Period pain could actually be 'subtle' infection

Period pain could actually be 'subtle' infection Women are being urged not to dismiss their period pain as 'normal' Millions of women suffer pain every month, believing their periods are completely normal. However, doctors have warned that pain, combined with irregular bleeding, could be a warning sign of a "subtle" sexually-transmitted infection (STI). Chlamydia is now the most frequently diagnosed STI in the UK, according to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data, and experts caution that it's regularly mistaken for period pain or a UTI, or dismissed altogether. This Sexual Health Awareness Week, Dr Asiya Maula, GP at The Health Suite in Leicester, is highlighting when period symptoms could be a cause for concern. Dr Maula said: "The frustrating thing about chlamydia is that it doesn't announce itself. Patients come in describing period pain that's a bit heavier or lasts a bit longer than usual, or spotting between periods that they've just learned to live with. Most of the time it's nothing sinister. But every so often, it's chlamydia, and they have no idea." 'Subtle' infection Unlike certain infections that present with obvious, unmistakable symptoms, chlamydia's warning signs are inherently subtle. Pain during sex, a burning sensation when urinating, unusual discharge, and bleeding between periods or heavier-than-normal period pain can all indicate infection. Dr Maula explained: "None of these symptoms make it obvious someone has an STI, as they're often also common symptoms of other conditions, such as UTIs or stress. But that's exactly the problem, as people treat the symptom, not the cause, meaning the infection can carry on underneath." Symptoms may come and go "Many people assume there isn't anything to worry about if the pain or discomfort subsides after a few days, but in reality the infection is still there. Left untreated, chlamydia can spread from the cervix into the womb and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), one of the leading preventable causes of infertility and a major risk factor for ectopic pregnancy. "This is one of the more worrying aspects," Dr Maula said. "PID can develop silently too. Some women don't find out anything was ever wrong until years later, when they're trying to conceive and struggling." What to actually do about it Dr Maula emphasises that this isn't about panicking every time you experience period pain. She said: "Period pain is incredibly common and has lots of causes, most of which have nothing to do with an STI. This isn't about scaring people, rather it's about knowing when pain isn't 'just' period pain." For anyone experiencing changes in period pain, bleeding between periods, pain during sex, or unusual discharge, Dr Maula advises it is worth getting tested. Chlamydia tests are available free on the NHS, at sexual health clinics, some GP surgeries, and through free home testing kits ordered online. "It's a simple urine test or swab, and treatment is typically a short course of antibiotics," Dr Maula added. "But leaving it too long is what leads to the complications such as PID, and that's the bit most people don't realise."