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Posted on: 04/08/2008
Question
I'm a 15 year old female. I've had my period for 4 years. Sometimes it's regular, sometimes it's not. Over the last 2 years, I've noticed that sometimes a couple weeks before I get my period, exertion (i.e. running) gives me uterine cramps. Over the years, the severity has worsened and my periods have become irregular. Recently, I've been under a lot of stress and haven't gotten my period in over 90 days, and anything as mild as walking gives me cramps. Is there a condition for premenstrual cramps upon exertion, or might something be wrong? There's no family history of breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer or endometriosis or ovarian cysts, but my mom recently had 2 polyps removed from her uterus and she's pre-menopausal.
Answer
One key thing that you didn't tell me was how MUCH you exercise and what your size is. Without seeing or examining you - it's hard to say.
The cramps could be mid-cycle cramps and worsened by exercise, but this constellation of symptoms is a bit unusual. It's also VERY hard to say if the cramps you are having are really from the uterus or other pelvic organs, just from the bit of history you have given.
Excessive exercise is known to affect periods adversely and suppress them. It is very hard for me to say much more without talking to you or seeing you. You should see your doctor to evaluate this further.
