What Causes Period Pain
There can be many reasons for period pain, and if you experience chronic painful periods, its only natural to wonder why. Maybe youre the only woman in your family who gets severe cramps. Maybe your painful periods didnt start until your 20s. Whatever your situation, a doctor can help you understand why you get painful cramps every month. Some of the most common causes of painful periods are:
Why Are Period Cramps Painful
Dysmenorrhea is thought to be caused by compounds in the body known as prostaglandins. Before menstruation starts each month, the level of prostaglandins in the lining of the uterus increases.
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Your prostaglandin level is its highest on the first day of your menstrual period, which is why menstrual pain is usually worse then. As your period progresses and the lining of the uterus is shed, your prostaglandin level decreases and pain gets better, ACOG states.
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Lets Talk About Yoga For Menstrual Cramps
Using yoga for menstrual cramps is an effective pain-relief strategy.
First, think about the areas of your body that typically experience pain from crampingyour belly, pelvis, hips, and lower back. These areas can be targeted for pain relief through certain yoga poses.
Additionally, the emotional symptoms of PMS and menstruation can also be reduced by yoga, so it can do more than treat period pain.
There are several different schools of yoga out there, and countless poses and adaptations. It can be a little overwhelming to start from scratch! Whether you have a significant amount of yoga experience or none at all, we want you to be able to use yoga to treat your menstrual cramps.
Here are a few specific yoga poses for menstrual cramps. We encourage you to give these a try!
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How Long Period Pain Lasts
Period pain usually starts when your bleeding begins, although some women have pain several days before the start of their period.
The pain usually lasts 48 to 72 hours, although it can last longer. It’s usually at its worst when your bleeding is heaviest.
Young girls often have period pain when they begin getting periods. Read more about starting periods.
Period pain that does not have an underlying cause tends to improve as a woman gets older. Many women also notice an improvement after they’ve had children.
Talk To Your Doctor About Endometriosis
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When To See A Medical Provider
Period cramping might be a common part of life for some people, but it should not be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities. If you find that period cramps keep you bed-bound or unable to function on certain days, see a medical provider.
Extreme period pain, new, or worsening period pain may be a sign of underlying health issues such as:
- Uterine fibroids
- Sexually transmitted infections
A healthcare provider will consider your symptoms, medical conditions, and health history to provide an accurate diagnosis and more information about why your period pain is more severe.
Causes Of Period Pain
Period pain happens when the muscular wall of the womb tightens . Mild contractions continually occur in your womb, but they’re usually so mild that most women cannot feel them.
During your period, the wall of the womb starts to contract more vigorously to help the womb lining shed as part of your period.
When the wall of the womb contracts, it compresses the blood vessels lining your womb. This temporarily cuts off the blood supply and oxygen supply to your womb. Without oxygen, the tissues in your womb release chemicals that trigger pain.
While your body is releasing these pain-triggering chemicals, it’s also producing other chemicals called prostaglandins. These encourage the womb muscles to contract more, further increasing the level of pain.
It’s not known why some women have more period pain than others. It may be that some women have a build-up of prostaglandins, which means they experience stronger contractions.
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Alternative Medicine Treatment Options
Using holistic medicine treatment options for period-related back pain has proven to be successful in reducing symptoms all without the need for medications!
Alternative medicine practices such as massage, acupuncture, heat therapy, and chiropractic care can be used to revolve chronic menstrual lower back pain. These treatment options focus on restoring balance to the body and they can be more curative than traditional treatment options.
Try Alternative Medicine For Pms Relief
Some people find relief with alternative medicine practices like acupuncture and acupressure. Acupuncture is a practice that stimulates the body by placing needles in the skin. Acupressure stimulates the body without needles by putting pressure on certain points of the body. These practices can help you relax, release muscle tension and improve blood flow throughout your body.
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Try Dietary Supplements To Help With Menstrual Symptoms
Vitamin D can help your body absorb calcium and reduce inflammation. Other supplements, including omega-3, vitamin E and magnesium, can help reduce inflammation and might even make your periods less painful. For best results, take supplements every day, not just during your period. Also, because some supplements interact with medications, be sure to ask your doctor before taking anything new.
