Female reproductive question, which I'm not going to whitefont because, really, we're all adults, damn it.

Women: how would you define "severe" cramps? Tuesday, on my way home from work, I started getting cramps that were making me gasp (and, occasionally, yelp in pain). When I got home, I took 4 ibuprofen and lay down, and it took over an hour for the cramps to subside.

Important to note: on Tuesday, I was still 10-11 days away from getting my period, so they weren't menstrual cramps, and mid-cycle cramps aren't typical for me.

Do those sound "severe"? Or just "strong"?

And if you combine that with the fact that my lower abdomen is tender and sore when I press on it -- should I call my OB/GYN? It's been 6 weeks since I had my IUD inserted, and I know that intermittent cramping can be normal for up to the first few *months.*

It's probably just normal, right?

Gasping and yelping in pain sounds severe to me.

signed,
Only Ever Had Diarrhea Cramps and That Was Quite Enough

Maybe I shouldn't have posted. Sorry.

Oh sweetie, I was teaching and just popped back online. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you.

Tep, those cramps sound severe to me.

Steph, after I got mine, it was like that for the first couple of months. Is your OB doing the 6 week check soon? Are you having one?

But didn't the initial cramping subside, Tep? I'm not sure why it would come back out of nowhere, related to the IUD.

I have to say, if your lower abdomen is tender and sore, you should call your OB/GYN.

ETA: I only ever get a couple of strong cramps before onset, strong enough to make me double over (briefly). If these went on for a while, and aren't usual for you, you should call. And I still think the tenderness is troubling.

Tep, that sounds like severe cramps to me. I think you should call your doctor just to be on the safe side.

Steph, after I got mine, it was like that for the first couple of months.

Did you have abdominal tenderness/soreness? Or, um, painful sex and/or non-menstrual bleeding during/after sex? (Yeah, I wussed out and whitefonted.)

Is your OB doing the 6 week check soon? Are you having one?

She didn't tell me to schedule one, but I think I might need one.

Tep, I don't think I've ever had periods as painful as this sounds. So I'm going with 'severe' and 'yes, call the Ob/Gyn'.

And then she cried.

I probably shouldn't be laughing.

I really did. I was so happy for Alias!Xander!Guy, and for Actual!Xander, when I saw they had an exciting new show of their very own.

And then she told me that the Network killed it. And I cried.

Steph, the painful sex part, yes. Took a bit for that to go away. I think it's the cervix that causes the pain being forced open and all. The spotting after, I don't remember.

Def call and make an appointment.

When pain makes you yelp outloud, and you don't do that normally, then yep, that's severe.