When it comes to period cramping and pain, some young women get information on what to expect from health class or the pediatrician’s office. Such conversations tend to provide more general information rather than address specific concerns. Those who engage into an open dialogue with adult family members may find it easier to discuss changes in-depth, and together seek answers from qualified sources of something doesn’t feel right.
SEVERE PERIOD PAIN & CRAMPING: IS IT NORMAL?
It is common to feel discomfort and a certain degree of pain with your menstrual cycle: up to 90% of women experience cramping prior to or during their period. This however should not keep you from living your life. You should be able to attend school, work and engage in regular social activities. If pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen don’t relieve the pain, and you experience this with every period, it is important to speak to a doctor about your GYN health.
Many women suffering from a gynecologic condition called endometriosis have complained of severe pelvic pain, difficulty going to the bathroom, lower back pain and other symptoms since their early teens. They have struggled for years before getting a doctor to pay attention to their symptoms, often dismissed as normal. For many, once finally examined years later, the extent of damage to the pelvis was severe.
ABOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS & EARLY DIAGNOSIS
Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrium (uterus lining) grows beyond the uterus and it can cause severe pain with every monthly cycle. Normal endometrial tissue exits the body through the vagina during a period, but endometriotic tissue is trapped. This can cause pain and irritation to the surrounding tissue, sometimes causing scar tissue, adhesions (organs sticking together), and infertility.
Early diagnosis of endometriosis is very important as this condition gets progressively worse. A recent global study found that it can take an average of 7 years to get a proper diagnosis of endometriosis.
Top endometriosis organizations like The Endometriosis Foundation of America are making great efforts to educate teenagers, schools and the public and the medical community. EFA has developed tools for young women to track their symptoms and provide videos that explain this GYN condition. They also have a school program The ENPOWR Project, the country’s first educational program focused on raising endometriosis awareness among the adolescents.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE ENDOMETRIOSIS RESECTION IS POSSIBLE
For many years women have gone through open surgeries and unnecessary hysterectomies to treat their endometriosis. Even after the hysterectomy, many women still had pain because the underlying cause wasn’t removed.
Minimally invasive endometriosis removal that spares the uterus is now possible through advanced laparoscopic surgery. Minimally invasive GYN surgeons of CIGC Paul MacKoul MD and Natalya Danilyants MD perform endometriosis excision or resection (removal) using a groundbreaking GYN technique: DualPortGYN. There is virtually no scarring as there are only 2 5mm incisions that are cosmetically placed at the belly button and the bikini line.
USEFUL LINKS : SUPPORT FOR YOUNG GIRLS WITH SEVERE PELVIC PAIN
Endometriosis Foundation of America: FAQs for Teens
GirlTalk Info
Endometriosis Association Brochures in English and Spanish
BOOK A CONSULTATION AT CIGC
To schedule a consult with an endometriosis specialist at CIGC, call 888-SURGERY or contact us online. Fellowship trained surgeons of The Center for Innovative GYN Care have performed over 20,000 GYN procedures and are constantly finding better ways to improve outcomes for patients. Get to know them better through online patient reviews: Dr. Paul MacKoul Reviews | Dr. Natalya Danilyants Reviews