Pain in lower left side, below stomach for long time?

Hi, and thanks for your query on eHealth forum!

It is difficult to provide a confirmed diagnosis on net. However, some suggestions can be provided. What your girlfriend has is probably dysmenorrhea. Severe pain before periods or during that time can be due to ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibroids. Many women suffer from it.

It can be primary or secondary. Secondary dysmenorrhea has an underlying disease, disorder, or structural abnormality either within or outside the uterus. Primary dysmenorrhea is diagnosed when none of these are detected. Dysmenorrhea can exist with excessively heavy blood loss, known as menorrhagia.

There are several treatments available for it depending on the type of cramping. There are two kinds of cramping. Spasmodic cramping is caused by chemicals called prostaglandins. Generally your gynecologist will prescribe either contraceptive pills or some other tablets to overcome these symptoms. Congestive cramping causes the body to retain fluids and salt. For relief start avoiding wheat and dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, and refined sugar a few days before the periods are due to begin.

Also, even if you have never had proper intercourse, if by chance there was semen spill around her vaginal opening, the sperms can travel up. Threatened abortions and ectopic pregnancy has similar symptoms. She can take a pregnancy test and see. Since a confirmed diagnosis cannot be given on net please consult your girlfriend’s gynecologist regarding this. Hope this helps. Take care!