Common Symptoms

What Do Period Cramps Feel Like?

• Period cramps can be described as throbbing or cramping pain in the lower abdomen that starts at the onset of your period and lasts 8-72 hours.

• Subsides in 2-3 days.

• Dull, continuous ache.

• Radiates to lower back and thighs.

What Are the Common Symptoms of Period Cramps?

Common symptoms may include:

• Abdominal pain

• Lower back pain

• Pain radiating to the legs

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Headache

• Diarrhea

• Fatigue

• Weakness

• Bloating

• Breast tenderness

Secondary dysmenorrhea can be associated with varying intensities of pain and, at times, other symptoms such as dyspareunia, menorrhagia, intermenstrual bleeding, and postcoital bleeding.¹

What Is the Impact of Period Cramps on Everyday Life?

Dysmenorrhea may have a significant impact on patients' day-to-day lives.

In approximately 16% to 29% of women, dysmenorrhea is associated with significant impairment in quality of life.²

Dysmenorrhea may also limit a patient's participation in sports or social events.

Furthermore, there are associated emotional stressors associated with dysmenorrhea. In the United States alone, dysmenorrhea is estimated to be the cause of missing roughly 140 million working hours per year, a public health matter that has a significant economic impact.³

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Medically reviewed by

Dr Yash Bahuguna

Researched by

Dr Inara Isani

Written by

Dr Diksha Sheoraut

References

1. NNagy H, Carlson K, Khan MA. Dysmenorrhea. InStatPearls [Internet] 2023 Nov 12. StatPearls Publishing.

2. Ju H, Jones M, Mishra G. The prevalence and risk factors of dysmenorrhea. Epidemiologic reviews. 2014 Jan 1;36(1):104-13.

3. Habibi N, Huang MS, Gan WY, Zulida R, Safavi SM. Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and factors associated with its intensity among undergraduate students: a cross-sectional study. Pain Management Nursing. 2015 Dec 1;16(6):855-61.