A missed menstrual period accompanied with abdominal pain can be distressing for a woman. The menstrual cycle is a normal process in which the tissues of the uterus prepare for a possible pregnancy and then degenerate if fertilization does not occur. A disruption in this cycle can be symptomatic of several conditions. Patients who have noticed a missed period and are experiencing stomach cramps may be pregnant or suffering from a medical disorder. Determining the reasons underlying the patient's symptoms can help a doctor choose the best treatment.
Normal Pregnancy
Pregnancy characterizes the condition in which a woman has a fetus, or unborn baby, growing within her uterus, states the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Pregnancy can cause a patient to miss her period and develop stomach cramps. Other signs of pregnancy include nausea, vomiting, mood swings, food cravings and frequent urination. Pregnant women should undergo regular obstetric checkups and take prenatal vitamins.
Missed Miscarriage
A miscarriage is a spontaneous abortion that occurs within 20 weeks of pregnancy, reports the American Pregnancy Association. The patient misses her period and then tests positive for a pregnancy; however, within 20 weeks she experiences an episode of stomach cramps. Symptoms of pregnancy, such as an expanding stomach, nausea, vomiting, and breast tenderness, begin to disappear. Examination finds the fetal heart tones absent. The pregnancy has been terminated, but the fetus has yet to pass from the mother. The absence of vaginal bleeding can cause patients to overlook, or miss, a miscarriage. Hence, this type of miscarriage is called a missed miscarriage.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancies can cause a missed menstrual period and stomach cramps, according to Kids Health. Ectopic refers to any tissue that is not in its normal position. In ectopic pregnancies, a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus. Ninety-five percent of all ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube, the tube that transports the egg from the ovary to the uterus, but some may develop on the cervix or in the abdominal cavity. Initial symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include a missed period, breast tenderness, nausea and vomiting. Abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and lower back pain follow these signs. Ectopic pregnancies are medical emergencies that require immediate treatment.
Molar Pregnancy
A molar pregnancy is the result of a genetic error that occurs during the fertilization of the egg, according to the American Pregnancy Association. In a molar pregnancy, either the sperm or the egg does not contain the correct number of genes necessary for the growth of a viable, or properly functioning, fetus. Instead of a fetus, a combination of placental and abnormal tissues begin to grow rapidly within the uterus. Molar pregnancies rarely develop a viable embryo but do present with similar symptoms to pregnancy such as a missed period, nausea and abdominal pain.
