains are very dull and achey and are only at the start of my period.

The pain im having tonight is much sharper and it’s very different. It’s about 2 inches below my belly button and it feels someone is digging sharp glass into my tummy. The pain is coming and going and isn’t there all the time. I just coughed and it hurt again, and I tried sucking my tummy in to see if it still hurt and it was awful. Definitely not doing that again!

I've never had period pain near my belly button and I wouldn't describe it as sharp.

Mine is near my pubic bone (and includes it often) and is intense severe cramping. Relieved a bit by scalding hot water bottle or hot water in a bath or shower directly on the area.

I get horrendous pain but it is never unconnected to bleeding (v mild cramps warn me of the onset but the severe pain is for heavy days) so yours doesn't sound like period related to me.

I'd get a Dr to check you out.

Sorry I should have said, I’ve not got any thigh or pubic pain at all tonight. I usually get it at the start of my period but I haven’t had any of that tonight. No back pain either. x

OK then.

Ovulation pain? It doesn't sound anything like period pain, not the period pain I experience. Mine is a dull uncomfortable cramp much lower down and never a sharp pain.

Might be worth ringing 111 to get stuff like appendicitis (or anything else that could get nasty really quickly) ruled out. Hopefully not, but the potential upside of prompt treatment if it is something bad is huge...

It doesn't sound like period pain. Period pain is a dull, achy pain, not sharp (for me, anyway). It comes from your uterus contracting.

It doesn't hurt more if you breathe in or push on it.

This sounds like something else entirely, you need to get it checked out IMO.

Period pain is usually a dull pain (a medical doctor once explained to me the reason why, which is something to do with older evolutionary pain pathways, but I can’t remember exactly!) — not a sharp stabbing pain. For me it radiates into the lower back and comes in waves. I’ve never had something like a sharp stabbing pain like you describe with period pain. Could it be trapped gas? Or a UTI or bladder infection? Are you weeing okay?

I had irregular periods at your age but they suddenly regularised in my 30s - there is hope.

In my experience period pain can be quite sharp - like a knife twisting inside me, but nothing to do with sucking my tummy in or coughing. It just feels like someone's trying to disembowel me, regardless of what I do. (I'm slightly envious of what's described by most people in this thread!)

Definitely doesn't sound like period pain. The pain is usually lower than that and I would akin it to diarrhoea cramps. Only that my period is regular I'd struggle to tell the difference.

I had dull achy pains that were usually where my ovaries were and towards my lower belly button. I was fortunate enough to tell my Dr about it when I was in my late teens and was diagnosed with endometriosis very quickly.

Keep in tune for the pain and if it's consistent (not constant, but regularly occurring) then go see a Dr and demand to be looked at for endometriosis.

I also have PCOS, but was not diagnosed with that until my 30's. In my experience PCOS has not caused me any pain like Endo has. PCOS is a hormonal imbalance problem mostly for me, but I wouldn't associate it with pain.

I would go to a Dr or A&E. Does it feel like your intestines have boiling water poured on them?

I have endometriosis, fibroids (one that cannot be removed due to location) and what you describe in terms of sharp stabbing pain is how I would describe the pain I have. I also describe as a like being sharp with a hot poker, deeper and deeper each time.

It's always been in my right side but that's where most of my problems are so unsure about location of yours, it could be something completely different. I've also never had it without back ache in my lower back at the same time so again that's different.

Maybe ask doctor for an ultrasound (it don't diagnose endo but it can show I'd there's some scarring or abnormalities etc).

It could also be your appendix. Mine burst because I didn't know the difference between it and period pain.

Sorry the more I right, the more I realise I'm no help to you as while there are similarities, there are some differences too. Ultrasound or MRI would be a good place to start no matter what is causing it.

Write not right

I guess like everything, it's different according to the individual. Not all women have the same experience of it.