Period Pain
Unfortunately, most uterus owners will suffer with period pain at some point in their lives.
The feeling of cramps, heaviness, intense spasms or a constant, dull pain. This could be in the stomach, back or the tops of your legs. They can range from little discomfort to being completely debilitating. They can be consistent each month or vary from period to period.
Period pains are particularly common in young girls and tends to improve with age, with many women noticing an improvement after having children. The pain usually lasts 2-3 days while bleeding is at its heaviest, although this varies across individuals.
Causes of period pain
According to NHS UK, period pain happens when the muscular wall of the womb tightens. 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. This type of period pain is called primary dysmenorrhoea.
The same symptoms can also be caused by underlying medical conditions, such as endometriosis, fibroids and pelvic inflammatory disease. This is called secondary dysmenorrhoea and you should visit a doctor to rule out any of these.
Period pains can also be caused by contraceptive devices, such as the Intrauterine device (IUD), especially in the first few months after it’s been put in.
How to ease period pains
Unfortunately, there is no immediate way to stop period pain. In most cases, period pain can be treated with ordinary painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin. Other treatments include heat, such as from a hot water bottle or having a hot bath, or light exercise such as a gentle walk. Tampons may also be more uncomfortable when experiencing period pain, and Bloomers period panties could offer a more comfortable solution.
When to see a doctor
While period pain is normal, if the pain is particularly severe or on-going, you should see a doctor to seek a medical opinion. This is especially important when:
you start to get period pain when you haven’t had it in the past
your period pain becomes more severe
your period pain lasts longer than it used to
you have pain during sex
you have pain (similar to period pain) between periods
you bleed between periods or have irregular periods
We recommend tracking your periods and symptoms to get to know your cycle better. This makes any changes more noticeable and helps you prepare for each month.