Idiopathic scoliosis tends to start developing between the ages of 10 and 15 – in other words, around puberty. Unfortunately, this is also when most young girls start menstruating.
As many women will tell you, this stage of your life can make you feel insecure and confused even without the added complication of a curved spine. If you’re developing idiopathic scoliosis at the same time, it can make those negative feelings even more intense.
Will scoliosis affect my periods?
There has been very little formal scientific research into how or why scoliosis affects menstruation, although we do have plenty of anecdotal accounts from girls with scoliosis who claim to have experienced irregular periods.
That being said, there is some research to suggest that girls with idiopathic scoliosis may (on average) start having periods slightly later than girls without scoliosis.
The female body can be confusing at the best of times, and the experience of one girl with scoliosis might be completely different from the next. If you do feel that your period is irregular, speak to your GP to see what they can do to help you.
Does scoliosis increase period pain?
It has been suggested that scoliosis can amplify the amount of period pain one experiences. Brooklyn Abortion Clinic lists scoliosis among a number of skeletal conditions that may increase feelings of period pain.
It’s not especially clear why this should be the case, but it may have something do with the amount of pressure placed the spine as your uterus contracts and swells during menstruation. This, along with hormonal changes, is what causes back pain even for girls with healthy spines when they’re menstruating, so it stands to reason that it could be even worse for girls who already experience back pain as a result of scoliosis.
Do you feel like scoliosis is interfering with your life, causing you pain and making you feel insecure? If so, the Scoliosis SOS Clinic may be able to help.
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