Are There Any Other Reasons For Period Back Pain That I Should Know About
Another potential cause of period back pain is secondary dysmenorrhea, or period-related pain caused by another reproductive condition. One common condition that causes back pain, especially during menstruation, is endometriosis. “Endometriosis involves the tissue from the lining of the uterus implanting itself outside the uterus, and potentially causing cysts on or around the ovaries,” Dr. Masterson says. “Implantation of the endometrial tissue in the pelvis can also cause pelvic and back pain.”
For people with endometriosis, the pain might continue throughout their cycle, not just during the days of their period, Dr. Missmer points out. Similarly, she says, adenomyosis, a condition where the endometrial tissue grows in the uterine muscles, often makes pelvic and back pain worse.
Typical period back pain usually occurs within the first six days of your cycle, Dr. Missmer says.
Basically, any condition that causes chronic inflammation and pain to the pelvic area, can also cause low back pain, research supports. Infections of the fallopian tubes or abscesses on the ovaries can be responsible for period back pain as well. Other infections, like pelvic inflammatory disease, often build up fluid and inflammation in the pelvis and can add to back pain during your period, Dr. Masterson says.
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Do You Need To See A Doctor
If your menstrual cramps are unusual or severe, or if they last more than a few days, you may want to see your doctor. Painful period cramping is treatable, so anytime you’re worried about your symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor.
Your doctor may perform a pelvic exam to make sure everything is normal. They may also ask you questions about your menstrual period history, suggest lifestyle modifications, or even recommend and prescribe medicines that may help relieve your painful periods.
What To Do When Menstrual Cramps Are Severe
The period cramp relief tips above are a good place to start, but they may not work for every woman especially for those who have very painful cramps.
If you’re experiencing serious pain during your period, it’s important to talk to your OB-GYN. She or he will ask you about your symptoms and cycle and can recommend lifestyle changes that may help ease your pain, as well as perform a pelvic exam and prescribe medications, if needed.
“For instance, hormonal birth control medications are sometimes used to treat menstrual cramps and the pain that accompanies a period,” adds Dr. Borchardt.
Plus, in some cases, severe pain may be a sign of something more serious.
“Beyond the significant impact that period pain can have on your everyday life, the cramps themselves aren’t typically a medical concern,” says Dr. Borchardt. “However, severe menstrual cramps can sometimes be caused by a more serious gynecologic condition.”
In certain cases, severe period cramps can be a sign of:
- Endometriosis uterine tissue gets implanted in your fallopian tubes, ovaries or pelvic lining
- Uterine fibroids noncancerous uterine growths that can cause pain
- Adenomyosis uterine tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus
- Pelvic inflammatory disease infection of your uterus, fallopian tube and/or ovaries
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What Helps With Cramps
Here are a some things that can help ease cramps:
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Over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen , naproxen , or acetaminophen . Always follow the instructions on the bottle. Talk with your doctor before taking pain medication if you have an allergy to aspirin or severe asthma.
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Hormonal birth control .
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Acupuncture and acupressure.
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Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation therapy that uses mild electric currents to stimulate your nerves to relieve pain.
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Certain vitamins and herbs like vitamin B1, fish oil, fenugreek, ginger, valerian, zataria, and zinc sulfate.
Cramps are a pretty normal part of getting your period, but sometimes people have period cramps that are so painful its hard to do everyday things . If your period pain is really bad, and over-the-counter medicine doesnt help, talk with your doctor. They can help with other ways to manage the pain, or they may want to check to see if theres something more serious going on.
Cramps that are really bad may be a sign of:
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease an infection in your reproductive organs.
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Endometriosis a condition where the lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterus.
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Adenomyosis when the tissue that lines your uterus grows into the muscle wall of your uterus.
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Uterine fibroids non-cancerous tumors that grow inside your uterus, in the walls of your uterus, or on the outside of your uterus.
Yoga Position # : Cat
Cat-cow is a two-part pose that will target not just the back but also your abdominal muscles.
Start with the cow pose. On your hands and knees, check to make sure your hands are aligned under your shoulders. Your knees should be aligned under your hips. Gently stretch your head upwards, gazing towards the sky as you breathe in. At the same time, raise your tailbone towards the sky and drop your belly towards the ground.
