menstrual cramps survey!

[Kreeli]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above?
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?
b) what has worked the best for you?
c) what hasn't worked at all?

7. (for those who say they don't suffer from menstrual cramps currently) have you ever had menstrual cramps in your lifetime? if so, what do you think changed in your body/life that ended them? if not, thanks for playing!

[Music Girl]

1. Yes

2. During, for the first day

3. Light to Moderate

4. Yes, I missed school a day each month because my cramps were so severe when I was a teenager. After I had my daughter, they lightened up considerably.

5. Being soy free eases my cramps somewhat. Not sure why. Caffeine makes my pms worse, but it doesn't seem to affect my cramping.

6. I generally just take an ibuprofen if they get too bad. At one point I had an rx but they aren't bad enough to need heavy drugs anymore.

[rainbow_clouds]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)
Once in a while yes. Thankfully not too much.

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?
During

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above?
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?
combination
I think I've had cramps on all days of my cycle.

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?
Yep.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?
None that I've noticed.

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?
b) what has worked the best for you?
c) what hasn't worked at all?
bath, pain killers, bottle of hot water.

[veganmuncher]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)
Yes

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?
Both - usually small pains before and immense ones for the first one or two days then they fade.

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above?
Moderate and sometimes severe - but not debilitating severe!

b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?
Day one and two of the period

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?
School once - normally I can hack school but I took aspirin for it and it messed my stomach up and I felt ill! Social engagements once or twice but I could have gone if I forced myself.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?

Yes - Caffeine (Tea & Coffee), Salt make it worse. B-vitamin rich foods make it better!

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?
Taking a combination of Ibuprofen & paracetamol, muscle pain relief cream stuff, eating less caffeine & salt & taking more b-vitamins a week(ish) before and during period. Exercise & heat treatment!
b) what has worked the best for you? A combination of the above!
c) what hasn't worked at all? I don't know cos I always combine them but I find Ibuprofen to be helpful.

7. (for those who say they don't suffer from menstrual cramps currently) have you ever had menstrual cramps in your lifetime? if so, what do you think changed in your body/life that ended them? if not, thanks for playing!

[brahmacharya]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)

Yes.

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?

Wee rumblings before, moderate to brutal for first 2 days.

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above?

A combination [details above] but lightening with every month it seems...yoga could be having an effect

b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?

First 2.

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?


In high school I had to go home one day. Other than that, no; I pretty much just suffer.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?

I'm not attuned enough to dial into the foods although since I've recommitted to a very regular yoga practice AND veganism they have lightened but I'm not sure which one of those, or both, had the impact. Behaviours: Worrying about money. Worrying of any kind. I hold on to the stress in my belly and the base of my spine, and delay my period from worry and then when it comes at last it's BRUTAL.

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?

Yoga and pranayama esp. kapalabhati breathing. Geranium essential oil and a blend called Moon Cycle II from Saje. My "red tent"....a big red flannel bag that used to be Morgan's old comforter cover that I crawl into. When I'm grumpy he sends me to The Tent.

b) what has worked the best for you?

The above. I've also tried visualizing the weird power of the cramps as a helpful, positive process, kind of my witchy-woman procreative Goddess power, instead of merely an abdominal upset...the body is creating this and the body seems to know what it's doing so maybe it's my MINDSET that's wrong [I'm blessed with a healthy strong body and cursed with a messed up mind]. Since I tried that they've been lightening considerably. Coincidence? Maybe, but don't fix what ain't broke.

c) what hasn't worked at all?

Well, Midol will work but they just come back with "little pain buddies" to quote Bill Cosby after they wear off. Hot water bottles are kind of a placebo too, and don't really assist in the long run although they force you to stay still which is always nice. I used to rock back and forth in the fetal position when I was a teenager as each surge took over. Thankfully those days are gone.

[ynaffit]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)

i don't know how my cramps compare to the usual ones. i get a dull ache, sometimes dull lower back pain, and a painful combination of diarrhea and constipation, in addition to nausea. none of the pain is really painful except for the pain that goes with the constipation/diarrhea. the worst part is the nausea.

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?

they are really bad beginning 1-2 hours before any blood appears, through about the whole first day. they are milder on the second day, and not too bad after that.

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above?

begins as severe, and then gradually lessens as described in 2.

b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?

first day of period.

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?

yes.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?

i have tried decreasing my soy consumption, and it seems to lessen the intensity a bit, but it could be in my head.

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?

hot shower, ibuprofen, exercise (walking).

b) what has worked the best for you?

ibuprofen

c) what hasn't worked at all?

uh, curling up in a ball and wishing i was dead.

7. (for those who say they don't suffer from menstrual cramps currently) have you ever had menstrual cramps in your lifetime? if so, what do you think changed in your body/life that ended them? if not, thanks for playing!

well, i do suffer from them currently, but i didn't until i was about 16.5. up til then i thought i was lucky, but apparently it's common for them to not start for a few years.

[MollyGoat]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)Yes

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?
Sometimes I get a little teeny bit of crampy upset a few hours before my period, but mostly during.

