{"id":24016,"date":"2021-04-12T20:44:52","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T20:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=24016"},"modified":"2021-04-12T23:47:41","modified_gmt":"2021-04-12T23:47:41","slug":"what-causes-period-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/what-causes-period-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"This Is What Causes Period Pain &#038; How to Find Relief"},"content":{"rendered":"<em>What causes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/this-is-what-your-period-is-saying-about-your-health\/\">period<\/a> pain? Learn more about period pain symptoms and how to alleviate them.<\/em>\r\n\r\nFor some, period pain is a mild experience every month. But for others, its intensity can mount to unpleasant extremes.\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s explore common menstrual symptoms\u2014followed by what helps period pain\u2014 so you can gain better control over your body and health each month.\r\n<h2>Is period pain normal?<\/h2>\r\nWe&#8217;ve been taught that where there&#8217;s pain, there&#8217;s usually a problem. So it&#8217;s understandable if you worry about period pain, which is also known as dysmenorrhea.\r\n\r\nBut here&#8217;s some good news: According to the Mayo Clinic, menstrual cramps <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/menstrual-cramps\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20374938\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">don&#8217;t cause other health complications<\/a>.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/kindbody.com\/team\/dr-fahimeh-sasan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fahimeh Sasan, MD<\/a>, the founding OB-GYN of Kindbody in NYC, concurs, explaining that period pain is quite common. \u201cSomeone who has painful periods doesn\u2019t need to immediately worry that they have a major medical issue,\u201d she reassures us.\r\n<h2>How common is menstrual pain?<\/h2>\r\nUp to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aafp.org\/afp\/2012\/0215\/p386.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">25 to 50 percent of adult women<\/a> (and about 75 percent of teenagers) experience menstrual pain. Of those women, five to 20 percent reported pain severe enough to prevent them from participating in everyday activities.\r\n\r\nFurther, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also reports that \u201cmore than half of women who menstruate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acog.org\/womens-health\/faqs\/dysmenorrhea-painful-periods\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">have some pain<\/a> for one to two days each month.\u201d\r\n\r\nIn other words, yes: Period pain is normal, and it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that you have an underlying health condition.\r\n\r\n<img data-dominant-color=\"c2ac98\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #c2ac98;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24037 aligncenter not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Period-pain-symptoms-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition.jpg\" alt=\"Woman in bed with cramps and throbbing from symptoms of period pain\" width=\"770\" height=\"514\" \/>\r\n<h2>Common Symptoms of Period Pain<\/h2>\r\nThere are several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/menstrual-cramps\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20374938\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">common ways<\/a> in which women experience dysmenorrhea, including:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, and\/or thighs<\/li>\r\n \t<li>pain that\u2019s either continuous or ebbs and flows<\/li>\r\n \t<li>discomfort a few days prior to menstruation or strongest within the first 24 hours<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThere may also be a handful of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7068519\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">other symptoms<\/a> that accompany physical pain, such as:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>fatigue<\/li>\r\n \t<li>headache<\/li>\r\n \t<li>dizziness<\/li>\r\n \t<li>nausea<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/what-are-period-poops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">loose stools<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/best-foods-for-bloating\/\">bloating<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>vomiting<\/li>\r\n \t<li>breast tenderness<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>What causes period pain?<\/h2>\r\nNow, for the root cause of period pain: Women who experience menstrual pain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1459624\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">produce more prostaglandins<\/a>.