What Causes Period Pain?
Period pain is draining. We know!
There are few redeeming qualities about being in pain for a week out of every month. (Maybe the excuse to eat chocolate ice cream? Staying cuddled under the duvet with a hot water bottle? Trying to look on the bright side here…)
But what’s actually happening to you? Well, let’s answer that question.
What is and what causes period pain?
What Is Period Pain?
First things first. Period pain is the discomfort you may feel a day or two before your period starts, which often continues into the first few days of your actual period.
Period pain symptoms include that dull ache you feel in your lower abdomen, lower back, and even upper thighs a day or two before your period starts.
What causes period pain?
Natural messenger molecules in your body called prostaglandins are ultimately what cause period pain. Prostaglandins make your uterus (womb) contract so that it pushes out the lining of your uterus (the endometrium). The lining leaves as a reddish fluid through your vagina – i.e. your period.
These contractions are felt as period cramps and are the cause of painful periods. Prostaglandins can also make you feel nauseous or give you diarrhoea. Fun times.
Having a particularly heavy flow can be a reason for a painful period. If you think about what causes menstrual pain, this makes sense. If your body has more period blood to expel, it needs to work (i.e. contract) harder, causing you to feel more intense period pain symptoms.
The good news is that not all periods are the same. One month may be heavier, the next lighter, or vice versa. Hope springs eternal.
How to relieve period pain?
Understanding the causes of painful periods can help you find solutions to ease your discomfort. As one of the key reasons for painful periods is contracting muscles, focus on activities that help your muscles relax and lengthen.
Taking a hot bath, cuddling up with a hot water bottle, and even exercising can help alleviate period pain. Check out a full list of tips here.
If you have particularly bad period cramps, you may want to ask your parents about taking over-the-counter pain medication to help ease the pain.
Getting ready for your period
On the bright side, experiencing period pain symptoms before your period starts is a big clue that you should prepare yourself for getting your period in just a few days.
Be sure you’ve got enough Always Ultra pads in your cupboard for up to 100% leakage protection during your period. Always Ultra pads turn liquid into gel, and gel can’t leak. And don’t forget to stock up on fun movies to watch curled up on the couch in your sweats for some feel-good girlie time.
So now you know what causes period pain and how to alleviate it – we hope getting your period feels less concerning. Why not tell a friend what causes period pain – and help alleviate their worry too!
Always Ultra pads are super thin and absorbent.
In fact, they have an absorbent core that turns liquid into gel, keeping liquid away from your skin for a clean, fresh feeling.
Enhanced softness and protection provide the comfort is what you probably want the most during your period, even more so if your period is on the heavy side. Always Platinum period pads provide you with all the necessary protection while being also gentle to your skin and extremely effective in absorbing any leakage, so you could feel confident and comfortable through the day!
