Menstrual Cramps But No Period

Menstrual cramp is nothing but a spasm or pain experienced in the abdominal region and lower portion of the back. Medically, it is termed as dysmenorrhea. Usually, it starts one or two days before the period and subsides after the first two days of menstruation. It is a normal premenstrual syndrome (or PMS) for many women and there is nothing wrong with it. This happens due to contraction of the uterus wall for shedding its inner lining. It becomes a matter of concern for them when they feel the cramps but without period.

Reasons Behind Menstrual Cramps But No Period

The first possibility that comes to your mind when your menstrual cycle gets delayed is pregnancy. Cramps in early pregnancy is quite common as muscles of the uterine wall contract in order to create space within the uterus for the fetus. A pregnancy test within 7 days of missed period will confirm whether a woman is pregnant or not. If the result of the test is negative, then the cramp is related to some underlying health conditions other than pregnancy. A few such causes are discussed here:

Menopause: When a woman is approaching her menopause, she tends to have irregular menstruation cycle where her period may stop for a few months. In those months, she may experience cramping at the time of her scheduled menstrual cycle but no period. She does not have to undergo any treatment to regularize her period. It is just an indication that the level of reproductive hormones in her body is decreasing.

Ovarian Cyst: There are two different forms of cysts that are formed inside the ovaries. One is the follicle cyst where an ovarian follicle fails to release an egg at the time of ovulation and its size keep increasing. This cyst often disappear on its own in 2-3 months. Another form of cyst is known as corpus luteum cysts which is a fluid filled cyst and it develops as the sac is not absorbed after the egg is released. It also disappears after a couple of weeks or so. In general, these cysts are not malignant in nature. Some cases of ovarian cysts does not require any treatment at all. In others, doctors may prescribe hormone birth control pills or hormonal supplements to restore hormonal balance in the body.

Autoimmune Oophoritis: This gives rise to an inflammatory condition where the immune system starts attacking its own cells by mistake. As a result, the ovaries shrink and harden up. Production of reproductive hormones goes down and may even lead to infertility. In this condition, women gets menstruation symptoms without any bleeding. It is difficult to treat this condition as most of the immunosuppressive drugs have failed to show effective results.

Cervical Stenosis: This problem can be a symptom of cervical stenosis in which the opening of the cervix is so narrow that it restricts menstrual flow. As a result, these patients have menstrual irregularity and they experience severe cramps before period. Such cramps are felt during period too. In some rare cases, a lump may form in the lower abdomen due to pus build up in the womb. Treatment for this problem involves dilation of the cervix opening with the help of a special device.

Ovarian Cancer: One of the causes of bad menstrual cramps without period could be ovarian cancer. It is very difficult to identify as the symptoms of ovarian cancer have many similarities with many other not so serious health problems like irritable bowel syndrome. Some of the prevalent symptoms other than the irregularity in menstruation cycle are pelvic pain, pressure in lower abdomen and frequent urgency for urination. Another identifiable symptom is abnormal swelling of the abdomen that makes the clothes tight in the middle part of the body. If it is detected at an early stage, then it can be successfully treated with the help of various forms of cancer treatments like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, etc.

If you are facing this problem of menstrual cramps but no period for the first time, then take rest and wait and watch for some time. Try to keep yourself stress free as stressful mind can delay the period even further. Those who experience it for more than a month should consult the doctor for proper diagnosis. Finally, I would like to say that every woman who is having severe menstrual cramps without any bleeding should not assume that she is suffering from an ovarian cancer. It is just one of the possibilities.