Painful Periods: Are They Normal? What Causes Painful Periods?

Double board certified OBGYN and REI, Dr. Natalie Crawford, discusses what painful periods are and what causes them. Understanding your menstrual cycle and knowing what is normal is so important for your health and fertility. If you have period pain that is impacting your quality of life, please find a doctor that will take you seriously. There is no universal answer, but you should find somebody who will work with you to get to the bottom of what is causing painful periods.

Questions answered:

What does a normal period look like?

Should your periods be painful?


When are painful periods concerning?


What is endometriosis?


How can endometriosis impact your fertility?


What can help with the pain of endometriosis?


What are fibroids?
What are the symptoms?


Should fibroids be removed?


What is adenomyosis?


What causes adenomyosis?


How is it diagnosed?


What are rare causes of period pain?