Hey Vicky!I had a messed up menstraul cycle since I was a teenager- I'm almost 31 years old now. I don't know if I have/had? endometriosis-or fibroids or whathaveyou  but have often wondered if I did-? I did have  severely powerful cramps like lay down on the ground doubled over and panting as it hits you in waves cramps. Maybe it was an innate fear of losing my organs that kept me from intuitively seeking more treatment? I didn't want to have a hysterectomy. In one sense I thought that having a painful period was kind of normal.  I started getting severe cramps in high school and college and my parents/gyno  strongly encouraged me to go on the pill. I hated BC pills - I felt nauseous depressed and had no libido on them so I went off them and re started them and went off them again  and kind of confused my hormones and cycle. Even though I was only one BC pills for about  6 months it took me years and years to get my cycle to come at a regular time or even to not skip months at a time. I had terrible PMS and a very heavy flow and it seemed like my uterus was working really really hard to move the stagnated blood. But at the gyno office its like- bc pills was the only choice I was aware of to help a heavy cycle.  I was always super tired after my moontime. I had started studying rather amaturely - herbalism and when I ate right and took herbs and teas and tinctures meant to improve the cycle I had a better period but I was poor and inconsistent with this kind of treatment. My cycle did eventually get more regular but  Later when I developed IC (which was mild at first)- I too noticed the spike in pain levels - I mean like clock work right at ovulation and also either right before my period or a few days into it. There had to be a connection right? I have had Ic symtoms since 2002 and some years were worse than others in terms of how I felt. I saw a local naturapath who put me on some progesterone creme (bioidentical hormones?)  to help improve my cycle. It seemed to help my cycle a little bit but I noticed it also kind of seemed to lessen my IC symptoms - at least for a little but maybe it was a just during a time when my Ic was bothering me less? anyway I can relate to your woes with mentrual cycle. At 10 months of treatment my cycle has improved alot. I did notice right at the end of my period I had about 2 days of serious discomfort after feeling really good. But I have also had mentrual cycles where on ovulation days when I expected to feel a spike in my Ic pain and (vuvladynia)- I definately didn't. But this last time I felt really bad on my last day of bleeding- It was a little scary- I wrote Matia and explained what was up and she had me sit tight and not change any of the formula. She was right after a few days of feeling bad - whatever hormones were stirring things up balanced back out and I went right back to feeling good. So what I am thinking is that - yes -homones for reasons I don't quite understand can exacerbate IC inflammation and pain. People on here have talked about hip and groin pain and burning. I also think that when you go off BC pills your body needs time to readjust to thinking for itself- my body seemed so scrambled and out of wack but it got back on track  and with MAtia it has improved to a point that I could hardly dream about not too long ago. But it has been very very gradual no doubt about it but each month my symtoms were unmistakably less- I used less pain releiver and my PMS was less intense as well. It may take a little while to become visible but your menstrual cycle will improve along with your other symtoms. You'll be going about your day and stop to use the restroom and notice that your period started! it happened to me the other day! It used to be my period announced itself for a whole day before it actually came with pre-cramps cramps. not fun. Even post BC pills you can get your hormones/cycle back in balance. So sorry you are hurting. yes I have felt what you speak of and it is no joke, but have hope. wellness will return! peace be with you