Painful periods can be painful for more reasons. Apart from raging a storm inside your pelvis once a month, they can also signal that all is not well with your fertility.

If you experience painful periods and are trying to conceive, you may want to take a step back to examine whether your menstrual cycle is telling you something.

Understanding Painful Periods

Menstrual cramps are part and parcel of periods. When they become too much to bear, you ought to sit up and take notice (or lay back down until they’ve passed). Cramps are triggered by natural bodily chemicals called prostaglandins, which govern cell growth, body temperature, muscle function, and inflammation throughout the body. During menstruation, prostaglandins promote the contraction of muscles in the uterus to flush out the uterine lining. As potent as they are in the female reproductive machinery, excessive levels can send the uterus into overdrive, resulting in more muscular uterine contractions during menstruation. Severe contractions can, in turn, curb oxygen supply to uterine muscles, causing overwhelming cramps.

So, when should you be worried? Well, consider this. If your cramps have worsened over time and are far more painful now than ever, you may have an underlying problem. If you’re in doubt, meet a gynecologist to rule out possible conditions.

Possible Underlying Conditions

Severe period pain caused by fertility-impacted diseases grows more potent with time. Here are some possible conditions that can give rise to chronic menstrual pain – and compromised fertility.

Fibroids

Fibroids are benign tumors that grow within the uterus. As silent guests in your womb, they can cause excessive pain, increase the odds of miscarriage, and be a barrier to fertility.

Endometriosis

In endometriosis, uterine tissue spreads beyond the uterus, affecting other organs in the pelvic area. The condition can cause chronic pain, but it can also hamper the functioning of the uterus, in turn affecting fertility. Researchers estimate that up to half of all infertile women may have endometriosis, although many remain undiagnosed.

Adenomyosis

Not by endometriosis, but where the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, adenomyosis involves the growth of the endometrium into the uterine muscle. Adenomyosis can cause excessive periods and severe pain. Even though there is no evidence that it has any bearing on fertility, it is thought to increase risk.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease is a leading cause of severe menstrual pain. It is characterized by the development of scar tissue across the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes and is notorious for causing tubal blockages and impeding fertilization.

A custom-crafted fertility treatment plan can be the key to conception for all the conditions mentioned here. From advanced techniques like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to intrauterine insemination (IUI) and natural cycle monitoring, the fertility doctors at Ayaansh hospital are armed with tools and technologies to increase your odds. We’re experts at curing pain and infertility. And visit our fertility center and discover your path to parenthood.