Have you not had your period, but your belly hurts as if it were going to go down? Do not panic at this; you will likely have pain in your stomach at some point in your abundant life, and you have not yet reached your period, or it does not match your menstrual cycle.
What you should do depends on the cause determined by the specialist, as some reasons can cause colic without menstruation, such as ovulation, irritable bowel syndrome, ovarian cysts, and even pregnancy. Suppose you want to know more about this particular topic. In that case, we invite you to continue reading this article by FastlyHeal, in which we will answer the question about ” why do I have colic but my period does not lower? “.
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Why do I have colic, but my period won’t drop: common causes.
Before knowing the causes for which there is commonly colicky pain and the period does not drop, we must understand that during the fertile or reproductive stage of women, it is normal for this particular symptom to appear, whose medical term is known as dysmenorrhea. This is defined as intense pain in the lower abdomen or pain in the lower abdomen, whether or not it is in the days around or during menstruation.
Among the common causes of colic without lowering the period we find:
Pregnancy
This is the first reason you may notice crampy pain in the lower abdomen without menstruation. It usually occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, especially in embryo implantation, even when you do not know that you are already expecting a baby. Thus, it is not surprising that the initial pregnancy symptoms are similar to those that occur during the menstrual cycle. At this time, the woman probably does not know that she is pregnant and tends to associate colicky pain with the classic pain that occurs before menstruation, but in this case, the period does not finally drop.
Cysts in the ovaries
Colic without lowering the period can also be due to cysts in the ovaries. This problem is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, swelling in the abdomen, and shooting pain in the lower abdomen. It is a common characteristic that pain in the lower belly due to cysts occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle and the days after the rule.
Learn more about this condition in this other FastlyHealarticle on Ovarian Cysts: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.
Ovulation
It is also typical that there is colic and that even so, the menstruation does not arrive during ovulation. Although this is usually a painless process for many women, in some cases, symptoms such as pain in the lower abdomen typically manifest in the middle of the menstrual cycle, especially on day 14, where the release of hormones such as prostaglandin can cause this annoyance.
Here we tell you all about the Causes of painful ovulation.
Irritable bowel syndrome
This is another reason why this type of abdominal pain could be mistaken. The abdominal pain of irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory coagulopathy can be accompanied by flatulence, diarrhea, or constipation. Irritable bowel symptoms tend to be worse in stressful situations. Thus, if this problem appears or worsens just when you know that you have to lower your period and, in addition, you have stress, it is easy that it will take a little longer to lower. Or, it may be that this pain appears for this cause at another time of the menstrual cycle and that you think that your menstruation is early, when in fact, it is due to this colon problem.
In this other FastlyHealarticle, we tell you all about irritable bowel, its causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Other causes of colic without lowering the period
Other possible reasons why there may be colic without menstruation are:
Endometriosis
A condition in which the endometrium grows over the pelvic organs and tends to cause severe pain in the lower abdominal region without lowering the period. The Chilean Journal of Radiology states that endometriosis is a chronic but generally benign disease in a published article. It is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, that is, in nearby organs, such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries, affecting approximately 15% of women of childbearing age. The main symptoms include infertility, dysmenorrhea, and pain during sexual intercourse.
Please find out more about this condition in this other post in which we talk about Endometriosis, its symptoms, types, and treatments.
Hypothyroidism
This is a condition far from the female reproductive system, but it affects it. Generally, suffering from hypothyroidism implies anovulation, that is, the absence of ovulation and, therefore, amenorrhea, that is, the lack of menstruation, but there may be a pain in the lower abdomen.
Eating disorders
Usually, women who suffer from bad eating habits, such as anorexia and bulimia, tend to have these types of symptoms because these eating problems have a significant impact on the health of the reproductive system. Frequently, there are alterations of the menstrual cycle for those who suffer from these conditions and can present problems in the ovaries.
Stress
This is another factor that has a considerable impact on the menstrual cycle. Women in extreme stress and anxiety situations may suffer a delay in the menstrual cycle, but with the manifestation of other symptoms, such as colic pain.
In the absence of menstruation, the woman has enough anguish or stress and other symptoms such as mood changes, engorgement or hardening of the breasts, or inflammation in the pelvic area.
How to treat colic when your period does not come down
Most cases of colicky pain have a mild or moderate-intensity that tends to be bearable and tolerable. In rare cases, this pain becomes so severe that it limits daily activities, but it is at this time that treatment will be necessary to alleviate it.
These are some of the treatments for colic if you do not lower the rule that doctors usually indicate:
- Analgesics: the specialist tends to indicate over-the-counter pain relievers belonging to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, which calm this type of pain since it reduces prostaglandins, this, in turn, has a direct effect on the decrease in crampy pain.
- Oral contraceptives: this is another of the best-known therapies worldwide since the contraceptive pill considerably reduces menstrual cramps, and its administration also allows regulating the menstrual cycle. The specialist tends to indicate combined oral contraceptives containing levonorgestrel and Ethinylestradiol.
- Hormonal treatments: the gynecologist may indicate other hormonal therapies, apart from contraceptive pills, which allow for calming colic. Usually, this type of therapy is responsible for inhibiting the ovulation process and reducing the intensity of pain in the lower belly, which are available in injections. These implants are placed in the arm and patches.
Recommendations to relieve colic when the period does not come down
Walking, cycling, swimming, practicing yoga or meditation are helpful recommendations to reduce the probability of cramping pain in the premenstrual stage or just when it begins, whether or not the period’s arrival is delayed.
Other recommendations to relieve colic pain when menstruation does not drop are:
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Reduce fats.
- Rest regularly at night.
- Avoid drinking alcohol.
- Include vitamin supplements.
If the absence of menstruation remains up to 7 days after the expected date, it is advisable to perform the pregnancy test or go to the gynecologist. It is essential to treat the origin of the pain to reduce it. If this is your case and you have pain but your period does not lower, do not hesitate to go to the specialist who will be the one indicated to determine the cause and the ideal treatment of colic without menstruation.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why do I have colic but my period does not lower, we recommend that you enter our category of Female reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.