Do you experience menstruation pain for the days your periods last and you’re wondering what you can do to stop or relieve pain during periods.
As a woman I do experience pain during my periods, and I do fall in the category of those who experience severe pain that sometimes I can barely walk.
I will provide you with an answer based on my experience and my review of scientific studies on the subject.
Happy reading!😀and feel free to ask questions in the comments or share your own experience.🙏
Last updated: May, 2025. Written by Juliet Semakula, a diagnostic radiographer.
▶️What do we understand by the term menstruation period?
Menstruation also known as a period is the normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle.
It is a natural process that prepares the body for a possible pregnancy. When the pregnancy does not occur, the uterus sheds its lining, resulting in a menstruation bleeding.
Most women who go through this process, normally complain of pain in the first two days when it starts. While mild pain is normal, severe or persistent pain could indicate an underlying condition.
So, for this article I will answer some of the questions internet users ask about menstruation pain and how to effectively find comfort during the period.
▶️What types of menstruation period pain am I referring to here?
There are two common types of menstruation pain that people normally complain about.
1️⃣Primary dysmenorrhea is defined as pain during the menstrual cycle in the absence of an identifiable cause.
It is usually mild pain that is manageable, it is the main cause of pelvic pain in women (Ferries-Rowe,2020)
The pathophysiology of primary dysmenorrhea is likely a result of the cyclooxygenase pathway producing increased proteinoids, particularly prostaglandins.
The increased prostaglandins cause uterine contractions that restrict blood flow and lead to the production of anaerobic metabolites that stimulate pain receptors.
Ferries-Rowe,2020
Most sources agree that primary dysmenorrhea is associated with ovulatory cycles, so symptoms typically do not begin with the first menstrual cycles.
Patients who experience the primary dysmenorrhea, describe pain that is:
🔴Crampy and of fluctuating intensity, with the onset of pain shortly before or at the onset of bleeding and lasting up to 72 hours.
🔴The pain is in the suprapubic region and can radiate to the upper thigh or back or both.
🔴Pain intensity usually peaks at 24-36 hours from the onset of menstruation, and the duration is rarely longer than a few days
🔴Some people experience nausea and vomiting.
🔴Bloating and diarrhoea
🔴Longer menstrual cycles or duration of bleeding.
🔴Irregular or heavy menstrual flow.
Morrow,2009
In medical terminology, primary dysmenorrhoea is used to refer to period pain cycle in the absence of an identifiable cause. It is normal for a woman to have period pain with no underlying issues.
2️⃣Secondary dysmenorrhoea
This is associated with underlying pelvic condition, rather than being solely due to hormonal changes during menstruation like in primary dysmenorrhoea. And characterised by later onset of symptoms
Pain has different characteristics and may persist beyond just a menstruation period.
Endometriosis is the most common cause of a secondary dysmenorrhoea and, therefore, the most important differential diagnosis
Some of the common symptoms are:
🔴Very painful and heavy periods that can last for a longer period.
🔴A feeling of heaviness in your tummy and back pain
🔴Experiencing pain at other times during your cycle, not just during your period.
🔴Irregular periods and bleeding between periods
🔴Unusual discharge
🔴Painful sex or bleeding after sex
When you go to the doctor with such symptoms your doctor will test for these medical conditions to confirm the diagnosis.
♦️Endometriosis is a long term chronic condition where tissue like the lining of the womb is found elsewhere in the body.
♦️Pelvic inflammation is an infection of the womb, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
♦️Fibroids grow in the muscular wall of the womb that are not cancerous.
♦️Adenomyosis is when the tissue that normally grows within the womb grows into the muscular wall of the womb instead.
♦️Polycystic ovary syndrome which is a hormonal condition.
▶️How long do menstruation periods pain last?
Normally pain is more intense on the first two days of the period starting, on the third day it begins to ease away in most people.
There are few studies that aim to precisely identify how long the pain generally lasts.
Probably because many people do not consult a doctor for this type of pain or only after pain has become so severe suggesting an underlying issue.
▶️What are treatment options for primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea pain?
The goal of the treatment is to provide adequate relief from menstrual pain. There are three types of treatment for primary and secondary dysmenorrhea control:
⬛Non-pharmacological.
⬛Pharmacological.
⬛Surgical.
▶️How do you ease menstrual cramps and pain at home? Treatment options:
The first line of treatment is the use of non-pharmacological
There are complementary and alternative non-pharmacological treatments for dysmenorrhea pain that have been used.
These include
🟠Relaxation and herbal and dietary therapies
🟠Heat therapy: Using a heating pad or hot water bottle can soothe cramps.
🟠Exercise and yoga: Regular physical activity can help alleviate cramps.
🟠 Dietary changes: Reducing caffeine, alcohol, and sugar intake might help.
🟠Relaxation techniques: Stress reduction can also help ease pain.
