It is quite common to be pregnant and experience regular period cramps but no period, especially during the early stages of pregnancy. However, there are many other causes of pelvic cramping in women - a condition referred to as dysmenorrhea - so if your situation persists, it may be worth visiting a doctor just to rule out anything serious.
Many women report experiencing period-like cramps but no bleeding during the early stages of pregnancy, so it may be worth doing a pregnancy test to establish if this is the reason why you are not bleeding. Often the signs of pregnancy (which can include missed periods, tender or swollen breasts, tiredness, bloating, cramping or pelvic discomfort) can be very similar to those experienced by a woman who is premenstrual, which can be confusing.
Sometimes stress, weight loss or illness can temporarily stop women from bleeding - a condition known as amenorrhea. It is common to occasionally miss a period or have delayed menstruation for no apparent reason, but if your condition persists, it is best to seek expert medical advice.
However, there is another category that doctors call secondary dysmenorrhea, common in women who are 30+, which is used to describe period-like cramping caused by conditions other than menstruation. Common causes include:
Endometriosis.
Non-cancerous uterine growths such as ovarian cysts, fibroids and uterine polyps.
Pelvic infections, possibly caused by an sexually-transmitted disease (STD) such as HPV.
Inter-uterine Devices (IUD’s) insertion or use.
Congenital structural problems such as a narrow cervix.
Other possible causes include recent ovarian or uterine surgery, biopsies or radiation treatment.
Helpful websites with factsheets on dysmenorrhea include: www.womens-health-concern.org/help/factsheets/fs_periodpain. women.webmd.com/tc/menstrual-cramps-topic-overview .
However, given the wide range of possible causes for secondary dysmenorrhea, it is probably wise to seek proper advice from a healthcare practitioner to rule out anything serious and/or establish if you are, in fact, pregnant or not.
Many women report experiencing period-like cramps but no bleeding during the early stages of pregnancy, so it may be worth doing a pregnancy test to establish if this is the reason why you are not bleeding. Often the signs of pregnancy (which can include missed periods, tender or swollen breasts, tiredness, bloating, cramping or pelvic discomfort) can be very similar to those experienced by a woman who is premenstrual, which can be confusing.
Sometimes stress, weight loss or illness can temporarily stop women from bleeding - a condition known as amenorrhea. It is common to occasionally miss a period or have delayed menstruation for no apparent reason, but if your condition persists, it is best to seek expert medical advice.
However, there is another category that doctors call secondary dysmenorrhea, common in women who are 30+, which is used to describe period-like cramping caused by conditions other than menstruation. Common causes include:
Endometriosis.
Non-cancerous uterine growths such as ovarian cysts, fibroids and uterine polyps.
Pelvic infections, possibly caused by an sexually-transmitted disease (STD) such as HPV.
Inter-uterine Devices (IUD’s) insertion or use.
Congenital structural problems such as a narrow cervix.
Other possible causes include recent ovarian or uterine surgery, biopsies or radiation treatment.
Helpful websites with factsheets on dysmenorrhea include: www.womens-health-concern.org/help/factsheets/fs_periodpain. women.webmd.com/tc/menstrual-cramps-topic-overview .
However, given the wide range of possible causes for secondary dysmenorrhea, it is probably wise to seek proper advice from a healthcare practitioner to rule out anything serious and/or establish if you are, in fact, pregnant or not.
