What Causes Menstrual Cramp Pain?

Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) are the sharp pains in the pelvis and lower abdomen that a woman may have during her menstrual cycle. According to MedicineNet.com, about 50% of women have menstrual cramps, and 15% of these women describe the pain as severe. Cramps are primarily caused by the chemical prostaglandin, which is produced by the tissue that lines the uterus. Prostraglandin causes the muscles of the uterus to contract during a woman's monthly cycle. According to eMedicineHealth, women with high levels of prostraglandin may have more intense contractions and hence more pain. However, while prostraglandin is the primary cause of menstrual cramps, there are a host of secondary causes as well.

Endometriosis

• Women with endometriosis frequently have extremely painful menstrual periods. Endometriosis is a disease that causes tissue similar to that which lines the uterus (endometrium) to grow outside of the uterus. The tissue can grow on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the ligaments that support the uterus, the bladder and/or the rectum. Just as the endometrium sheds every month, so does the tissue outside of the uterus, which can be very painful, particularly because, unlike the endometrium, this misplaced tissue has no way of exiting the body.

Fibroids

• Fibroids are noncancerous growths that lie in the muscle of the uterus. They can grow into the uterine cavity or embed themselves into the uterine wall. Many women who have fibroids have heavy bleeding during their periods along with a great deal of pain. No one knows exactly why fibroids cause more bleeding and pain, but according to Women's Health London, one theory is that the pain may result from large clots of blood pushing through your cervix. Another theory is that cramps occur because the womb is trying to force out a fibroid that is growing in the cavity of the womb.

Narrow Cervix

• The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, which opens into the vagina. During menstruation, uterine lining passes through the cervix and flows out through the vagina. If a woman's cervix is particularly narrow, it can cause pain and cramping as the menstrual blood and tissue pass through.

IUD (intrauterine device)

• An intrauterine device is a small, T-shaped instrument that is inserted into the uterus as a form of birth control. The device prevents the sperm and egg from meeting or prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. An IUD can increase cramping and pain during a woman's period, particularly within the first three months after the device is inserted.

Ovarian Cyst

• An ovarian cyst is a small sac that grows on the ovary. While there are several types of ovarian cysts, the most common kind develops when the follicle that grows during ovulation fails to break open and release an egg. Instead, fluid remains in the follicle and a cyst forms. The cysts can cause pain during menstruation that ranges from mild to severe.