Description

Investigate the root causes of painful periods with a comprehensive hormone and inflammation panel.

Severe menstrual cramps can disrupt daily life—and they’re often more than “just part of having a period.” The Painful Menstrual Cramps Panel is a comprehensive blood test designed to uncover hormonal, inflammatory, iron-related, and clotting-related causes of moderate to severe period pain.

This test is ideal for women experiencing symptoms that may be related to hormone imbalance, heavy bleeding, chronic inflammation, or undiagnosed conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, or bleeding disorders.

Who Should Get This Test?

This panel is ideal for individuals who:

  • Experience severe or debilitating menstrual cramps
  • Have heavy, prolonged, or irregular periods
  • Suspect a hormonal imbalance, such as PCOS or estrogen dominance
  • Feel fatigue, dizziness, or weakness during menstruation
  • Have a personal or family history of bleeding disorders
  • Are being evaluated for endometriosis, fibroids, or pelvic pain
  • Want a baseline hormone and iron assessment for menstrual health

How This Test Can Help

This targeted panel provides insight into multiple factors that may be contributing to period pain:

  • Identify hormone imbalances that cause excessive uterine contractions or irregular cycles
  • Detect iron deficiency anemia due to heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Reveal inflammation that may suggest chronic pelvic conditions (like endometriosis)
  • Assess blood clotting function, especially in those with unusual bleeding or family history of bleeding disorders
  • Support informed treatment decisions with your OB-GYN, fertility specialist, or primary care provider

What This Test Measures

Hormones

  • Prolactin – Elevated levels can interfere with ovulation and worsen period symptoms.
  • Estradiol (E2) – Estrogen balance affects the thickness of the uterine lining and the severity of cramps.
  • Testosterone – Elevated in PCOS; can cause hormonal imbalance and menstrual irregularity.
  • LH (Luteinizing Hormone) – High levels may signal PCOS or other ovulatory dysfunctions.
  • FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) – Assesses ovarian function and egg development.

Iron & Inflammation

  • Ferritin – A marker of iron storage. Low levels are common in women with heavy periods and may cause fatigue or dizziness.
  • ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) – A nonspecific marker of inflammation; may be elevated in chronic conditions like endometriosis.

Clotting Function

  • PT (Prothrombin Time) – Measures how quickly blood clots. A prolonged PT could signal a bleeding disorder.
  • PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time) – Detects abnormalities in the body’s clotting pathways.
  • Von Willebrand Factor Multimers – Assesses the structure of clotting proteins. Abnormal patterns may suggest Von Willebrand Disease, a common but often undiagnosed cause of heavy periods and menstrual pain.

Fasting not required.