Why Do Period Cramps Hurt So Bad The First Day?

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Because the level of prostaglandins (the pain chemical) is at absolute highest on the first day of your period. High levels of prostaglandins lead to more strong, more frequent, and more painful contractions right on the first day.

Here’s a step-by-step understanding on why the first day of period pain hurt so bad.

1. The Prostaglandin Peak

Just before your period starts, the lining of your uterus produces a high volume of prostaglandins (the pain chemical). These levels are at their absolute highest. often causing bad period pains on first day.

  • What they do: They tell your uterine muscles to contract (squeeze) to help shed the lining.
  • The Result: High levels lead to stronger, more frequent, and more painful contractions right at the start.

2. The Oxygen Squeeze

On the first day, the uterus is working its hardest to begin the flow. When the uterine muscles contract forcefully due to prostaglandins, they can squeeze the nearby blood vessels shut.

  • What happens: This temporarily cuts off the supply of oxygen to the muscle tissue of the uterus.
  • The Result: When a muscle is deprived of oxygen, it sends out intense pain signals. This is why the cramps feel like a sharp throbbing sensation.

3. Narrow Opening Of The Cervix

The cervix is the narrow opening at the bottom of the uterus. It must slightly open to allow the period blood and tissue to pass.

  • What happens: For many, especially younger women, this passage is very narrow. As the uterus pushes against this narrow opening on the first day, it can cause intense cramping.

4. Maximum Shedding On Day 1 And Day 2

The volume of tissue and blood being shed is often heaviest on the first and second day of your period. Hence the uterus must contract more strongly to move this volume of blood and tissue out, leading to severe period pain on first day. This leads to more noticeable and severe pain compared to the lighter pain during the end days of the period.

Graphic with a bold headline at the top that reads, “Why Do Period Cramps Hurt So Bad The First Day?” Below the headline is an educational explanation about severe period cramps, menstrual pain, and first day period cramps. The text explains that period cramps are most painful on the first day because the level of prostaglandins, also known as pain-causing chemicals during menstruation, is at its absolute highest on the first day of a menstrual cycle, leading to more strong, more frequent, and more painful uterine contractions. It explains that when uterine muscles squeeze very hard, they cut off oxygen supply to the uterus muscle, causing intense throbbing period cramps pain. Additionally, a narrow cervical opening and the fact that the heaviest menstrual bleeding and shedding of uterine lining tissue occur during the first two days of a period further contribute to the intensity of menstrual cramps, lower abdominal pain during periods, and overall period pain severity. The graphic has an educational, women’s health–focused tone designed to explain the causes of painful periods. The graphic portraits the campaign message "STOP The Period Pain." Which is a knowledge initiative campaign by Blue Cross Laboratories the makers of meftal spas

Your Journey to #StopThePeriodPain Starts Here

Every month, millions of Indian girls & women suffer in silence, told that their severe period pain (dysmenorrhea) is “normal.” Our mission is to break that silence. #StopThePeriodPain campaign is here to empower you with 3 simple truths:

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References:

  1. PubMed Central – Levels of prostaglandins in human endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle
  2. Indian Journal of Clinical Practice – Role of Prostaglandins in Pathogenesis of Dysmenorrhea and Place of Mefenamic Acid and Dicyclomine in its Management

Don’t Take Period Pain Lightly.

Period pain (dysmenorrhea) is a real medical issue.
Visit a gynaecologist and #StopThePeriodPain

Don't take period pain lightly