What Causes Cramps but No Period?
Cramps are contractions or spasms that happen on their own and without warning in your belly (abdominal) area. Lots of women get pelvic pain and cramping, but it’s not always because of period. Cysts, constipation, pregnancy, and even cancer can make it feel like your period is about to start.
Here are some common reasons for getting cramps without your period:
Irritable bowel disease (IBD)
What it is. IBD is long-term (chronic) swelling and irritation in different parts of your digestive tract. It happens when something goes wrong in your immune system. It isn’t the same as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are two types of IBD: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s can affect any part of your digestive tract (including your mouth), while ulcerative colitis involves only the large intestine (colon).
What the cramps feel like. It depends on the type of IBD you have. With Crohn’s, you’ll feel cramps and pain in the right lower or middle parts of your belly. They can be mild to severe. If you have ulcerative colitis, the cramps will be on the lower left side of your stomach.
Ovulation
What it is. If you haven’t gone through menopause and still have your ovaries, you might get cramps mid-month, about 10-14 days before your period. This happens when your ovaries release an egg to ready your body for a possible pregnancy. The harmless twinge of discomfort is called “mittelschmerz,” which means middle pain.
What the cramps feel like. You’ll notice pain on one side of your lower belly. It lasts a few minutes to a few hours. It can be sharp and sudden, or you might just have a dull cramp. The side of the pain depends on which ovary releases the egg. It may switch sides every month or strike the same place each time.
Ruptured ovarian cyst
What it is. A cyst is a sac of fluid. Sometimes, they form on your ovaries. One type is called a follicular cyst, which breaks open to release an egg and later dissolves in your body. If this doesn’t happen, a different cyst can form. Most are harmless. But if one grows large, it could burst.
What the cramps feel like. A ruptured cyst doesn’t always cause pain. If it does, you might have sudden, sharp cramps on either side of your lower stomach below the belly button. The location depends on which ovary had the cyst.
Other symptoms. You may also have some spotting. Before the cyst ruptures, you may feel pain or pressure in your lower belly, thighs, or lower back.
Pregnancy cramps
What it is. These happen when your growing baby attaches to the lining of your womb or uterus. This is called “implantation pain,” and it’s a sign of pregnancy progress.
What the cramps feel like. You might feel a few slight cramps about four weeks into your pregnancy — around the time when you’d get your period. If you aren’t sure whether you’re pregnant, taking a test is a good idea.
Ectopic pregnancy
What it is. This is when a baby grows somewhere other than your womb. Most often, it happens in one of your two fallopian tubes. It’s life-threatening for the mother and can’t result in a live birth.
What the cramps feel like. You may have mild cramps followed by sudden, sharp, stabbing pains on one side of your lower belly. The pain can get so severe that you also feel it in your shoulder and lower back.
Other symptoms. Before the cramps, you may have had typical pregnancy signs, such as nausea and sore breasts. But not all women with an ectopic pregnancy have those. You might not even know you’re pregnant.
Miscarriage
What it is. It’s the loss of an unborn baby before the 20th week of pregnancy.
What the cramps feel like. They might start like period pains and then get more severe.
Other symptoms. You may have vaginal bleeding or spotting. Some pregnant women have these symptoms but don’t miscarry. But if you’re expecting and either happens, always call your doctor.
Endometriosis
What it is. This is a long-term (chronic) condition in which tissue similar to your womb’s lining attaches to other organs and begins to grow. It usually affects your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic tissue but can also happen in other parts of your body.
What the cramps feel like. They seem like regular period cramps, but they can happen any time of the month. You may also have cramps and pain in your lower back and stomach below your belly button.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
What it is. It’s a bacterial infection usually spread by sex. It affects the parts that help you conceive and grow a baby. This includes your fallopian tubes, womb, ovaries, vagina, and cervix.
What the cramps feel like. You’ll have pain on both sides of your lower belly and lower back. It can happen any time of the month.
Menopause cramps
As you reach perimenopause, a boost in estrogen after ovulation can trigger your body to release prostaglandins. These chemicals cause your uterus to contract, resulting in cramps.
Credit: webmd
