Are Cramps After Your Period a Problem?
October 25, 2022
Some discomfort following a woman's monthly cycle can be expected, but if it happens frequently, it could be cause for concern.
According to Ann Peters, M.D., MS, an experienced, board certified gynecologist and surgeon in The Gynecology Center at Mercy, severe cramping or bleeding could be a sign that something abnormal is going on.
"If women have more severe bleeding after their period, and obviously it depends on when it is in the cycle, this would generally be symptoms for conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis or fibroids," Dr. Peters said.
Dr. Peters added that cramping that is tolerable without medication, or cramps that respond to over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or Tylenol, is not concerning.
But if cramping or bleeding is severely impacting daily life, patients should be evaluated, which could include an ultrasound and an exam by a gynecologist.
View Mercy gynecologist Dr. Ann Peters' interview regarding severe cramping after your normal period.
About Mercy
Founded in 1874 in Downtown Baltimore by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a 183-licensed bed, acute care, university-affiliated teaching hospital. Mercy has been recognized as a high-performing Maryland hospital (U.S. News & World Report); has achieved an overall 5-Star quality, safety, and patient experience rating (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services); is A-rated for Hospital Safety (Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade); and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet™ hospital. Mercy Health Services is a not-for-profit health system and the parent company of Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Personal Physicians.
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