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Cramps, swelling, or bleeding, and, most importantly, pain— these are some of the most common symptoms of periods, which a woman experiences every month. If something changes or goes wrong in our menstrual cycle, we notice it within no time! For most of us, period cramps are the first reminder that Aunt Flo is about to arrive. Without a doubt, they’re painful and their occurrence is pretty common. But what if you experience your period without cramps?
Is it normal to have a period without pain? Although painful cramps can happen at any time during the menstrual cycle, having no menstrual cramps can feel strange. Firstly, don’t freak over it!
To tell us whether this is normal or not, we have with us Dr Madhuri Burande Laha, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital.
Menstrual cramps are normal and may begin just a few day before your period. They are caused by muscular contractions in the uterus because of an increase in a hormone known as prostaglandin. While some women experience only mild symptoms, some may be afflicted with severe symptoms such as nausea and headaches, loose stool, and dizziness.
Along with that, there are some women who experience no period pain at all. Dr Laha says, “It is completely normal to not experience any kind of pain during periods.”
In fact, experiencing unusual, severe cramping or pain could be a sign of a serious health problem. Dr Laha says, “There are many women who have certain underlying health problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and uterine fibroids that can cause pain and cramping during periods. But they tend to ignore these problems. Women are unaware of these problems, suffer in silence, and think that the pain is terrible but healthy.”
Likewise, some women will have premenstrual syndrome (PMS) a week before the period starts, while others may not have any PMS symptoms like bloating, headaches, and moodiness.
Painful periods are a common occurrence, and most girls and women have pain, but of varying intensity at some point in their lives. “Did you know that 10 out of hundred women have severe period pain and cramping. It is so bad that they are unable to carry out their daily tasks with ease,” says Dr Laha.
Periods come for four days every month (on average) and these women face severe trouble during that time. The pain is usually worse in women, who are in their 20s. There are many who have dysmenorrhoea and cramps.
Still, there are some women who have no pain or other symptoms or may have other symptoms, but no pain while menstruating. And it’s completely normal.
Dr Laha explains what a healthy menstrual cycle looks like:
If you have healthy periods, they will arrive on time without any delay. It will come once every month, and the timing will change from woman-to-woman. Generally, every 26-32 days is considered normal. These dates can be measured from the first day of proper bleeding in one period to the first day of proper bleeding in the next period.
There will be no mid-cycle spotting. If it occurs, it is a cause for concern and needs attention.
A painful period may indicate that something is not right with your body. Mild discomfort is fine but if one has hormonal or structural issues such as fibroids, endometriosis, or adenomyosis, your periods will be painful.
There will be no PMS symptoms like mood swings, headaches, breast tenderness, bloating, and irritability. If this happens every time, it may indicate that something is wrong, and needs to be evaluated.
Ladies, now you know what a healthy period is. So, fret not! It is completely normal to have periods without cramps!
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Aayushi Gupta is a health writer with a special interest in trends related to diet, fitness, beauty and intimate health. With around 2 years of experience in the wellness industry, she is connected to leading experts and doctors to provide our readers with factually correct information. ...Read More
