Welcome! You’re in GoodRx for healthcare professionals. Now, you’ll enjoy a streamlined experience created specifically for healthcare professionals.
What Causes Menstrual Cramps, Anyway?
In this video, find out the reasoning behind menstrual cramp pain.
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD
Updated on December 22, 2023This lining is where a fertilized egg would implant and set up shop, so your uterus is basically getting you all primed for pregnancy.
Of course, you don’t get pregnant every month, so the uterus sheds that lining and starts over with each new menstrual cycle. To shed the lining, the uterus contracts, squeezes, and pushes out the uterine lining, which you see as your period. Those contractions, which can range from a dull throbbing to an intense spasm, are what you feel as menstrual cramps.
References
MedlinePlus. (2016). Period pain.
Planned Parenthood. (n.d.). What is PMS (premenstrual syndrome)?
GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
