Period pain (2024)

FAQs

Period pain? ›

Period pain happens when your womb tightens during your period. It's often a normal part of the menstrual cycle. Sometimes painful periods can be caused by a condition such as: womb tissue growing in other places (endometriosis and adenomyosis)

During your menstrual period, your uterus contracts to help expel its lining. Hormonelike substances (prostaglandins) involved in pain and inflammation trigger the uterine muscle contractions. Higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with more-severe menstrual cramps.

Applying heat. Applying heat to your abdomen and lower back may relieve pain. A 2018 review of studies found that heat therapy (usually a heat patch or pack) was as effective at treating menstrual pain as NSAIDS. It also may cause fewer side effects.

Prostaglandins cause the muscles and blood vessels of the uterus to contract. On the first day of a period, the level of prostaglandins is high. As bleeding continues and the lining of the uterus is shed, the level goes down. This is why pain tends to lessen after the first few days of a period.

But let's give it a try: It's almost like someone is holding and squeezing your organs from the inside. The pain can vary greatly, but it's common to experience a sensation of the uterus contracting, accompanied by shooting pains or a dull ache.

Some people describe labor contraction pain as intense menstrual cramps that increase in intensity, says Dr. du Treil. "It starts out like menstrual cramps—and the crampy sensation progressively gets worse and worse."

Cisgender men don't have menstrual periods, but testosterone levels vary from day to day, which may cause some mental and physical effects. Like women, men experience hormonal shifts and changes. Every day, a man's testosterone levels rise in the morning and fall in the evening.

Women and/or men may be less interested in having sex when the woman has her period. For women, this is usually due to unpleasant symptoms that are common before and during her period that can affect her libido. And some men may be turned off by the sight or smell of period blood.

Intensity of pain associated with menstruation

The NRS is a 10-point scale, with higher scores indicating stronger pain. We classified scores of 1 to 3 as mild dysmenorrhea, scores of 4 to 7 as moderate dysmenorrhea, and scores of 8 to 10 as severe dysmenorrhea [14, 31].

What day of your period hurts the most? ›

You may also feel pressure or a continuous dull ache in the area. The pain may radiate to your lower back and inner thighs. Cramps usually begin a day or two before your period, peaking around 24 hours after your period starts. They typically last for two to three days.

Dysmenorrhoea is the term used to describe painful periods. Period pain may consist of cramping in your pelvic area, pain in your stomach, lower back and legs or a constant ache.

Common causes of dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) include:

Endometriosis (uterine lining grows outside the uterus) Uterine abnormalities (fibroids or adenomyosis) IUDs. Pelvic scarring due to sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, may ease aches and pains. Dietary changes may also help people alleviate premenstrual discomfort. These may include: switching to smaller, more frequent meals to keep blood sugar levels steady.