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Women's Health

Got Serious Cramps? Here Are 4 Causes of Painful Periods

Lauren Smith, MAAlexandra Schwarz, MD
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD
Updated on January 31, 2024
Reviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD | January 31, 2024

A big factor in how someone feels about their period is the pain factor. Some get through menstruation with little to no pain, while others may end up in fetal position on their bed for a couple days a month.

If the latter sounds like you, you’re not alone: More than half of menstruating women admit to suffering from some amount of period pain at least a couple days a month, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Pain associated with menstruation is called dysmenorrhea. In this video, learn more about the four common causes of dysmenorrhea.

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Lauren Smith, MA
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MA
Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Dr. Schwarz is board eligible Sleep Medicine and board certified Family Medicine physician. She is a member of the AASM and ABFM.

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