7 Ways Gynecologists Deal With Period Cramps
Dr. Pari was featured in the article below, originally posted for the SELF.
Raise your hand if you’ve felt personally victimized by period cramps. Exactly. And if you experience them each month, you know that they tend to strike at the worst time and bring hell to your uterus for what seems like forever. But here’s the thing: There’s no Girl Scout badge for powering through cramps. If there’s a way to make them suck less (whether it’s backed by science or the anecdotes of fellow uterus-owners), why not try it?
First, let’s go over what’s actually happening when you have cramps. Menstrual cramps happen when the muscles of your uterus contract, which typically happens just before or during your period, Pari Ghodsi, M.D., a board-certified ob/gyn, tells SELF. Those contractions are sparked by chemicals called prostaglandins, which are produced in the lining of the uterus, she says.