What to Ask

Prep Required For The Doctor Visit

When period cramps start affecting your daily activities, one should definitely seek medical help. You should be prepared before going to the doctor to explain your symptoms well, which will ultimately help in the proper diagnosis.

What you can do

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions: At the time you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance to prepare.

• Make a list of your key medical information:

  • History of pain: The pain should be clearly defined in terms of type, location, radiation, associated symptoms, and the chronology of the onset of pain in relation to menstrual bleeding.

  • General history of medication: what medicines you are taking.

  • Menstrual history: age at menarche, length and regularity of cycles, amount of bleeding, and length of time elapsed between menarche and the beginning of dysmenorrhea.

  • History of pelvic surgery.

  • History of nonprescription therapies.

  • Family history of similar symptoms.

Questions to ask your doctor, and why?

For dysmenorrhea, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

Regarding Symptom	Regarding Treatment
Is there anything I can do to minimize period cramps?	Do you recommend treatment for period cramps? What treatments are available?
Will my period cramps eventually go away on their own?	How long will my treatment go on for?
Could the symptoms that I'm experiencing indicate a more serious medical condition?	Any side effects of the medications?
Any foods I need to avoid?	Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?

Don't hesitate to ask any other questions that occur to you during your appointment.