Methods such as:
🟠Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Tens): This method uses a small device to deliver electrical pulses to the skin, which can help block pain signals
🟠Acupuncture is a Chinese medicine technique that may help relieve pain by stimulating specific points on the body.
Pharmacological treatment for menstruation pain or dysmenorrhea:
🟠Over-the-counter painkillers: Ibuprofen and paracetamol can help reduce pain.
🟠Hormonal contraception: For some women, hormonal birth control like pills can reduce or eliminate period pain.
🟠Tranexamic acid used to help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding which can contribute to pain.
🟠The most used medicine is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
An estimated 10% to 25% of women either do not respond to NSAIDs or choose not to use them because of side effect profiles, intolerance, or discomfort with medication usage.
But most of the time people deal with period pain without using anything especially if it’s not caused by an underlying condition.
I believe it’s up to you to decide what seems most appropriate in your case. For example, by discussing it with your doctor to get an external opinion.
Surgical interventions for painful menstruation periods
It is very rare to have surgery because of menstruation pain, unless there is an underlying cause of your pain such as
🟠Endometrial ablation to help reduce heavy bleeding and reduce pain.
🟠Myomectomy to remove fibroids
🟠Hysterectomy to remove the uterus.
However, if you experience severe period pain that stops you from doing day-to-day things, or that worries you at all, you should speak to your doctor to discuss the best treatment options.
▶️ Are physical exercises (yoga) good when you have period pain.
Exercises such as yoga typically are seen to combine physical poses, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation to improve physical fitness and relieve stress.
A study that was done to investigate the effects of specially designed yoga programs on menstrual pain. Physical fitness and quality of life had these observations:
34 Women aged 18 to 22 who had primary dysmenorrhea pain. They were asked to participate in yoga for 30 minutes per day, twice a week for 12 weeks at home ( Yonglitthipagon 2017)
Some people reported significant improvement in menstrual pain after the yoga exercises.
Yonglitthipagon 2017
In my opinion, these were very few selected studies which can not be relied on to confirm the effectiveness of yoga.
However, it does not harm to try some yoga to see if in your case, it can help with menstruation pain.
▶️Are painful periods a sign of good fertility?
No, painful periods are not a sign of good fertility, and they are not directly linked to fertility.
While painful periods are a common occurrence for many women, they don’t necessarily indicate any issues with fertility or correlate with your ability to conceive.
In fact, they can sometimes be a sign of underlying conditions that could affect fertility, such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory or blocked tubes
If you experience chronic pain or extremely painful periods, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional to rule out any fertility related concerns.
▶️What not to do when your wife is on her period?
For some women when they are on periods, they usually have different moods.
I do experience mood swings most of the time in my periods, and during this period I usually do not want my husband to invalidate my feelings or offer unsolicited advice on my periods care because I know how to take care of myself.
Instead, it is important for husbands to focus on creating a supportive and comfortable environment for their wives or partners.
▶️How to comfort your wife when she is on her periods.
⚪Open Communication: Having an open dialogue with your partner, asking her what would make her feel better will help you know how to support her.
Some people prefer solitude and need their own private space while others need affection.
⚪Emotional support by trying to understand her mood swings or discomfort by doing small actions such as massage or planning a relaxing evening.
⚪Calming environment: by making her environment calm and comfortable.
⚪Patience and understanding try to be patient with her and try to understand her pain.
▶️What not to do when your wife is on periods.
⚪Try to avoid sex during that period, most women are usually uncomfortable with sexual activity due to pain, so when she says no respect, her wishes.
⚪Avoid provocative remarks such as ‘every woman goes through this, deal with the pain’.
⚪Avoid arguments and conflicts during her periods, try to find common ground.
⚪ Encourage her to take it easy, if you can help with housework like cooking do so, she will feel supported.
⚪Dismissing her feelings and pain, try to listen empathetically and be supportive.
⚪ Encourage her to avoid stressful activities and take it easy by resting.
In other words, whatever you do with or without medication, normally period pain will disappear within 1 to 5 days after your periods. Remember the cycle continues monthly until you reach your menopause
We have come to the end of this article? wishing you a quick recovery.🙋 Leave a comment for any experience or question.
📚Sources:
Ferries-Rowe E, Corey E, Archer JS. Primary Dysmenorrhea: Diagnosis and Therapy. Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Nov;136(5):1047-1058. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004096. PMID: 33030880.
Morrow C, Elizabeth H. Naumburg, Dysmenorrhea, Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, Volume 36, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 19-32, ISSN 0095-4543, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2008.10.004.
Yonglitthipagon P, Muansiangsai S, Wongkhumngern W, Donpunha W, Chanavirut R, Siritaratiwat W, Mato L, Eungpinichpong W, Janyacharoen T, Effect of yoga on the menstrual pain, physical fitness, and quality of life of young women with primary dysmenorrhea, Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, Volume 21, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 840-846, ISSN 1360-8592,