\r\n\r\nProstaglandins are hormones that are critical to the body\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3081099\/\">inflammatory system<\/a>. If you cut your finger or have a cold, for example, prostaglandins may induce pain, fever, and\/or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/anti-inflammatory-lifestyle\/\">inflammation<\/a> to help your body heal.\r\n\r\nBut these hormones also play an important role in the menstrual cycle. You may know that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/this-is-what-your-period-is-saying-about-your-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">menstrual bleeding<\/a> is caused by repeated, subtle uterine muscle contractions which help to shed the uterine lining\u2014and prostaglandins trigger these contractions.\r\n\r\nBut if your body overproduces prostaglandins, these contractions become stronger and less subtle. As a result, you feel more pain.\r\n<h2>Types OF MENSTRUAL PAIN<\/h2>\r\nIt&#8217;s important to understand that there are two kinds of menstrual pain.\r\n<h3>1. Primary Dysmenorrhea<\/h3>\r\nPrimary dysmenorrhea\u00a0is normal and doesn&#8217;t signify a larger health issue. It&#8217;s caused by uterine contractions that may be strong enough to induce pain.\r\n\r\nThis type of period pain usually starts shortly after a young woman gets her first period, and may decline after the age of 30. Symptoms generally last no more than three days from the beginning of menstruation.\r\n<h3>2. Secondary Dysmenorrhea<\/h3>\r\nConversely, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/conditions-and-diseases\/dysmenorrhea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">underlying health conditions<\/a> (such as endometriosis or fibroids) may cause secondary dysmenorrhea.\r\n\r\nThis type of period pain generally heightens with age and may last longer than three days.\r\n\r\n<img data-dominant-color=\"c1b2ab\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #c1b2ab;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24038 aligncenter not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/What-causes-menstrual-pain-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition.jpg\" alt=\"Woman holding tampon and pad in bathroom while on her period\" width=\"770\" height=\"498\" \/>\r\n<h2>What helps period pain?<\/h2>\r\nRegardless of the type of period pain you experience, there are many options for treatment that should significantly alleviate discomfort.\r\n\r\nJust keep in mind that choosing treatments that target the cause of the pain (i.e., the overproduction of prostaglandins) are more likely to result in permanent and longer-lasting changes.\r\n<h3>HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL<\/h3>\r\nAccording to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), 90 percent of women who use hormonal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/different-types-of-birth-control\/\">birth control<\/a> pills experience a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcrm.org\/good-nutrition\/nutrition-information\/using-foods-against-menstrual-pain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">decrease in menstrual pain<\/a>.\r\n\r\nDr. Sasan notes that other hormonal contraceptives may also help reduce period pain. However, specifically for pain relief, she cautions against the copper IUD, which may make periods longer and more painful.\r\n\r\nHormonal birth control eases period pain because it suppresses the normal menstrual cycle and initiates a non-ovulatory cycle.\r\n<h3>Anti-Inflammatory DIETs<\/h3>\r\nLooking for a more holistic approach to managing period pain? The PCRM says you can reduce dysmenorrhea at almost the same rate as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/different-types-of-birth-control\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hormonal birth control<\/a> through an anti-inflammatory diet.\r\n\r\nThis mechanism has to do with your body\u2019s production of estrogen.\r\n\r\nAnimal products, processed foods, and refined oils can stimulate the production of excess estrogen. As a result, it can create a thicker uterine lining than normal, which then requires your body to produce extra prostaglandins to break it down.\r\n\r\nAs we saw above, prostaglandin overproduction causes stronger contractions, which then contributes to pain.