Abdominal pain and abnormal bleeding

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Abdominal pain and abnormal bleeding

Rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10, with 1 indicating very little pain and 10 being the worst pain you have ever experienced. Then look below to find the appropriate term to apply to the level of severity of your pain.

• 0 = No pain
• 1 to 5 = Mild pain
• 6 to 7 = Moderate pain
• 8 to 9 = Severe pain
• 10 = Worst pain possible

Many women suffer from painful menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Symptoms include mild to severe cramping in the lower abdomen, back, or thighs. During the menstrual cycle, the lining of the uterus produces a hormone called prostaglandin. This hormone causes the uterus to contract, often painfully. Women with severe cramps may produce higher-than-normal amounts of prostaglandin or may be more sensitive to its effects.

Endometriosis is another common cause of pain before and during menstrual periods.

You may have some lower abdominal pain similar to menstrual cramps when you have bleeding between periods. Lower abdominal pain that is different from your normal menstrual discomfort—such as pain that comes on suddenly or is severe—may indicate an infection, an ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage, or another problem, such as an ovarian cyst or twisted ovary (ovarian torsion).

Credits

Last updated:	July 11, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer