Cramping is the most commonly experienced premenstrual symptom, as it marks the start of menses. During menstruation, the muscles of the uterus contract to expel the uterine lining that has built up over the previous few weeks. Experiencing menstrual cramps with no sign of a period beginning can be disconcerting and frustrating. Women expecting their periods are often baffled when they experience all the period-like symptoms, but their period doesn’t begin. Abdominal cramping and an absent period can be two different symptoms that coincide at the same time. However, sometimes cramping but no period can be a sign of something more serious.
What Does Cramping Without Period Mean?
Eating Disorder
The most common eating disorders are bulimia and anorexia. A woman who has an eating disorder can experience irregular periods or having them stop altogether. This can lead to cramping at the time the period would normally occur but no bleeding.
Ovulation
Cramping but no period can occur during the menstrual cycle due to ovulation, signaling the release of an egg from the ovary. This type of cramping can occur on one side of the body and last from a few hours to a few days.
Menopause
During menopause, women can experience irregular periods and even have no periods for months at a time. Cramps can still be experienced around the time the period would occur, though none starts. This is a sign of a lowering of reproductive hormones in the body.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, cramps can be a sign of the embryo implanting itself in the uterus and this can also cause some spotting. Another cause for cramps during pregnancy is the expansion of the uterus to accommodate the growing fetus.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Severe cramping with no sign of the period can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilized egg is unable to leave the fallopian tube but continues to grow. Other symptoms include vaginal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and breast tenderness.
Ovarian Cyst
Two types of cysts can form in the ovary, causing cramping but no period. One is where the egg fails to be released by the ovarian follicle (follicle cyst) but the size of the egg increases. The other is a fluid-filled cyst (corpus luteum cyst) that develops in the sac after the egg is released. Both types usually require no treatment and go away on their own in a few days.
Autoimmune Oophoritis
An autoimmune disorder is a condition where the immune system attacks the body’s cells, seeing them as invaders and causing inflammation. This can cause the ovaries to shrink and harden, reducing the hormone levels in the body and causing infertility. This can also cause cramping and other symptoms of the menstrual cycle, even though there is no period.
Cervical Stenosis
Cervical stenosis is a condition in which the opening of the cervix is so narrow that it restricts the flow of blood during the period. With cervical stenosis, women can suffer irregular periods and cramping without getting their period.
Endometriosis
For some women, the tissue that grows inside the uterus can grow outside the uterus and within the abdominal cavity. This is called endometriosis and it can be quite painful, causing cramping for 1 to 2 weeks before the start of the period.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is difficult to identify because it has many symptoms similar to other health issues. And cramping but no period is one of the symptoms, as it accompanies irregular periods. Other symptoms to be aware of are pain and pressure in the abdomen, swelling in the abdomen, and frequency of urination.
Other Causes
Many things can happen in the body when a woman is under stress, even delaying the menstrual cycle. This can lead to cramps but no period when the period would normally happen.
Gas and constipation can cause painful cramping that can be confused with the cramping associated with the menstrual cycle.
Cramping can also be the result of certain medications and illnesses that can interrupt the normal menstrual cycle.
Other diseases that can cause cramping include Premature Ovarian Failure and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
- There are many reasons for cramping with no period which vary from woman to woman, so do not rely on self-diagnosis. If your cramping concerns you, consult with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. An underlying medical condition can then be properly treated.
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