Q: Whenever I talk about my period pain/symptoms...

Q: Whenever I talk about my period pain/symptoms (insanely bad cramps, lower back pain, pelvic pain, and mood swings before and during my period) as well as how I don’t use tampons because of how much they hurt to put in, everyone tells me to talk to my gynecologist about endometriosis. But I thought endo was specifically when you have uterus lining in places you shouldn’t and you can have the symptoms with having endo itself? Anyways, should I see my gynecologist about endometriosis?

A: It's definitely worth seeing your gynecologist and explaining all the symptoms you're having. You could possibly have endometriosis, or there could be something else going on that is affecting your symptoms around your period. It's normal to have some cramping and discomfort during your period, but it's not normal to be in intense pain and struggle through a week of every month. Hopefully your gynecologist can help you figure out what exactly is going on, and how to at least better manage those symptoms.