Navigating the realm of menstrual health isn’t always easy or straight forward. Periods can be regular, erratic, light, heavy or painful. The nature of your period can also change with time, age, stress levels, the presence of a rigorous exercise routine, the foods you eat and many other factors. Therefore, for this reason, it is not always easy to figure out what is going on with your period. This is especially true for periods that are painful or cause discomfort.
What Causes Painful Periods?
For many women, painful periods or menstrual cramps (also known as dysmenorrhea), are an unfortunate but common part of their menstrual cycle. These cramps occur when the uterus contracts to help expel its lining. Hormone-like substances called prostaglandins trigger these contractions, which can vary in intensity from mild to severe. Prostaglandins cause muscle contractions in the uterus, which can trigger pain and decrease blood flow and oxygen to the uterus
In general, the common causes of a painful period include:
- Uterine Fibroids: These non-cancerous growths in the wall of the uterus can cause significant pain and heavier menstrual bleeding.
- Adenomyosis: This occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus begins to grow into the muscular walls of the uterus itself, causing pain, heavy bleeding and prolonged periods.
- Endometriosis: During a normal menstrual cycle, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) thickens and is shed. With endometriosis however, the shedding that occurs each month with menstruation causes pain, inflammation and scar tissue. This is why endometriosis is often associated with painful periods.
