Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPeriod Back PainCausesManaging Pain at HomeManaging Pain When Not at HomeMedical TreatmentSelf-Care and Period Advocacy
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Period Back Pain
Causes
Managing Pain at Home
Managing Pain When Not at Home
Medical Treatment
Self-Care and Period Advocacy
This article will explain why it happens and what you can do to help ease your period back pain.
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Period Back Pain: One Symptom Among Many
Menstrual periodsoften come with many different symptoms, including, but not limited to, the following:
About 1 in 10 women experience symptoms leading up to their period.Nearly 40% of women experiencesymptomssevere enough to interfere with daily life and prevent them from taking part in activities or fulfilling responsibilities.
What Could Cause Severe Back Pain Around My Period?
You may feel period pain in your lower abdomen, lower back, and hips. The pain may even radiate to the upper back. It can range from mild to severe and may change from month to month.
DysmenorrheaDysmenorrheais pain that happens before or during menstruation and is related to menstruation. It may or may not involve another medical condition that increases pain related to menstruation.
Dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrheais pain that happens before or during menstruation and is related to menstruation. It may or may not involve another medical condition that increases pain related to menstruation.
Some medical conditions that can cause severe period back pain include:
What Causes Lower Back Pain in Females?
How to Manage Period Back Pain at Home
There are many options for treating period back pain at home, including massage, heat such as a warm bath orheating pad, exercise, gentle movements such as walking or yoga, and nutrition changes such as limiting processed foods, sugar, dairy, alcohol, eggs, and red meat.
Some people useherbsand plant sources such as basil, cinnamon, chamomile,ginger root, parsley, and red raspberry leaf to relieve period-related symptoms.
Dealing With Pain Outside of the House
It can be more challenging to manage period pain at work, school, or other places away from the comfort of your home. Taking breaks to walk or stretch can help alleviate your pain. Plan and pack items that may help, such as herbal tea or essential oils. A small study on essential oils used with abdominal massage suggests the oils are effective for period pain, especially cinnamon, clove, rose, and lavender oils.
Medical Treatment for Period Back Pain
If you see a healthcare provider for period back pain, they’ll likely recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as the first treatment option. Some people use hormonal birth control to help manage period-related symptoms, but there is little research available to show that this intervention is effective at treating period pain.
Work with a healthcare provider, such as an obstetrician-gynecologist (Oob-gyn), to determine whether you have any underlying health conditions that could be contributing to the pain.
Self-careand period advocacy can go a long way in preventing and alleviating period back pain. Women who are stressed are more likely to experience pain before or during theirperiod.Regularly making time for self-care activities that reduce stress can help to ease period symptoms, including back pain. Examples of stress-reducing activities include:
Talking to others and advocating for period support could lead to positive change. Employers may support time off or flexible work options, including work from home, for people experiencing debilitating period pain.
Time at home could provide more comfort and help decrease your pain. Additionally, it may be psychologically beneficial to be upfront about period symptoms, as secrecy can lead to negative period associations.
Summary
Most women experience pain and other symptoms associated with their period before it starts, during menstruation, or both. Period back pain is common due to hormonal changes and uterine contractions. However, it may also be a sign of an underlying medical condition, especially if the pain is severe.