\r\n\r\nWhile a variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/anti-inflammatory-lifestyle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">anti-inflammatory diets<\/a> exist, they generally prioritize eating a variety of:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>vegetables<\/li>\r\n \t<li>fruits<\/li>\r\n \t<li>legumes<\/li>\r\n \t<li>whole grains<\/li>\r\n \t<li>nuts<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nSimultaneously, you should decrease your consumption of:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>animal products<\/li>\r\n \t<li>added vegetable oils<\/li>\r\n \t<li>unhealthy fats<\/li>\r\n \t<li>refined grains<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<img data-dominant-color=\"726d59\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #726d59;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-24039 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/What-helps-period-pain-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition.jpg\" alt=\"Two female friends walking in the park to get light exercise to help stop period pain naturally\" width=\"770\" height=\"500\" \/>\r\n<h3>EXERCISE<\/h3>\r\nExercising benefits our bodies in many ways, one of which includes <a href=\"https:\/\/pwhcenters.org\/2018\/08\/17\/a-holistic-approach-to-painful-menstrual-cycles\/\">pain relief<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWhen we exercise, our bodies release endorphins that change the way we experience pain. Simply put, the more endorphins our bodies produce, the less pain we feel.\r\n\r\nTo get your endorphins flowing, aim to engage in aerobic workouts, such as:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/benefits-of-walking-daily\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">walking<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>jogging<\/li>\r\n \t<li>jumping rope<\/li>\r\n \t<li>biking<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Zumba<\/li>\r\n \t<li>swimming<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>PAIN RELIEVERS<\/h3>\r\nNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, are particularly beneficial for relieving period pain because they reduce the production of prostaglandins.\r\n\r\nPlus, the power of NSAIDs doesn\u2019t stop there: They may also help reduce menstrual flow by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpagonline.org\/article\/S1083-3188(10)00251-2\/abstract\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">up to 20 to 30 percent<\/a>.\r\n\r\nDr. Sasan recommends taking 600 milligrams every six hours\u2014and correct timing is vital, as well. \u201cI encourage women not to wait until their pain is a 10 out of 10,&#8221; she advises, but rather at the onset to prevent it from getting worse.\r\n<h3>Additional Ways to Reduce Period Pain<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/what-vitamins-and-supplements-should-i-take\/\">supplements<\/a>, such as dong quai and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/chasteberry-for-pms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">chasteberry<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/mighty-night\/\">sleep<\/a> (lack of sleep can make us more sensitive to pain)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>stress-reduction techniques (stress can <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/15550609\/\">increase menstrual pain<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>acupuncture<\/li>\r\n \t<li>acupressure<\/li>\r\n \t<li>topical heat<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Final Thoughts<\/h2>\r\nIf period pain is disrupting your life or you&#8217;re concerned that it may signal a greater health issue, Dr. Sasan recommends checking in with your doctor.\r\n\r\nShe also explains what to anticipate when speaking with your gynecologist about period pain.\r\n\r\nThe first thing your doctor will do is review your symptoms, menstrual cycle, and pain history. Second, she says they&#8217;ll perform an evaluation, \u201cwhich may include a pelvic exam and sonogram to rule out any other issues.\u201d Lastly, your doctor will discuss treatment options to find something you feel comfortable with.\r\n\r\nThe most important thing Dr. Sasan wants everyone to remember is to not suffer in silence. There are many available options to relieve period pain, and she wants everyone to feel empowered to find the right fit for themselves.\n<div  class=\"products-block -mx-4 md:mx-0 my-10\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/product\/19\/hormone-balance\" class=\"text-xs text-dark hover:!text-dark flex items-center border border-light rounded p-4 group !no-underline mb-4 relative pb-16 sm:pb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"shrink-0 mr-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.humnutrition.com\/assets\/6b437f70-7ec8-11f0-aee9-3579adb4c50c.png\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" class=\"object-cover transition-opacity group-hover:opacity-80 !mb-0\" alt=\"Hormone Balance\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grow pr-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mb-2 flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center divide-x-0 sm:divide-x divide-light text-sm\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pt-1 pr-2 flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flex mr-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"mr-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"m11.532 