period pain in vulva, labia, upper thighs - is this normal?

[AllAboutTheGin]

It’s been the case since having kids. I used to get horrendous period pain that had me off work, intense indescribable agony in my abdomen. But since having kids that has not been much of a problem and any pain I do get there is eased with paracetamol. But now, for the first 24 hours of my period my vulva/outer labia throb and ache and feel so heavy, it’s horrible. I don’t feel like my insides are going to fall out (like they did post child birth and how I imagine prolapse to feel) but it’s just throbbing and really aches.
Is this normal, does anyone else get this?
Thanks

I have that and I have endometriosis. Might be worth a trip to the GP.

I get it in my thighs and bum cheeks, I have endometriosis. I agree with chills definitely worth a GP visit. There are drugs that can help and a gynae referral might be worth considering.

I get it in my thighs, but not to the extent you describe. I think you need to see a gynecologist, you shouldn't be suffering that much.

If you take paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time, and that doesnt make the pain bearable, its probably doctor time

And I'll bet next Sunday's apple crumble that you also get javelin arse too. Endo is a horrorbags. Mine did lessen somewhat after children but only properly ceased with menopause. Hurrah!

Drs don't always take it seriously. There was a really good short series on bbc news website for endometriosis awareness recently.

Since having kids the first few days of my period feel like I've been kicked really hard between the legs by a horse (sorry I dont know how else to describe it lol) didnt have this before kids.

hypertense pelvic floor can also give similar symptoms. Def worth getting checked out, specialist women's physios are often extremely knowledgeable.

I get this in my thighs and javelin arse too. Tbh I just thought it was part of being a woman and having periods. It usually only lasts 24-36 hours for each period. Using a mooncup did seem to help.

Yes I get that. Sounds like endometriosis to me.

Hmm interesting. I would ha e said that the agony I used to experience pre children was worthy of an investigation into endo but it never happened and this is nothing g in comparison to that.
Yes I do occasionally get the javelin thing but can’t say I have associated it with my cycle at all.

I will see my GP but I suspect I would need to push quite hard for a referral. Is endo something that might get worse with age or is this peak time? I’m 39 and have had all my kids - 3 of them.

This is all news to me. I thought it was normal to get pain in back, vulva and thighs. I also get the sharp pain up bum thing too which is what I assume javelins arse is???

It doesn't last long and I never have to have time off with it. Have had the odd sleepless night but that's unusual. My cousin who had endo was in bits for days during her period and had numerous days off sick with it.

I am surprised to learn this pain could be indicative of endo?

Yes,I used to get pain every month in my upper inner thighs.Not so much now but things are starting to change.I'm 42 and I think I'm in the peri menopause.

I used to have this. That real leaden heavy ache in the vulva and thighs which is so exhausting

I went to see a Medical Herbalist who said that pain pattern was associated with pelvic congestion , and gave me some foul tasting brown liquid which totally sorted it out within two cycles.
I had previously had a trans vaginal ultrasound which had shown no endo ( no abnormalities at all detected).

I must admit, I don’t think what I am experiencing for 24-48 hours a month is severe enough to consider endometriosis, although the period pain i suffered pre children probably was. That was mind blowing pain that had me on the floor monthly.
This pain goes away with paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Also, I should have said, pre children I was diagnosed with pcos, if that’s at all relevant, and also I get quite distinctive and pinching pain each month at ovulation for about 12-24 hrs.

Oh yes, the delights of endometriosis. Javelin arse has been worse than contractions. It became unbearable and the GP prescribed buscopan to take two tablets four times a day. It's really helped. I've had endo since I was about 10 but since having my third child my periods are awful and the pains in my bum and thighs is something else. I found switching back to sanitary towels from tampons helped the vulval pain. I use lillets teenage range as they are softer and don't irritate me like bodyform or always. I'm really bad days (always day 2 of my period) I can get pain from u dee my boobs down to my feet. It's a bitch. I take regular paracetamol and dihydrocodeine daily anyway with extra dihydrocodeine at period time. Hot water bottles really help too, especially in the small of my back. I don't get much abdo pain, it's all in my back, bum and thighs. That's where I had all the pain in labour too. Far worse with my third.
I hope you find relief. I'm glad the menopause is in sight now. I've had enough.

It sounds very much like I was with endometriosis, I would ask your GP for a referral to a gynaecologist.

I get the throbbing feeling during the first day of my af and I'm endometriosis free. It's just what my body does.

My periods are only painful for 48 hours but I have had it confirmed by surgery.

Those of you with confirmed endometriosis, what does it mean? Is it something that needs to be treated? I mean obviously some psi. Relief would be nice, but is surgery necessary, can you just live with it if it’s not severe? Can it get worse/cause complications? Thanks

I get it all down my thighs to my knees, horrible aching. Never considered I might have endo though, although sometimes the pain is so bad I feel sick.

I used to get it when I had regular periods, no endo, was just what my body did.

I think it’s amazing how many women have experienced this pain and get on a google search it doesn’t come up anywhere. Found info on vulval soreness but not this throbbing ache.

I kept mine under control with both surgery and birth control pills.

Endometriosis can become more chronic over time. However, this does not go away of its own accord.

I would think that endometriosis is the root cause of your menstrual problems to date. It warrants further investigation from a gynae.

Its also not detected via internal ultrasound scans either; I have had more of those than I care to mention and none of those detected the endo that was present in my uterine cavity.

I used to get this before I had a hysterectomy (preventive for cervical cancer, not period pain).
When I once suggested could be be endo to my consultant he dismissed it .