Is my period pain normal?
Usually, if it lasts up to 3 days and painkillers help. Pain that stops your normal day is different. NICE tells doctors it should make them suspect one condition.
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Is pain when on your period normal?
Usually, yes. The NHS says period pain happens when your womb tightens during your period. It’s often a normal part of the cycle.
It can be cramps in your tummy that spread to your back and thighs. Or a sharp pain or a dull ache. It often starts just before your period or at the start.
It usually lasts for up to 3 days and can affect your daily activities.
| Sign | Often normal | Get it checked |
|---|---|---|
| When pain starts | Just before or at the start of your period. | Pain during sex, or when peeing or pooing. |
| How long it lasts | Up to 3 days, usually. | Periods become more painful, heavier or irregular. |
| Painkillers | Paracetamol or ibuprofen help. | Pain is severe or worse than usual, and painkillers haven’t helped. This is urgent. |
| Your day | Can be affected, says the NHS. | Pain stops you doing your usual daily activities. |
Source: NHS: period pain
Pain on one side in the middle of your cycle? That may be ovulation pain. It can last a few minutes or 1 to 2 days.
Not sure which column you’re in? The NHS suggests a diary of your symptoms through your cycle. Start one this month.
How can I ease period pain?
Six NHS ways to ease period pain
- Put a heat pad, or a hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel, on your tummy.
- Have a warm bath or shower.
- Massage your tummy and back.
- Try gentle exercise like yoga, swimming, walking or cycling.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen. Don’t take ibuprofen if you have asthma or stomach, heart, kidney or liver problems.
- Cut down on alcohol and don’t smoke, which may also help.
Sources: NHS: period pain; NHS: period problems
Ibuprofen is one of a group called anti-inflammatory painkillers. In 80 trials of women with period pain and no other cause, 45% to 53% got moderate or excellent relief from these. On a dummy pill, 18% did.
Side effects, such as stomach upsets, were a little more common: 11% to 14%, against 10%. Most of the evidence was low quality.
Under 16? Don’t take aspirin.
Regular exercise may help too. In trials, women with bad period pain and no other cause exercised for 45 to 60 minutes, 3 or more times a week, all month.
Their pain may have dropped by about 25 points on a 100-point scale. The evidence was low quality, and it’s unclear if this holds over age 25.
Pick one or two of these and try them through your next period.
When is period pain not normal?
When it stops your usual day, the NHS says see a GP. It’s also a sign NICE links to one condition.
That condition is endometriosis. NICE says to suspect it, including in girls aged 17 and under, if you have 1 or more of these:
- period pain that affects your daily activities and quality of life
- long-term pelvic pain (pain low in your tummy, between your hips)
- deep pain during or after sex
- painful poos or other bowel symptoms that come with your period or cycle
- pain peeing or blood in your pee that comes with your period or cycle
- trouble getting pregnant, along with any of the above
Endometriosis is where cells like the womb lining grow in other places, such as the ovaries. It can take a long time to diagnose.
A mum, sister or daughter with it makes it more likely. Tell your GP if one does.
Take your diary, and say how the pain affects your everyday life, work and relationships.
What causes heavy, painful periods?
| Cause | What it is | Other signs |
|---|---|---|
| Endometriosis | Cells like the womb lining growing outside the womb. | Pain when you poo or pee, pain during or after sex, extreme tiredness. |
| Adenomyosis | The womb lining growing into the muscle of the womb wall. | Usually over 35. Heavy bleeding, bloating, pain during or after sex. |
| Fibroids | Common growths in or around the womb. Not cancer. | Heavy periods, peeing more often, lower back pain. Do not always cause symptoms. |
| Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) | An infection of the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. | Unusual discharge, bleeding between periods or after sex. |
| A coil (IUD) | A form of contraception fitted inside the womb. | Pain mostly in the first 3 to 6 months after it’s put in. |
Sources: NHS: period pain; NHS: endometriosis; NHS: adenomyosis; NHS: fibroids; NHS: PID
These can look alike, so the NHS says you might need several tests to tell them apart.
Heavy bleeding matters on its own too. The NHS says heavy bleeding from fibroids can cause iron deficiency anaemia (low iron).
See blood tests for heavy periods and periods and iron levels.
Periods also irregular? See blood tests for irregular periods.
Nearing menopause? See periods in perimenopause.
What can a GP do for bad period pain?
What may happen when you see a GP
- 1
Talk it through
Questions about your pain. Maybe a check of your tummy and pelvis.
- 2
Stronger relief
Naproxen or mefenamic acid, a TENS machine, or the pill, implant or injection.
- 3
A scan
An ultrasound to look for a cause.
- 4
A specialist
A gynaecologist, if pain doesn’t get better or a condition is suspected.
Sources: NHS: period pain; NICE NG73
A TENS machine is a small device. It uses mild electrical pulses to ease pain.
The pill, implant and injection thin the womb lining. That makes periods lighter and eases the pain.
A normal scan doesn’t rule out endometriosis. NICE says you may still need referral.
If a cause is found, treating it will help. PID, for example, usually needs antibiotics.
Ask your GP which of these could suit you.
Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without your prescriber.
When to speak to a GP
The NHS says to see a GP if:
- Your periods become more painful, heavier or irregular.
- Period pain stops you doing your usual daily activities.
- You have pain during sex, or when peeing or pooing.
- You’re bleeding between periods.
- You notice a change in how much you pee or poo, a swollen tummy, loss of appetite or weight loss without trying.
Period or pelvic pain severe or worse than usual, and painkillers haven’t helped? Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111.
Pelvic pain that comes and goes, or other signs of PID? Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111.
Think you might have PID? Call 999 or go to A&E if you have pelvic pain that’s severe, getting worse, or hurts when you move or touch it.
The same goes for pelvic pain with heavy bleeding, or sudden, sharp, intense pain low in your tummy. Or pain under your right ribs and in your right shoulder.
Or if you feel dizzy or faint, or have a very high temperature. Or you feel hot, cold or shivery, or feel or are being sick or very unwell.