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above? all of the above
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?
the first and second days are usually the worst. After that, sometimes I get a little cramping, but not much.

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?
Yes, intermittently since I started having my period 12 years ago, but less so in recent years.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?
Nothing very specific, but if I am generally eating nutritious food, taking my vitamins, and getting enough sleep, my cramps aren't as bad. If my eating and lifestyle are crappy, my cramps get worse.

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?
b) what has worked the best for you?
c) what hasn't worked at all?
-the usual array of pain medications--worked sometimes, but not always. Don't use them anymore.
-Cramp Bark Extra by Vitanica--herbal anti-cramp stuff. Often works, but not on the most vicious cramps.
-Hot baths and hot water bottles--again, often works, but not on the worst cramps.
-THE DIVACUP. Best. Cramp remedy. EVER! If I get it in soon enough after my period starts, my cramps are much, much less painful. And then I only have one day of cramps. And my periods are only 2-3 days long when I wear it (used to be 5-7.) Hurray for the Divacup!

[punkmommy]

1. Occasionally

2. Right before and sometimes as soon as it starts ( but then it stops)

3. I get a deeper pain that only lasts a short while ( maybe a few hours ) about a week before my period.

4. No, but my menstrual migraines will put me out for the day.

5. If I've slacked off with exercise in the month, I will notice that I cramp more.

6. Orgasm, but if that's not immedietly an option, naproxin, or a strong drink.

[CarbLover]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.) Yes

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both? During, first two days of period

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above? Combination
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst? Days 1 & 2

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps? I usually just suffer through it if I have to work. Otherwise I stay in bed the whole day.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse? Not exercising

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps? Midol, hot pads, exercise
b) what has worked the best for you? Exercise, particularly Pilates (ab & back strengthening)
c) what hasn't worked at all? Midol does nothing for me. Pamprin puts me to sleep so I can't feel the cramps, but when I wake up it still hurts

[carried]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)

Yes.

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?

during

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above?

servere on the first 2 days and nothing after that

b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?

First 2.

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?


maybe once or twice.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?

nothing really, maybe working out

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?

very hot water bottle, i always get cold during my period (more than usual) and the heat makes my body less tense and the cramps go away.

b) what has worked the best for you?

hot water bottles.

c) what hasn't worked at all?

midol...any of the medicines for cramps

[pseudo_vegan]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)
yes and no

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?
they used to a *tad* bit before...now if I get them they are during the first or second day

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above?
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?
a.) In high school/parts of college/parts of last summer and past fall SEVERE, on the second day; now they are light (which I attribute to mucho exercise + vega diet, probably)
b.) first night/second day

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?
In high school I'd usually end up going home REALLY sick...my mom would have to pick me up b/c I couldn't drive and one time a friend had to drive me home b/c I couldn't drive (was watching a movie)

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?
With me, when I'm exercising a lot (like I have in the past and recently picked up again), the cramps lessen and the over-all duration is a fraction of what it used to be (like the full 7 vs. 3 or 4 days now)

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?
b) what has worked the best for you?
c) what hasn't worked at all?
a.) Ibuprofen; hot baths; heat pads (thermacare); exercise
b.) exercising and the thermacare heat pads (THEY RULE!!)
c.) Ibuprofen is temporary, but unless I take at least three or four when I first feel cramps coming on, it takes FOREVER to help and it wears off pretty quickly

:nigel: Cheers!

[msbunnicula]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)
I don't get stomach cramps but I occasionally get lower back pain.
2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?
I think that I might get the back pain a little before but it's usually during the first couple of days.
3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above?
Probably light to moderate.
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?
The first couple of days.

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?
No. But I've never missed school or work for any sickness.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?
I've never thought of it.
6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?
If it's really bad I might take an ibuprofen (more for peace of mind than anything elase) but I usually suffer through it. At night time, I sometimes have to sleep with a pillow between my legs (I sleep on my side).
b) what has worked the best for you? Sleeping with a pillow between my legs usually helps at night time.
c) what hasn't worked at all?
I haven't really tried any methods...

[Vicky]

1. Yes

2. Start a couple of hours before and last about 3 days

3.a) severe/debilitating
b) second

4. no

5. no

6. a) just painkillers. unfortunately i go through a lot of them :( sometimes even vicoden

[April]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps?

Yes!

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?
Both, but I don't have a consistent pattern. In the past few months I've had uterine cramps off and on all month, and it seems that about 1 week before my period starts I have nasty, sharp cramps that only last a few hours.

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above?
The random cramps I have throughout the month tend to be light, but the cramps I have during or right before my period are moderate to severe.
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?
The first full day.

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?
In the past year I've had 2 days that were bad enough for me to call off, but both were days off
5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?
No, but I'm interested in figuring it out.

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?
When they're really bad, those heated pad things you can actually wear on your stomach have helped. I tend to take 600mgs of Ibuprofen when they're moderate, 800mgs when they're worse.
b) what has worked the best for you? Ibuprofen + heat
c) what hasn't worked at all? light exercise

[missleigh]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.) Yes.

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both? before, and during.

