“Is my period normal?”
I am 13 years old, I have had my period for 3 years and get the worst cramps. Is it normal that I have really bad cramps for 5 days after my period has started? Also, sometimes my period doesn't come for 6 months. Most of the time it doesn't come for 2-3 months.
Female | 13 years old
Complaint duration: 5
3 Answers
Please talk to your pediatrician or ask your parents to bring you to a gynecologist. Some cramping with periods can be normal but severe pain is not. While medications like ibuprofen or naproxen can help cramps, you should be evaluated to make sure there are no underlying problems. Your doctor will talk to you further to help decide if you should have further testing for your pain and irregular periods
Irregular periods can be normal until late teens. The painful periods may not be normal. You should make an appointment with an ob/gyn.
Dr. Gita Meshri
OB-GYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist)
It is common to have severe cramps. It might be normal, but it might not. Some girls have endometriosis, which can cause the severe cramps and this condition can lead to infertility later in life. See a gynecologist who can offer you medicines for cramps if the cramps prevent you from doing normal activities you do easily when not having bleeding from your cycle. Another issue is irregular cycles. This is not necessarily a feature of endometriosis, but should be documented to see if you have another condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, which also can cause issues with weight management, acne, infertility, and diabetes. Many young women are just waiting in their normal hormonal brain axis to figure itself out in the first year or two after the onset of their cycles. See a doctor trained in menstrual irregularities so that you do not miss an opportunity to optimize good health.