A nutrient-dense diet, exercise, stress management, herbs and supplements, and medications can help prevent period back pain. Consult a healthcare provider to rule out other health conditions and discuss treatment options.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Osayande AS, Mehulic S.Diagnosis and initial management of dysmenorrhea.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(5):341-346.Chumpalova P, Iakimova R, Stoimenova-Popova M, et al.Prevalence and clinical picture of premenstrual syndrome in females from Bulgaria.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2020;19:3. doi:10.1186/s12991-019-0255-1Schoep ME, Nieboer TE, van der Zanden M, Braat DDM, Nap AW.The impact of menstrual symptoms on everyday life: a survey among 42,879 women.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2019;220(6):569.e1-569.e7. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2019.02.048Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dysmenorrhea.Begum M, Das S, Sharma HK.Menstrual disorders: Causes and natural remedies. J Pharm Chem Biol Sci. 2016;4(2):307-20.Marzouk TMF, El-Nemer AMR, Baraka HN.The effect of aromatherapy abdominal massage on alleviating menstrual pain in nursing students: a prospective randomized cross-over study.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013;2013:1-6. doi:10.1155/2013/742421Maryam M, Ritonga MA, Istriati I.Relationship between menstrual profile and psychological stress with dysmenorrhea.Althea Medical Journal. 2016;3(3):382-387. doi:10.15850/amj.v3n3.884National Institutes of Health.Addressing menstruation in the workplace: the menstrual leave debate.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Osayande AS, Mehulic S.Diagnosis and initial management of dysmenorrhea.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(5):341-346.Chumpalova P, Iakimova R, Stoimenova-Popova M, et al.Prevalence and clinical picture of premenstrual syndrome in females from Bulgaria.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2020;19:3. doi:10.1186/s12991-019-0255-1Schoep ME, Nieboer TE, van der Zanden M, Braat DDM, Nap AW.The impact of menstrual symptoms on everyday life: a survey among 42,879 women.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2019;220(6):569.e1-569.e7. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2019.02.048Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dysmenorrhea.Begum M, Das S, Sharma HK.Menstrual disorders: Causes and natural remedies. J Pharm Chem Biol Sci. 2016;4(2):307-20.Marzouk TMF, El-Nemer AMR, Baraka HN.The effect of aromatherapy abdominal massage on alleviating menstrual pain in nursing students: a prospective randomized cross-over study.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013;2013:1-6. doi:10.1155/2013/742421Maryam M, Ritonga MA, Istriati I.Relationship between menstrual profile and psychological stress with dysmenorrhea.Althea Medical Journal. 2016;3(3):382-387. doi:10.15850/amj.v3n3.884National Institutes of Health.Addressing menstruation in the workplace: the menstrual leave debate.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Osayande AS, Mehulic S.Diagnosis and initial management of dysmenorrhea.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(5):341-346.Chumpalova P, Iakimova R, Stoimenova-Popova M, et al.Prevalence and clinical picture of premenstrual syndrome in females from Bulgaria.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2020;19:3. doi:10.1186/s12991-019-0255-1Schoep ME, Nieboer TE, van der Zanden M, Braat DDM, Nap AW.The impact of menstrual symptoms on everyday life: a survey among 42,879 women.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2019;220(6):569.e1-569.e7. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2019.02.048Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dysmenorrhea.Begum M, Das S, Sharma HK.Menstrual disorders: Causes and natural remedies. J Pharm Chem Biol Sci. 2016;4(2):307-20.Marzouk TMF, El-Nemer AMR, Baraka HN.The effect of aromatherapy abdominal massage on alleviating menstrual pain in nursing students: a prospective randomized cross-over study.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013;2013:1-6. doi:10.1155/2013/742421Maryam M, Ritonga MA, Istriati I.Relationship between menstrual profile and psychological stress with dysmenorrhea.Althea Medical Journal. 2016;3(3):382-387. doi:10.15850/amj.v3n3.884National Institutes of Health.Addressing menstruation in the workplace: the menstrual leave debate.
Osayande AS, Mehulic S.Diagnosis and initial management of dysmenorrhea.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(5):341-346.
Chumpalova P, Iakimova R, Stoimenova-Popova M, et al.Prevalence and clinical picture of premenstrual syndrome in females from Bulgaria.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2020;19:3. doi:10.1186/s12991-019-0255-1
Schoep ME, Nieboer TE, van der Zanden M, Braat DDM, Nap AW.The impact of menstrual symptoms on everyday life: a survey among 42,879 women.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2019;220(6):569.e1-569.e7. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2019.02.048
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dysmenorrhea.
Begum M, Das S, Sharma HK.Menstrual disorders: Causes and natural remedies. J Pharm Chem Biol Sci. 2016;4(2):307-20.
Marzouk TMF, El-Nemer AMR, Baraka HN.The effect of aromatherapy abdominal massage on alleviating menstrual pain in nursing students: a prospective randomized cross-over study.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013;2013:1-6. doi:10.1155/2013/742421
Maryam M, Ritonga MA, Istriati I.Relationship between menstrual profile and psychological stress with dysmenorrhea.Althea Medical Journal. 2016;3(3):382-387. doi:10.15850/amj.v3n3.884
National Institutes of Health.Addressing menstruation in the workplace: the menstrual leave debate.
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