What causes period pain is a question that health specialists receive often. Perhaps the menstruation wasn’t always painful. But different causes (i.e. stress, poor diet or sleep) can worsen its symptoms.
Period pain is rather the rule than the exception. It is common and normal for all women. We all get it at some point in our lives. But if it hurts you so much that it impacts your daily routine, you have to speak about it. First of all, talk to your GP and they can investigate for any physiological cause of it. However, the underlying cause of the pain might be at a psychological level. Speaking to a woman psychologist, a woman health practitioner, or looking for a woman support group near your house can help you better understand your pain.
This article is about what causes period pain. I will present both medical and psychological conditions that can cause it. If you have regular or irregular period pain, you did your medical investigations and nothing came up, perhaps you can start to think of the pain at a more spiritual level. Many physical health problems can come from there so it might be worth having a thought.
Period pain caused by a medical condition:
- endometriosis: where cells that normally line the womb grow in other places, such as in the fallopian tubes and ovaries; these cells can cause intense pain when they shed
- fibroids: non-cancerous tumours that can grow in or around the womb and can make your periods heavy and painful
- pelvic inflammatory disease: where your womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries become infected with bacteria, causing them to become severely inflamed
- adenomyosis: where the tissue that normally lines the womb starts to grow within the muscular womb wall, making your periods particularly painful
If you are interested in reading more about period pain, here you can find an interesting article outlining what is scientifically proven to help reduce menstrual discomfort.
Spiritual causes of period pain:
- refusal to acknowledge that you are a woman: perhaps you had a feminine model who was leading in the house, you have been educated to be more masculine than feminine, or perhaps becoming who you are just doesn’t feel right for you. Refusing to accept your feminine energy can ultimately impact your reproductive system as this is one of the main characteristics of a woman- to give life.
- lack of self-acceptance and self-love: you might be angry towards yourself. You do not like parts of your body, your physical appearance or maybe you have been devalued as a girl since you were at a vulnerable age. This pain might be a result of your non-acceptance of your person.
- being harsh on yourself: period cramps will usually make you stop and slow down from the normal rhythm. This might be a sign that you want to go too fast and you forget to enjoy life. It is okay that you want to achieve goals and work hard but you should not forget to cherish little moments and enjoy where you are right now. Every step is important and when you forget to do so, your body might find its way to let you know you want too much, too fast.
Conclusion
Cramps and general period pain make us present, feel the moment and focus on here, right now. Our bodies have ultimately something to tell us and every pain is a message our bodies try to send. It is important to not forget that we are human beings, women and that we also have needs at a personal level. Knowing what we need, what we like, what nourishes us inside out and taking the time to feed our desires will help us feel positive about ourselves and experience good overall health. It helps us find the right balance and it keeps us going at a rhythm that feels right for us.
So, if your doctor says that there is no medical cause for your pain, do not ignore the other route. Take your time to think and consider it. Pay attention to your thoughts, emotions and behaviours and record them if needed. You can also record what you eat as this is also very important to determine your underlying cause of the pain. All of this will help you keep evidence of how one influences the other. And then maybe try speaking to someone about it, either a woman health professional, psychologist or just a friend. Saying it loud might help clear your mind.
Also, there are many techniques you can try at home to ease your discomfort. Read this to discover a few.