Now it is time to move to the cat pose. Breathe normally for a few breaths. Then, after a deep inhalation, breathe out slowly and curl your back. Your head and your tailbone will stretch towards the ground. The gentle arch of your spine will warm your back muscles as well as stretch and tone your abdominals.
Exhale on the cat pose and inhale on the cow. Repeat 5 to 20 times to help relieve your pain.
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How Is Dysmenorrhea Treated
Specific treatment for dysmenorrhea will be determined by your health care provider based on:
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Your age, overall health, and medical history
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Extent of the condition
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Cause of the condition
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Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
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Expectations for the course of the condition
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Your opinion or preference
Treatment to manage dysmenorrhea symptoms may include:
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Prostaglandin inhibitors, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen
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Vitamin supplements
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Heating pad across the abdomen
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Hot bath or shower
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Endometrial ablation
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Endometrial resection .
Keep A Heating Pad Handy
The use of heating pads is a typical practice for those who experience dysmenorrhea. For some women, using a heating pad or taking a hot bath or shower can provide some relief from period pain, Dr. Worly said.
Researchers from a November 2021 study published in BMC Womens Health conducted a cross-sectional study that included 550 female university students. When it came to relieving dysmenorrhea, 74.8% of the students used non-medicinal methodswith 16.45% of them using heating pads. Additionally, applying heating pads was among the top options in this category associated with lower pain scores.
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Omron Pocket Pain Pro Tens Unit
Price: $
Three preset programs for different body pains , two massage-like modes , each with 10 levels of intensity so you can customize them to your comfort level. Includes sticky electric pads that last up to 150 uses, and can be stored in the included plastic case.
Considerations: Though this is highly reviewed, a few reviewers do mention that its not that powerful and that replacement pads are often out of stock. This is a good introductory option to TENS units, but if youre used to more heavy-duty ones, this is not the choice for you.
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Drink More Water To Reduce Bloating
Bloating can cause discomfort and make menstrual cramps worse. While it may sound counterintuitive, drinking water can reduce bloating during your period and alleviate some of the pain it causes. Also, drinking hot water can increase blood flow throughout your body and relax your muscles. This can lessen cramps caused by uterine contractions.
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Using Other Home Treatments
Camel Pose Stretches Both Abdominal Muscles And Hip Flexors Relieving Pain And Discomfort
Level: Advanced
How to do this pose: Kneel on the mat, with your knees hip width apart. Place your hands on your hips. The tops of your feet should be resting on the mat. Lengthen your spine and lean backwards, placing your hands on your heels. If it is difficult for you to touch your hands to your feet, tuck your toes in to elevate your heels. Elongate your neck and let your head curl backwards. For a deeper stretch, raise one arm alongside your ear while holding your heel with the other. Hold for 2 breaths, and then change arms. Hold this pose for around 5 breaths.
Tip: Be careful not to bring your head so far back that you strain your neck. Keep your neck extended and in a comfortable position throughout the pose
Yoga poses like the five above help to relieve period pain through gentle stretching. However, it should be noted that yoga poses that involve inversion are often discouraged for women during their period. Take it easy when you are doing yoga for period pains, and focus on soothing breathing and relaxation. If you go to yoga class, dont feel pressured to keep up with the rest of the class go at your pace and consider talking to your teacher before class. Theyll tell you the poses you should avoid.
After yoga practice, you can try a relaxing bath to help further soothe away aches or pains and help you feel like yourself again.
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When To Call The Doc
A mild backache in the first 1 to 2 days of your period isnt exactly fun, but its also not a big deal health-wise. But you should def talk with your doc if youre dealing with severe pain or cramps that drag on for more than 2 or 3 days, or if the pain youre having is intense enough to stop you from doing your normal activities.
Its also worth looping in your doctor if the bleeding just seems intense, especially since period backaches tend to be worse when youve got a heavier flow. Your period might be abnormally heavy if:
- Youre soaking through one or more pads or tampons every hour for several hours in a row, or you have to wear two pads at once.
- You have to change your tampon or pad in the middle of the night.
- Your period drags on for more than 7 days.
- You pass clots that are bigger than a quarter.
- Youre super tired, low energy, or short of breath.