4.697 4.353.663c.36.053.664.316.828.64.066.397 0 .791-.288 1.06l-3.157 3.193.745 4.581a1.01 1.01 0 0 1-.39.978c-.3.188-.698.25-1.022.072l-3.888-2.14-3.889 2.14c-.327.178-.724.116-1.024-.072a1.008 1.008 0 0 1-.388-.978l.745-4.581L1 7.06C.713 6.79.646 6.397.713 6c.162-.324.464-.587.827-.64l4.35-.663L7.842.563c.16-.344.5-.563.87-.563.372 0 .711.219.872.563z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"mr-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"m11.532 4.697 4.353.663c.36.053.664.316.828.64.066.397 0 .791-.288 1.06l-3.157 3.193.745 4.581a1.01 1.01 0 0 1-.39.978c-.3.188-.698.25-1.022.072l-3.888-2.14-3.889 2.14c-.327.178-.724.116-1.024-.072a1.008 1.008 0 0 1-.388-.978l.745-4.581L1 7.06C.713 6.79.646 6.397.713 6c.162-.324.464-.587.827-.64l4.35-.663L7.842.563c.16-.344.5-.563.87-.563.372 0 .711.219.872.563z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"mr-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"m11.532 4.697 4.353.663c.36.053.664.316.828.64.066.397 0 .791-.288 1.06l-3.157 3.193.745 4.581a1.01 1.01 0 0 1-.39.978c-.3.188-.698.25-1.022.072l-3.888-2.14-3.889 2.14c-.327.178-.724.116-1.024-.072a1.008 1.008 0 0 1-.388-.978l.745-4.581L1 7.06C.713 6.79.646 6.397.713 6c.162-.324.464-.587.827-.64l4.35-.663L7.842.563c.16-.344.5-.563.87-.563.372 0 .711.219.872.563z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"mr-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"m11.532 4.697 4.353.663c.36.053.664.316.828.64.066.397 0 .791-.288 1.06l-3.157 3.193.745 4.581a1.01 1.01 0 0 1-.39.978c-.3.188-.698.25-1.022.072l-3.888-2.14-3.889 2.14c-.327.178-.724.116-1.024-.072a1.008 1.008 0 0 1-.388-.978l.745-4.581L1 7.06C.713 6.79.646 6.397.713 6c.162-.324.464-.587.827-.64l4.35-.663L7.842.563c.16-.344.5-.563.87-.563.372 0 .711.219.872.563z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"mr-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"m8.713 3 1.54 3.61 3.46.58L11.207 10l.588 4-3.082-1.878zm4.555 7.253 3.157-3.193c.288-.269.354-.663.288-1.06-.164-.324-.467-.587-.828-.64l-4.353-.663L9.584.562A.965.965 0 0 0 8.713 0a.965.965 0 0 0-.871.562L5.89 4.697l-4.35.663c-.363.053-.665.316-.827.64-.067.397 0 .791.287 1.06l3.157 3.193-.745 4.581a1.01 1.01 0 0 0 .388.978c.3.188.697.25 1.024.072l3.889-2.14 3.888 2.14c.324.178.721.116 1.021-.072a1.01 1.01 0 0 0 .391-.978z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4.7\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pt-1 sm:pl-2 text-medium\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1191 Reviews\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text-base font-semibold mb-1 group-hover:text-primary\">Hormone Balance<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mb-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t PMS relief and mood support (formerly Moody Bird\u00ae)\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"absolute bottom-4 left-4 right-4 sm:bottom-0 sm:left-0 sm:right-0 sm:relative inline-flex justify-center bg-primary group-hover:bg-primary-light text-white rounded py-3 px-12 leading-none text-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"pr-1.5 border-r border-primary-lightest\">$27<\/span><span class=\"pl-1.5\">SHOP NOW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"self-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What causes period pain? Learn more about period pain symptoms and how to alleviate them. For some, period pain is a mild experience every month. But for others, its intensity can mount to unpleasant extremes. Let\u2019s explore common menstrual symptoms\u2014followed by what helps period pain\u2014 so you can gain better control over your body and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":24036,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_toc_level":"h2","_toc_min":2,"footnotes":""},"categories":[813,818],"tags":[725,960,543,1058,666],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-24016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-body","category-sexual","tag-cramps","tag-hormonal-health","tag-hormones","tag-menstrual-cycle","tag-period"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.2 (Yoast SEO v24.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>This Is What Causes Period Pain &amp; How to Find Relief | HUM Nutrition Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discomfort during your period may be normal, but it&#039;s still unpleasant. So what causes period pain and how do you stop it? Read up for relief.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/what-causes-period-pain\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"This Is What Causes Period Pain &amp; How to Find Relief\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discomfort during your period may be normal, but it&#039;s still unpleasant. So what causes period pain and how do you stop it? 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