Woman, 43, who thought she was having a bad period sheds her entire UTERUS lining at once in rare medical phenomenon

An unhealthy diet

Fast food, cured meats and sugary treats might be making your periods worse, Dr Adiele Hoffman, a physician in the UK, said.

One 2018 study involving 70 university students tested this theory.

Turkish researchers found those who ate lots of salty snacks and sweets had more period pain than those who didn’t.

‘While there are no miracle foods that can magically cure period pains, a healthy diet might make a difference,’ Dr Hoffman added.

Stress 

Stress can make periods more irregular as hormones disrupt the menstrual cycle.

But research suggests that being overly stressed can also make period cramps worse.

In one study of 388 textile workers in China, women who experienced high stress levels during their last menstrual cycle were twice as likely to develop period pain.

And a 2017 Ethiopian study of 400 female university students came to the same conclusion.

Smoking 

It is a well-known fact smoking is bad for your lungs.

But Dr Hoffman said women may be less aware of the link between smoking and period cramps.

A review of previous studies by researchers in China found that smokers were 1.45 times more likely to develop period pain.

Experts analyzed 24 studies which involved 27,091 participants.

Being very underweight or very overweight 

Maintaining a healthy weight can also help with period pains, Dr Hoffman said.

Research has suggested that you’re significantly more likely to experience bad period pain if you’re obese or underweight.

Australian medics studied 9,688 women for 13 years and found that when those who were obese lost weight, their risk of pain decreased.

Some types of birth control

Birth control is often prescribed to women complaining of period cramps.

But some types can make symptoms worse.

The copper coil, an intrauterine device (IUD), can be the cause of heightened cramps and heavier periods, especially in the weeks after it’s inserted.

Health conditions 

Less commonly, conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis or fibroids can cause period pain.

The most common of the three, endometriosis is a painful condition where tissue similar to uterine lining grows in other parts of the body, such as the tubes and ovaries.

Dr Hoffman said this tissue breaks down and bleeds as hormones change and can sometimes become trapped. In this case, painful scar tissue can form.