--- title: Do women with menstrual cramps have different pain sensitivity during their menstrual cycle? description: A study found that women with moderate to severe menstrual cramps had lower pain thresholds (were more pain-sensitive) during their menstrual period, particul url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-comparison-of-modality-specific-somatosensory-changes-during-menstruation-in-2002/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with menstrual cramps have different pain sensitivity during their menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2002 # Do women with menstrual cramps have different pain sensitivity during their menstrual cycle? A study found that women with moderate to severe menstrual cramps had lower pain thresholds (were more pain-sensitive) during their menstrual period, particularly to heat and pressure, compared to women without menstrual cramps. Early or limited evidence 20 women with moderate to severe menstrual cramps (pain score 5.45/10) and 15 women without menstrual cramps (pain score 0.4/10). ## What they did Researchers tested pain sensitivity in 20 women with moderate to severe menstrual cramps and 15 women without cramps using a 10-point pain scale. Pain thresholds to pressure, heat, touch, and pinching were measured four times across the menstrual cycle at cramping areas and control areas. ## What they found In women with menstrual cramps, pain thresholds were noticeably lower during the menstrual phase compared to other cycle phases. This decreased pain sensitivity was strongest in cramping areas but also appeared in control areas. The decrease was clearest for heat and pressure. Women with menstrual cramps also showed lower overall pain thresholds compared to women without cramps. ## What it means for you Women with severe menstrual cramps appear more sensitive to pain during menstruation. This suggests the nervous system processes pain differently in these women during their period. The main limitation is the small sample and that pain sensitivity was measured in tests rather than tracking actual pain in daily life. 20 women with menstrual cramps 15 women without menstrual cramps 5.45 vs 0.4 pain scores on 10-point scale ## About the study Original title A comparison of modality-specific somatosensory changes during menstruation in dysmenorrheic and nondysmenorrheic women Authors Bajaj P, Bajaj P, Madsen H et al. Journal The Clinical journal of pain Year 2002 Study design Survey study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/00002508-200205000-00007](https://doi.org/10.1097/00002508-200205000-00007) ## Topics [Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2025 Do vitamin D and E supplements reduce menstrual pain and PMS symptoms? Systematic review, 2025 Does digital healthcare help manage period pain and PMS? Cohort study, 2025 How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it? Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Cohort study, 2024 Does psychological distress in adolescence predict menstrual symptoms in adulthood? Randomised trial, 2024 Does estetrol/drospirenone birth control improve PMS symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