Why your periods are extremely painful

Most women experience period pain every time they are menstruating. The severity of the pain however varies from person to person.

Some women will not need to take any painkillers, others will get relief after using some drugs, while others have to see a doctor because the pain is so severe.

ALSO READ: 6 warning signs during your periods you should never ignore

If your periods are so painful such that your life comes to a stop whenever you have them, something could be amiss. Check out some of the reasons as to why your periods may be so painful:

1. Diet

Whatever you eat affects many aspects of your health and your period is not an exception. Junk foods and alcohol for instance affects your hormones and this could lead to painful periods. Sugary foods and alcohol raises the levels of insulin in the body reducing the liver’s ability to detoxify estrogen toxins.

2. Uterine fibroids

Fibroids are quite common among women in the child bearing age. Although most of them are harmless some can be problematic and affect menstruation. When the uterus contracts during menstruation, the fibroids are squeezed leading to extreme pain.

3. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

PID is an infection of the female reproductive organs that results from untreated sexually transmitted diseases. When not treated, PID causes inflammation, infertility, scarring and extremely painful menstrual cramps.

4. Whacky thyroid

When the thyroid is underactive, low levels of progesterone are produced. And when the progesterone is low, it causes inflammation leading to painful periods.

5. Endometriosis

Endometriosis causes extremely painful periods that are not relieved with ordinary pain relievers. Endometriosis also causes pain during sex and infertility.

ALSO READ: 6 scary signs you could have endometriosis

6. Ovarian torsion/ovarian cyst

If you have pain on one pelvic side, it’s probably an ovarian torsion or a ruptured cyst. Ovarian torsion is when the ovary gets twisted leading to a cut of blood flow to the ovaries. On the other hand, a cyst on an ovary may break open leading to a sharp pain on the affected ovary. If these happen on your periods, the cramps will be more painful.