---
title: How common is severe period pain and what causes it? | Niyora
description: Period pain affects 16% to 91% of women of reproductive age, with severe pain in 2% to 29%. It's less common as women age, after having children, and when usi
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-prevalence-and-risk-factors-of-dysmenorrhea-2014/
---

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- How common is severe period pain and what causes it?

Case-control study, 2014

# How common is severe period pain and what causes it?

Period pain affects 16% to 91% of women of reproductive age, with severe pain in 2% to 29%. It's less common as women age, after having children, and when using birth control pills, but more common with stress or family history of it.

 Strong study design

Women of reproductive age from 15 community-based studies published 2002 to 2011

## What they did

Reviewed 15 large community-based studies from 2002 to 2011 measuring how many women had period pain and what risk factors increased or decreased it.

## What they found

Period pain prevalence ranged from 16% to 91%, with severe pain reported by 2% to 29% of women. Age, having children, and birth control pills were protective factors. Stress increased risk with modest to moderate effect sizes (odds ratios 1 to 4). Family history was the strongest risk factor (odds ratios 3.8 to 20.7). Evidence was inconclusive for smoking, diet, obesity, depression, and abuse.

## What it means for you

Period pain is common but severely limiting pain is less common. It naturally improves with age and having children. Stress and family history are clear risk factors. More evidence is needed on whether diet, obesity, smoking, depression, and abuse affect period pain.

16-91%

prevalence of period pain

2-29%

prevalence of severe pain

3.8-20.7

odds ratio for family history

## About the study

Original title The prevalence and risk factors of dysmenorrhea Authors Ju H, Jones M, Mishra G Journal Epidemiologic reviews Year 2014 Study design Case-control study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1093/epirev/mxt009](https://doi.org/10.1093/epirev/mxt009)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

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.

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