What Could be Causing Menstrual Pain?

What Causes Menstrual Pain?

Menstrual pain can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'very serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose menstrual pain, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "menstrual pain" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

IUD Complications
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
EFA 3 Need
Ovarian Cysts
Fibroids
Adrenal Fatigue
Endometrial Polyps
Cervical Narrowing

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

hypoglycemia

poor tolerance of heat

suspected adrenal insufficiency

low diastolic blood pressure

sugar/sweet craving

occasionally feeling unusually cold

history of hypothyroidism

significant right iliac pain

shingles

frequent colds/flus

hyperthyroidism

inability to work under pressure

... and more than 60 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of menstrual pain:

Cause	Probability	Status
IUD Complications	99%	Confirm
Cervical Narrowing	15%	Unlikely
Adrenal Fatigue	14%	Unlikely
Endometrial Polyps	3%	Ruled out
Ovarian Cysts	1%	Ruled out
EFA 3 Need	1%	Ruled out
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease	1%	Ruled out
Fibroids	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate being premenopausal or being perimenopausal, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Do you suffer from painful menstrual cramps (painful menstruation)?

Possible responses:

→ Never had them / don't know
→ Probably had them/minor episode(s) now resolved
→ Major episode(s) now resolved
→ Current minor/occasional problem
→ Current major/regular problem

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate either history of painful menstrual cramps or painful menstrual cramps, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts can cause symptoms resembling painful menstrual periods when the cyst grows to a larger size. A history of painful menstrual cramps can indicate hormonal problems or imbalances which can increase the risk of ovarian cysts.

Adenomyosis

Cervical Narrowing

EFA (Essential Fatty Acid) Type 3 Requirement

In a double-blind placebo-controlled study among a group of girls suffering from dysmenorrhea, it was found that the symptoms could be significantly reduced by dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids. This particular study used fish oil. [ American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, April 1996;174(4): pp.1335-1338]

Endometrial Polyps

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is the most common cause of menstrual cramps.

Fibroids

IUD Complications

Low Adrenal Function / Adrenal Insufficiency

Dysmenorrhea caused by ovarian dysfunction may disappear when low doses of cortisol are used to improve adrenal influence on ovarian function. [The Safe Uses of Cortisol, William Mck. Jefferies, MD 1996, p.157]

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Progesterone Low or Estrogen Dominance

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