A scientific survey for those who have periods

[LividLove]

So, off the back of the "painkillers" thread I am genuinely fascinated by women's varying experiences with period pain.
I have a host of gynae conditions, but kind of just assume that everyone has a similar level of pain and pops paracetamol like Haribo (within safe limits). But perhaps that isn't the case.

Can you answer my poll, for science (and curiosity)? Or add a comment.

It^ was my first reaction as well.

Like a previous poster, I have Texas Chainsaw Massacre levels of heavy bleeding, but no pain at all.

I have endometriosis. Diagnosed after 10 years of painful periods aged 26 and I am now 50.

I feel like I am in labour every month and taking paracetamol and ibuprofen like sweets gave me stomach ulcers, I don't react well to codeine or other prescription pain killers.

Non-drug pain relief -
plug in head pad (doesn't go cold and no weight to it unlike microwave heat pack)
massage gun used on back (lucky to have incredibly supportive Dh)
TENS machine

hot tub, extravagant but great and yes it is better than a bath as you can move around more, get into different positions and it stays hot for hours
Also helpful is the hypnobirthing techniques I use for the for pain management.

I tried Daye CBD tampons but seemed to get a headache every time I used them but they did reduce the period pain.

In my first birth, I was told I was 7cm dilated at the point it felt exactly like my worst day of period pain.

This meant in my subsequent births I told the midwives I was 7cm dilated at that point, and both times they checked I was right.

I don’t know if my cervix dilates to 7cm during my period (I blimming well hope not) but the pain was, for me, just the same. And for me it’s cervix, vaginal, back, and in particular vulval pain, exacerbated if I’m standing still or sitting on something hard. 48 hours in and it’s ok.

Mine varies month to month. I'm 36 going on 37. Been TTC for 2.5 years. For the worst pain I take codeine. Paracetamol just doesn't cut it. I try to take it at night because the sleep it gives me is like nothing else. But sometimes I have to take it during the day and I can't drive, sometimes while at work. Being a bit giggly while otherwise being focused and on the ball is better than not being able to concentrate and wanting to rip my colleagues' heads clean off their spines.

When I used tampons I took paracetamol, ibuprofen, and tranexamic acid. since switching to period pants 4 years ago i get no pain at all. if I wear a tampon sometimes for extra security, I get cramps. totally anecdotal but accurate for me.

(Can't see any poll link, I'm on the app)

Unmedicated my pain is unbearable. I faint, I vomit. Similar to labour pain, comes in waves. I'm unable to function at all.

Paracetamol does absolutely nothing but ibuprofen works. During the worst times (day 1 every other month ish) I take more than the advised dose to properly block the pain. 600mg instead 400. I also take it every 4 hours.

It's been the same since I was 12, I'm now 48. I've tried the pill, was told having kids would help. So long as I have unrestricted access to brufen I'm fine. I know this comes with other health risks but there's no way I can cope any other way.

I am post periods now thank FUCK but I took max para and brufen for first three days of each shark week. I also had javelin arse (as part of my endo, thanks, body) that made me literally leap up and gasp out loud.

@astonssandboxisalittertray my mother calls it brufen. I don’t know anyone else that does!

Glad I’ve found someone who needs them
too. Should stock up for the zombie apocalypse…

It’s strange isn’t it. I think the nerve endings must fall out as well during it! You’d think the pain would be unbearable considering…

Sadly as I have got older and after two kids any painkiller (Brufen and paracetamol) make me vomit and feel awful with banging headache and severe nausea even once I have thrown up. Not sure if that’s some sort of liver damage following years of poor choices or just a new intolerance. As a result I now cope with hot water bottle or microwave heat pack and lots of squirming. Walking about helps the cramps a bit but directs the pain to my vulva. Hideous 4 days once a month, plus hideous one day mid cycle (not sure what that’s about).

I have mild period pain but HORRENDOUS ovulation pain

I don't get a lot of pain these days, but as a teenager I got excruciating pain. Pain killers didn't touch the sides 😭

It resolved after I briefly went on the pill.

I don't have pain any more. I would've needed a dose or two of paracetamol in my teens but fine since then. They are heavy (and much heavier since my first covid infection), I get constipation and diarrhoea, feel very tired, get PMS etc but no pain to speak of.

Like a previous poster, I have Texas Chainsaw Massacre levels of heavy bleeding, but no pain at all.

This is me too! Never any pain, I'm not sure I've ever needed to take pain relief for my periods. Sometimes I have cramps and need to take some deep breaths but that's it on the pain front.

HOWEVER. My periods are ridiculously heavy. I have to wear a tampon and a pad and for the first two days I basically have to be off my feet or face bleeding through my trousers. I find those two days a month pretty unbearable but I'm not in pain.

I used to have epic period pain as a teen and I would grab a solpadeine the minute it started and then count the minutes until the pain was gone (it was always 8 minutes)

After my son was born I wasn't able to tolerate pain killers any more but also the pain was gone, so that was okay. It was odd though. I used to always carry solpadeine before my son was born and I haven't had a single one since.

Not that I have been ragingly healthy or anything. Quite the reverse. But just in different ways.

Thank god mine have stopped but mine were horrific, in terms of length, heaviness and pain (no medical conditions, had all the investigations). The only things that ever really helped were hot water bottles and codeine (or products with codeine in, like Nurofen Plus or Feminax). The problem is codeine makes you sleepy but I couldn't function without it so had to make the best of it during the day. @LividLove Have you tried Mefenamic Acid? Supposed to work wonders for some people, though sadly didn't help me.

No period pain but headaches so bad that I'd sometimes have to go lie down in a dark room. Would have to to paracetamol for that.

I'm veering between disbelief and wild jealousy of those who don't experience period pain. Not really disbelief, I mean I believe that's what's happening in your body, but wow.

I also get cramps and feel PMS-ey about a fortnight before my period, then it eases off, then comes on again a couple of days before. I always thought it was elongated PMS but maybe it's ovulation, who knows

I get pains and sensations with my periods, they are usually bearable. Maybe, because I know what it is .
Occasionally, I take painkillers, as they are painful early in my period, but the pain isn't constant.

I find the pains in my legs and vulva worse than the cramps in my uterus.

I get blocks of debilitating/non functioning pain (and I've had chronic pain for 18 years). I can barely speak, have to lie down, transanemic acid and mefanemic acid. It's excruciating. I can vomit, pass out, sweating out my face, javelin arse a plenty. Must lie down. I get a few waves of this. My period stops and comes back, and the same again. I was told in hospital by a doctor I have an extremely high pain threshold, so make of that what you will.

"People" don't have periods, women have periods.

Not all women have periods but ONLY women periods.

The word woman is not transphobic.

Severe pain on first day of period. Feeling sick, shaking, needing to poop a lot. Missed school or work. Ibuprofen helped.

Girls have periods too. Some start as early as 8 or 9.

Although, these girls are unlikely to be commenting on mumsnet. A pp was talking about their experience as a young teen , prior to starting birth control. That experience is valid too.

Girls may suffer more with their periods due to not having the coping mechanisms adult women have .

And using the word people isn’t wrong either, because women & girls are people.