Butt cramps? UGH! As if the period cramps itself weren’t enough (🙄). On the first day of my period, I feel bloated, sore, and I really want chocolate made my God (you can tell how unrealistic that sounds. I know it too but that’s what I want) but I also feel sick to my stomach.
I’ve had to go to the bathroom a lot today, about every half hour. Drinking coffee probably wasn’t the best idea, but oh well. At least now, I’m getting a break from running to the bathroom.
Suddenly, there’s a new kind of pain in my butt. It’s not the kind that makes me need the toilet again. It feels like my insides have moved to the wrong place and are trying to get back in by force.
These are cramps in the butt that happen during a period, and they hurt a lot. If you’ve felt this before, you know it’s strange and worrying. But don’t worry, it’s actually a normal thing that happens to many women.
The Key Takeaway.
Pain in the butt during periods are the absolute worst. If you’re going through this, you’re not alone. Many experience it, and it’s definitely not just in your head. It’s a real issue that others understand and deal with too.
What Causes Butt Cramps During Your Period?
Basically, all the discomfort you feel during your period comes from hormones. These hormones can cause stomach cramps, swelling, sore breasts, and many other symptoms.
The cramps start in your womb because of chemicals called prostaglandins. These chemicals make your womb tighten up and push out the menstrual fluid, which has blood, tissue, and bacteria, through the neck of the womb and into the vagina.
You May Also Like:
- How to love yourself on your periods.
- FAQs to know your vagina better.
- Why does my lower right abdomen hurt?
- Menstrual cycle: what’s normal? What’s not?
Prostaglandins are made by your body to make your womb contract. They start working at the beginning of your period and can also make other parts of your lower body move, like your intestines and colon. That’s why you go to the bathroom more when you’re on your period.
In simple terms, prostaglandins can change how your bowels work. They can even make bowel problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) worse.
If you’re wondering why you get cramps in your butt during your period, it’s because these cramps can spread. They can go from your lower back to your legs, stomach, pelvis, and even your butt muscles and around your anus. Prostaglandins can affect more than just your womb.
Now, some people naturally have more prostaglandins than others. Things like hormone levels, what you eat, and how much you exercise also change how much of these chemicals you have.
How Common Are Period Butt Cramps?
There haven’t been ‘big studies’ on cramps in the butt during periods for people who don’t have ongoing health issues.
According to the Fornix, many people talk about having these cramps. The phrase “butt cramps during period” is searched for over 700 times a month on Google, and there are lots of posts about it on TikTok.
How To Get Rid Of Period Butt Cramps.
- Take ibuprofen or a similar pain reliever to help with the pain.
- Drink a lot of water to keep your body and muscles well-hydrated. Seriously, now isn’t even the time to joke around with dehydration.
- Do some gentle exercises or stretches like the child’s pose, the double knee-to-chest stretch or the deep squat stretch to help ease the cramps.
- Having an orgasm can also help because it releases feel-good hormones, but it does not work for everyone (some women feel more contractions after orgasm on their periods).
- Make sure to get enough sleep. It’s important not to cut back on rest.
- Use a warm bath or a heating pad if you often get muscle cramps, as heat can help relax your muscles, including those in your buttocks.
Let’s face it, you know what your body wants. So, if the above steps don’t work, you can explore your body by listening to it. It’s about finding what’s best for you.
When To See A Doctor About Those Butt Cramps.
Pain in your butt during your period is common. But, it’s a good idea to write down when the pain happens to see if it’s linked to your period. Also, keep track of how bad the pain gets.
If the pain in your butt doesn’t improve with pain medication, or if it’s so severe that you can’t go about your daily life, you should see a doctor. Any severe pain related to your period should be taken seriously, no matter where it happens.
