This Is Why Your Back Always Hurts When You’re On Your Period

Cramps. Mood swings. Bloating. Insatiable cravings. As if all of that wasn’t enough, there’s also another pretty nasty side effect that comes along with your monthly flow and that’s lower back pain.

It’s a super common bugbear for many women, which when combined with cramping, can leave many gals doubled over in pain. But why does it happen and how can you nix it?

Well, not surprisingly it’s all down to your uterus. Talking to The Huffington Post, Dr. Houman Danesh, director of integrative pain management at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York explains “This pain is from the uterus contracting to shed the lining which has built up since the last cycle… The phenomenon is described as ‘referred pain.”

Basically, if your uterus contracts too strongly it can simultaneously press against blood vessels in the area and cut off oxygen to the muscles nearby, thereby causing a dull ache across your lower back and even spreading to your upper thighs. Ouchy.

So what should you do if your lower back kills every month?

Thankfully there are lots of over the counter options for managing it. A heat pad like Cura Heat, €9.99, can be ace at dulling the ache, while anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen will also help to numb the pain.

Still suffering? Experts say taking a hot bath or doing a little light cardio can work wonders too.

• body
• health
• menstruation
• Periods