5 Signs Your Period Pain Might Be Something More Serious Than Just a Painful Period

Period pain is something so many women are told to just “deal with”... but it doesn’t have to be that way. 

Yes, cramps are common, but when pain starts to interfere with your life, your work, your relationships, your energy levels, and leaves you passing out or throwing up with each period… it could be a signal that something deeper is happening in your body. 

Conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis or even fibroids often get dismissed because they aren’t always obvious, yet they can have a huge impact on your quality of life and even fertility if conceiving is your goal..

If you’re noticing that your periods aren’t just mildly uncomfortable, here’s 5 red flags to note that can help you get the care you need and deserve sooner rather than later.

1. Pain That Starts Before and Lingers After Your Period

Most people expect cramps to happen during their period, maybe a day or two before. But if your pain starts a week early, is debilitating or lingers after your flow ends, that’s not normal. Chronic pain outside of your period can indicate endometriosis.

This type of pain can feel like a dull ache or sharp, stabbing sensation, and it can sometimes radiate to your lower back or legs. Ignoring it or assuming it’s “normal” only allows it to continue disrupting your life.

2. Pain During Sex, Bowel Movements, or Urination

Cramps that come with activity, intimacy, or even basic bodily functions are often brushed off, but they’re a huge clue. Endometriosis can grow anywhere in the body../ on your bladder, bowel, or pelvic floor muscles (amongst other places in/on your body)— which is why pain shows up in other places or other symptoms present.

If you notice discomfort, pressure, or sharp pain during sex, when you pee, or when you have a bowel movement, this is not just something you have to push through. You deserve relief. And to be able to take a sh*t without it feeling like you’re sh*tting knives.

3. Heavy Bleeding That Disrupts Daily Life

Periods that leave you drained, soaking through pads or tampons multiple times a day, or force you to miss work or social activities are not normal. Heavy bleeding can be caused by endometriosis, adenomyosis, or fibroids… and it’s a sign that your body needs attention.

Tracking your flow, how many pads/tampons you use, and whether it affects your daily life can give you the data you need when you go to a specialist. Especially if you are also bleeding multiple times a month.

4. Digestive Issues Like Constant Bloat, Constipation or Just During Your Cycle

Gut issues are very common with endometriosis. In fact, 90% of endo babes have underlying gut issues, even if their symptoms aren’t severe. And this is where I’ll see endo get brushed off. I’ve had clients who’ve ONLY had gut issues and their OBGYNs told them there’s no way they could have endo if their periods weren’t painful. This is NOT true.. AT ALL.

But then there’s the GI issues that just come up cyclically: bloating, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, or cramping are often just dismissed as being “IBS”, but if these symptoms are consistent and severe, they may be linked to endometriosis affecting your gut or pelvic organs.

Some women even notice that certain foods trigger flare-ups or other reactions more around ovulation + leading up to their period due to the way that high estrogen levels can affect histamine (which drives gut issues + other random symptoms). Addressing your gut health and estrogen detoxification can be an important part of managing these issues.

5. Infertility or Difficulty Conceiving

If you’ve been trying to conceive without success, endometriosis could be a factor. Even if your periods aren’t painful, or you don’t have a lot of other symptoms of endo. Adhesions, scar tissue, or inflammation can affect the fallopian tubes and implantation. Endometriomas can form on the ovaries which can also affect fertility as well.

Early evaluation by a reproductive or endometriosis specialist can help identify if you have endometriosis and preserve/ boost your fertility..

These symptoms are not something you need to “tough out.” 

Every woman deserves clarity on why her body feels the way it does. 

By recognizing these red flags early and working with the right specialists, you can prevent months or years of unnecessary suffering, get a proper diagnosis, and start taking control of your health.

And taking things one step further with functional nutrition can help you see the greatest amounts of improvements on your journey. This is where I come in 🙂

If you’d like 1:1 support + guidance on your journey… to dive deeper into your nutrition, habits, gut health, etc to ensure you’re covering all bases with endo. I’d be honored to guide you! Especially as an endo babe myself!

Shoot me a DM on IG at radiatewithrita  OR book a discovery call using the link below.