menstral cramps.

[stellasunshine]

I'm 20 and I've never had a schedule for my period. It comes about every 4 to 6 weeks. But the weeks before during and after I get intense cramps that range from the top of my vagina all the way up to my ribs and some times my chest. The cramps keep me from moving and doing just about anything. There like knifes stabbing all over. I had it checked out about 2 years ago and i got told it was nothing  and they put me on birth control to "regulate my period" and the doc told me it would help with cramps also. It hasn't helped with either.
I was wondering what might be causing my cramps. And if there is a way to stop them or at least tone them down?

[susanlynn0505]

Natural Progesterone really helped me.  You use it from day 1 of your period to day 26.  It's a cream you rub on.  Your body produces progesterone in preparation for a baby.  When there is no baby the progesterone level drops resulting in the breakdown of the uterine lining causing bleeding.  You only use about 1/2 tsp 2x a day, but to correct your cycle, use 1 tsp 2x a day from day 1 to 26.  I've had to do this twice.  It takes about 3 months, but works wonders.
Birth control pills helped somewhat with the cramps, but they caused so many other side affects I couldn't use them.

[stellasunshine]

So the tissue that's supposed to grow in my uterus grows outside of it and that causes the severe pain. Oh wow. I made a check up appt for wednesday. I'm going to talk to my doc before I go derectly to the gyno. Thank you for helping. Does Endometriosis happen to a high persentage of women?

[redheadaussie]

Endometriosis is where cells of the uterine lining grow where they shouldn't and often cause pain when you get your period. They often grow in the pelvic cavity outside the uterus and try to shed lining like a mini uterus and cause scarring and pain. You should go to a gynaecologist rather than be just given pain relief from your doctor. You should not need to be in that much pain.
  Sometimes a simple curette ( scraping) of the uterine lining can help relieve the excess build up of lining too.
Sometimes it is hormonal. But go see a gynaecologist and ask for help.

[stellasunshine]

I have tryed advil and it doesn't seem to help. I've taken midol, tylonal, pamprin, ibeprofin, alive. The only thing I have done that works to tone them down is keep constant heat on them. What is endometriosis?

[sweetpea03]

You can try taking a couple Advil to help with cramping pain. I get severe menstrual cramps myself, and have been put on prescription medication. But the Advil can work just as well and does get rid of pain. It may be pain from endometriosis. Make another doctors appointment and ask about that. Good luck.