The Menstrual Cycle
Period pains
Period pains are the abdominal cramping pains that many women experience before and during their period. For up to 15 percent of women, the symptoms can be severe enough4 to interfere with their daily activities, causing them to take time off school, work or other activities.
Period pains may be caused by prostaglandins, natural chemicals in the body that contract the walls of the womb. It is thought that higher levels of prostaglandins cause more intense contractions of the womb and thus more pain. The pain is greater because there is reduced blood supply to the wall of the womb during the contractions2.
While cramps may start in the lower abdomen, they may also spread to the lower back and the thighs. In more severe cases, abdominal pain may also be accompanied by various other potential alarming symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, faintness and headaches. However, in most cases, there is no underlying serious condition.
Painful Periods
The medical definition for painful periods is dysmenorrhoea and there are two categories. Primary dysmenorrhoea is when there's no underlying medical problem for painful periods. This condition is particularly common among teenagers and younger women, as period pains tend to lessen as women get older.
Secondary dysmenorrhoea describes period pain that's caused by an underlying gynaecological problem such as endometriosis4. Secondary dysmenorrhoea is less common than primary dysmenorrhoea and tends to affect older women.
Who's affected by period pains?
Primary dysmenorrhoea usually begins 6 to 12 months after a girl's first period (known as Menarch). The pain usually lasts 8 to 72 hours, either just before or during the onset of the period.
Studies show that 25 to 50 percent of adult women and about 75 percent of adolescents experience period pain. Between 5 and 20 percent report severe dysmenorrhoea or pain that prevents them from participating in their usual activities.
