Why do period cramps actually hurt?

Period cramps are incredibly common for women of all ages around the time of their period, although this doesn’t mean they’re something you should have to put up with. The pain you feel is quite real and is mainly because of what your uterus is doing during your period. (1)

What is actually happening during your period?

When you are on your period, your uterus sheds its lining because it has been building up all month. The muscles in your uterus contract to push this lining out. These contractions help your body push the menstrual blood out. (2)

Uterine prostaglandins, hormone-like chemicals produced in the lining of the uterus, are what cause contractions. Sadly, this is when cramps often start to show up. (2)

Prostaglandins - the chemicals behind your cramps

Prostaglandins are like tiny helpers your body creates, and they have some rather important roles. They assist your uterus in contracting during your period and act as chemical messengers produced by tissues in your body to handle healing, inflammation and pain. (3)

They are also involved in inflammation and pain within the body which can add to that achy feeling. As your period begins, your uterine lining produces more of certain prostaglandins, which helps it to contract.

Contractions can be gentle, but for some, higher levels of prostaglandins can cause stronger, more intense contractions – which can make the cramps more painful. (4)

Why can a muscle contraction hurt so much?

If the uterus is the only thing contracting, you might wonder why the pain feels so intense and spreads out across different areas, not just in one spot. (5)

When the uterus contracts strongly, its blood vessels get squeezed, which slows down the blood flow. Because of this, less oxygen reaches the uterus, and our pain signals are triggered, which the nerves then send straight to the brain. (5)

Unfortunately, the pain isn’t always in one specific spot or area, either.

Often, period cramps can feel like (6)

Tightness and pressure
Sharp stabbing pains
Pain that spreads into the lower back and thighs
Pain that comes in waves

What can actually help period cramps?

Thankfully, there are many options available to help ease period pain.

Using a heat source such as a hot water bottle, a warm bath or a heat pad can help relax your muscles and ease the discomfort of uterine contractions. (6)

Gentle activities like a walk, stretching or even yoga can be quite helpful for managing pain. It might not seem like the most appealing thing to do, but for some people, exercise can make a big difference. (6)

Pain relief like Feminax Express provides fast relief from period pain and helps reduce the prostaglandins linked to period pain.

It contains ibuprofen lysine, which means it gets to work twice as fast as standard ibuprofen, based on absorption.

Always read and follow the instructions on the packaging before use.

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