Period pain often manifests as abdominal cramps that occur in waves during menstruation.
Period pain
Menstrual pain affects most women during their period. In 10 out of 100 women, it significantly impairs their day-to-day lives1. But what exactly is period pain? Where do period cramps come from? We explain everything you need to know about menstrual pain, how it develops and what treatment options are available.
Graduate biochemist
DR. KADE
Medical Affairs
What will be discussed
Abdominal pain during your period
Period cramps – i.e. cramps during menstruation – are an unpleasant yet common part of the female reproductive cycle and can be quite distressing. Employers in some countries such as Japan, South Korea and Spain are taking a progressive approach and introducing up to three days of ‘menstrual leave’ per month for those with severe menstrual pain – and for good reason.
Often, we have to live with severe period pains, and sayings like ‘grit your teeth’ unfortunately sound all too familiar – we’ve all been there.
By learning to listen to our bodies and understanding what occurs during our period, we can discover more effective ways to cope during these phases.
Why do you get cramps during your period?
Period pains often manifest as cramps and pulling sensations in the lower back, and as aching, often undulating, abdominal pain during your period. The pain can be very unpleasant and have a profound effect on your day-to-day life. The medical term for painful periods or menstrual pain is ‘dysmenorrhoea’. Apart from the normal processes during the menstrual cycle, these can also be attributed to other medical causes, such as endometriosis. Seek medical advice if your abdominal pain is very severe or gets worse over time.
What is happening in the body when we experience period pain?
- If fertilisation and implantation do not occur, the built-up uterine lining is shed by the regular contraction of the muscles in the uterus and excreted with blood. This muscle activity is noticeable shortly before and during menstruation.
- Increased or prolonged contractions of the uterine muscles often lead to menstrual pain.
- Severe period pains often occur on the first day of a period, which then become less severe as the days go by.
Menstrual pain – i.e. abdominal cramps – can also occur at any point during the menstrual cycle. Cramps are not uncommon during ovulation, for example. These tend to be weak and brief.
Period pain symptoms
What does period pain feel like? Cramps in the lower abdomen, which often occur in waves, back pain, fatigue and tiredness – the symptoms of period pain can vary greatly and go beyond abdominal pain. Due to the different hormonal processes that take place during your cycle, you feel very different both physically and mentally in each phase. The classic abdominal pain associated with menstruation mainly occurs shortly before and during your period – i.e. during the menstrual phase, as explained in the section above.
How long the abdominal pain lasts depends on the individual, but usually for 12 to 72 hours or 1 to 3 days. Consult your doctor if cramps persist for several more days.
The following symptoms can occur alongside menstrual pain:
- Abdominal pain such as cramps that occur in waves, a stinging and pulling sensation in the pelvic area
- Gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea, headaches and back pain
It is important that we are aware that every cycle is different and varies between individuals – and your own cycle is not always the same either. It can vary, resulting in various intensities of menstrual pain and accompanying symptoms.
For example, placing a hot water bottle on your abdomen or using herbal remedies may be enough to relieve pain during one period, while painkillers may be necessary in another cycle. It is important to listen to your body and give yourself what you need.
How painful are period cramps?
It’s really hard for non-menstruating people to understand what period pain feels like – and even then, it varies from person to person. Professor John Guillebaud from the UCL Institute for Women’s Health has shown in a study that menstrual cramps are comparable to the pain experienced during a heart attack2.
This comparison caused a stir and made it very clear that menstrual pain can significantly affect the everyday lives of many and should be taken seriously.
Many people wonder if their period pains are normal – we recommend monitoring your symptoms, talking to friends and listening to your body. If you think something isn’t quite right, seek medical advice.
How can you relieve abdominal pain?
The treatment of menstrual pain can vary greatly depending on the individual and with each recurring cycle. There are various ways in which you can alleviate your period cramps and treat cycle complaints:
What helps relieve abdominal cramps?
- Acute relief in the form of painkillers is one option.
- Hormonal contraceptives like the pill are another option. However, hormonal contraception interferes with your hormonal balance and therefore your menstrual cycle, and taking it is also associated with side effects and risks, so you should do your research and seek medical advice.
- There are also herbal alternatives that can relieve period cramps. The traditional medicinal plant yarrow has been a proven remedy in the field of gynaecology for decades. Thanks to its antispasmodic and pain-relieving properties, yarrow herb is used for the symptomatic treatment of painful cramps during menstruation.
Here, we have summarised several things that can also alleviate period pain.
Tipp: what should you do or avoid during your period?
Sources:
1 https://www.gesundheitsinformation.de/regelschmerzen.html
2 https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/headlines/2018/mar/doctors-finally-confirm-period-pain-can-be-painful-heart-attack
3 https://www.natracare.com/de/blog/9-lebensmittel-gegen-menstruationskraempfe/
4 https://www.gesundheitsinformation.de/regelschmerzen.html