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.
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
Topics
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