Menstrual Cramps

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

You can help your health professional diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• What were the dates of your last two menstrual periods?
  • If you are a teen, do you have regular cycles, such as a period every 21 to 45 days?
  • If you are an adult, do you have regular cycles, such as a period every 21 to 35 days?
  • If you have been through menopause, how long ago was your last menstrual period?
• Has your menstrual flow been heavier bleeding than usual?
• What is your menstrual pattern?
  • Is it regular, with approximately the same number of days in between periods?
  • Is it irregular? What is the range from the longest to the shortest time interval between your periods?
• What method of birth control do you use? It is especially important to tell your health professional if you use an intrauterine device (IUD).
• Have you done a home pregnancy test? If so, when did you do the test and what was the result?
• Have you been under increased psychological or physical stress?
• Have you recently gained or lost more than 4.5 kg (10 lb) for no known reason?
• What prescription and non-prescription medications are you taking?
• How does your pain differ from your typical menstrual cramps?
• Do you engage in high-risk sexual behaviours?
• Do you have any health risks?

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: August 29, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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