Menstrual-like cramps while riding

[bathedinshadow]

Last year, I went for a ride that I do often. The first 20 minutes of it, is climbing. I had about 5 minutes more to go and I started getting horrible cramps like I was on my period. I do experience very painful cramping on my period, but only for 2 days. It's like clockwork and never deviates. But I started experiencing the same pains. They were so bad, I had to get off my bike and lie down. I was literally in the middle of the forest just lying on my side for about 15 minutes. I got up, the pain was still present but only slightly. So I continued on my ride. About 5 minutes later, I was perfectly fine and did my full 2 hour ride with no more problems.

This year, it has happened twice in the past week. Again, I am not on my period. The same exact same thing. Only this time I didn't lie down because I was on my road bike on a busy street. But I wanted to.

Has anybody experienced menstrual cramps during exercise when you're not on your period? I asked my doctor last year, but no help. I don't have much faith in the medical system to be honest. They rarely are able to figure out issues that aren't obvious (i.e., a broken bone). Due to the fact that I have such horrible menstrual pains, I have had a lot of tests ran over the years. I've been told I likely have endometriosis, but since they don't do much to treat it, I've never had it officially diagnosed. I've had horrible pains during my period for years. The cramps while riding are new. And they definitely feel the same as menstrual cramps.

[thekarens]

I'd see a new doc. That's not true that they don't do much to treat it. My partner went through a series of meds, a d&c and finally a hysterectomy. I know ablation is also a treatment for endo.

[bathedinshadow]

I have been to different doctors. I'm originally from the states, so I've been there as well. I've had pelvic ultrasounds, which would show if I had large cysts. Regular paps, bloodwork, etc.. Everything came back normal. The most recent batch of tests was less than a year ago. I haven't had a laparoscopy, because it's invasive and I've been told by at least 3 doctors that it wouldn't benefit me in terms of treatment. Honestly, they only assume I have endometriosis because it's an obvious cause of discomfort for many women. I've never had any tests to confirm it since I'm not really into them sticking a scope into me to simply just find out. It is assumed by all doctors I've seen that despite my extreme discomfort during my period, that IF I do have endometriosis, it's mild. It is my experience that they do nothing to treat it beyond putting you on birth control (the go-to treatment for almost all girly issues it seems). This has been the case with me and 2 of my friends who have gone through the similar thing (both living in the US). I have no use for birth control, and don't choose to put drugs into my body that have such side effects. I'm not a fan of hormonal medication for myself unless it were absolutely necessary. I'm too young for them to consider a more aggressive treatment. Furthermore, Im not sure I'd want it even if I were older. All the doctors I've seen have told me that burning it off has a high rate of recurrence and they don't recommend it unless the lesions are quite large. And I definitely don't want a hysterectomy. Nor would they ever consider it at my age for 2 days of pain a month. So when I said they don't do anything, I meant for women of my age in my circumstance. Yes there are more aggressive treatments. I'll skip the hysterectomy at this point in my life. I don't think I'm there yet.

All this aside, the pain I'm speaking of when exercising does not happen when I'm on my period. Nothing else about my period has changed for me to directly connect it to POSSIBLE endometriosis. I exercise a lot. If it were directly connected, I would assume that it would happen more often. And I find it odd that it disappears completely in 15 minutes.

So does anybody experience this kind of pain when exercising?

[zoom-zoom]

So does anybody experience this kind of pain when exercising?

Yep. Not so much as an adult, but as a teenager I did -- hard track workouts would have me in serious pain and my periods used to be a major hemorrhage-fest. I was diagnosed with stage II endometriosis and adenomyosis when I was about 30, but have had the symptoms since my very first period at 12. I had thermal ablation and laparoscopy at the time I was diagnosed...has helped a lot. Now I just have stupid short cycles and sometimes will have bowel pain and bleeding at certain times in my cycle (I had endo adhesions on my bowels, bladder, and covering my c-section scar from my kiddo). I'm now 40 and really looking forward to menopause.

Oral contraceptives have helped in the past...anything to keep ovaries from ovulating.

[bathedinshadow]

I have VERY light short periods. I do spot for a long time though. And the 2 days of pain. No other issues. I really don't think this is connected to endometriosis. Which I haven't been officially diagnosed with. I just included it as possible background info. I probably shouldn't have since I feel like it's become all about that.

I haven't had any children. I'm 32. I'm also gay, so taking contraceptives just for the sake of that, when blood clots are a very real side effect, does not interest me. I was on the pill in my early 20's. I was never very good about taking it every day. Plus, I really don't like the idea of putting that in my body when it isn't necessary. And my pain isn't connected to ovulating anyway.

[zoom-zoom]

I think some women have heavy periods with endo, but not all. AFAIK the primary symptom of endometriosis is crazy-*** cramping. Heavy flow is common with endo, but not every woman has abnormally heavy periods with the condition. Might still be worth laparoscopy just to rule out anything else more serious. Perhaps you could even be given better pain meds for those days when you are in a lot of pain.

[Eden]

You are probably just having diaphragm cramps... it's nothing to do with your period at all, though it can feel exactly like it. I get them if I start climbing hard without a proper warm up. It hurts like h#ll and yes, feels very much like menstrual cramps - and yes it has forced me off of my bike before. A few minutes doubled over and usually the cramps ease. Then I can get back on my bike a continue like nothing ever happened.