Record the first day of bleeding, duration, leaking through clothes, pain, and missed school or work. The impact on your life matters; you do not need to measure blood in millilitres. Note bleeding between periods or after sex separately. A diary supports a conversation but cannot identify the cause.

For familiar period cramps, try gentle movement or a warm bath. Wrap a heat pack to protect the skin. Choose period products you can use comfortably and follow their cleaning and changing instructions. Ask a pharmacist whether pain relief is appropriate for your health and medicines. Severe or worsening pain needs assessment rather than repeated self-treatment.

A clinician may discuss pregnancy possibility, medicines, bleeding and pain patterns. Heavy bleeding may prompt blood tests for anaemia. Examination or ultrasound depends on the history. Pain with sex, bowel movements or urination is useful to mention. Endometriosis assessment may require specialist imaging or laparoscopy; discuss why each test is being considered.

These are discussion points, not a prescription. Suitability and availability vary.

For heavy bleeding, options may include bleeding-reduction medicines, hormonal methods or procedures. For suspected endometriosis, pain treatment, hormones and surgery have different purposes and trade-offs. Tell the team whether you want pregnancy now or later. Ask what improvement to expect and when to return if treatment does not help. A treatment decision is not a permanent commitment.

Choose one concern to bring to an appointment: pain, bleeding, or cycle change. Take your diary and list the treatments already tried, including whether they helped. Ask for a clear follow-up plan and who will explain test results. You can request an explanation and pause an examination.