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above? Light cramping. More of my period pain is achiness in my abdomen, and bloating.
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst? several days before my period.

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps? No.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse? I crave salt, sugar, and carbs during my period, and I always succumb to the cravings. I don't think these foods make me feel better or worse, really.

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps? heating pads, hot baths, massages from the husband, orgasam
b) what has worked the best for you? all of the above works well.
c) what hasn't worked at all? midol or other over the counter meds.

7. (for those who say they don't suffer from menstrual cramps currently) have you ever had menstrual cramps in your lifetime? if so, what do you think changed in your body/life that ended them? if not, thanks for playing!

[mayuko]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? yep

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both? sometimes there's a couple of mild ones before, but mostly it's just during.

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above? sometimes light, mostly moderate, and occasionally there's the "OMG I'M GONNA DIE" cramp
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst? my cycle's far from regular so i don't think i can answer this question well

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps? no, though there have been times i used cramps as an excuse to get out of gym class :p

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse? i've never really paid much attention to what foods/behaviors trigger it.

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps? basically i just grit my teeth, lay down, wait for it to pass.. heh.

[Chrysalis]

1. Sure do

2. A day or two before it comes, and usually the first day it comes

3.a) Sometimes I don't get any, but usually I'll have moderate cramps. On the rare occassion, I'll have severe cramps that leave me curled up in a ball praying for my medication to kick in
b) The very first day.

4. I think I skipped a class once because my cramps were really severe, and I usually put off exercise plans if I'm cramped up. That's about it though.

5. I don't notice any difference

6. a) I've tried heating pad, exercising a week before I expect it, and of course Pamprin
b) Pamprin definately works the best, it is awesome.
c) Exercise prior to period does work, but I am too lazy to do it, so I guess it doesn't really count. And the heating pad doesn't help very much.

[Katt Fink]

Oh boy!! I wanna try!

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? Certainly

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both? A little of both, and even all the days/weeks between my cycle.. strange, yes?

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above? I'd say light to moderate
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst? The day of the "big event"

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps? Yes.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse? Not make them worse, that I've noticed. Orgasms definitely relieve them somewhat.

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps? Prescription Naproxen, OTC stuff like Midol and Ibuprofen, BC Pills
b) what has worked the best for you? All have worked a little, but as my period changes (every few years) so does the effectiveness of pain management and the need for it.
c) what hasn't worked at all?

7. (for those who say they don't suffer from menstrual cramps currently) have you ever had menstrual cramps in your lifetime? if so, what do you think changed in your body/life that ended them? if not, thanks for playing!

woo! I feel all womany.

[Elena99]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? Sometimes, but not every cycle.

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both? Both.

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above? Light. My cramps have been bad enough to call severe maybe 3-4 times in my life.

b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst? When my period is the heaviest.

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps? No.

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse? It's worse if I eat spicy foods, don't exercise, don't eat enough and don't drink enough water.

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps? Lots of exercising, especially yoga and running, mild sexual activity, drinking lots of water, eating tofu and soy-based foods.
b) what has worked the best for you? Exercise.
c) what hasn't worked at all? Not sure.

[outbackbaby]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.) yes

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both? 1st day of period only

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above? light-used to be severe...has always only been for the first few hours on the day it comes.
b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst? only get them the first day

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps? yes

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what food/behaviours make your cramps worse? junk food. i guess its cause i'm already feeling crappy=reason i eat junk foods then i get upset cause i ate the junk

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps? hot pads, ibuprofen
b) what has worked the best for you? lortab (i got pretty sick once. it was rough)
c) what hasn't worked at all? hot pads

7. (for those who say they don't suffer from menstrual cramps currently) have you ever had menstrual cramps in your lifetime? if so, what do you think changed in your body/life that ended them? if not, thanks for playing!

Kreeli-i really enjoy reading your posts. the things you and some of the other women here know and are willing to share with people blows my mind. you rock.

[marleah]

1. Yes

2. They usually start (mildly) a few hours before my period starts, and last maybe through the second day.

3.a) It used to be severe - I first got my period in 5th grade, and there were days I would have to leave school because they were so bad. Once I was 16 and got on the pill (for the sole purpose of regulating my period and easing my cramps), they got pretty mild.
b) Usually the beginning of the second day

4. Yep - I guess I already answered that.

5. If I am doing really good with my workouts during the weeks I don't have my period, then cramps aren't so bad. If I work out during the first couple days, I will regret it though. I haven't noticed foods making any difference though.

6. a) Exercise, taking ibuprofen right away the day my period is going to start, the pill
b) The pill has worked really well. Taking ibuprofen usually works. I used to have to pop that stuff like candy, but now I usually only have to take 2 ibuprofen once on the first day and once on the second day, and I'm good. The exercise would work if I stay consistent.
c) Everything I have consciously tried has helped at least a little ...

7. N/A

[Sunny]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)
Yes

2. do they happen before your period comes, or during, or both?
I get *pressure* 1-2 days before my cycle. I have cramps the first day or two of my cycle.

3.a) would you say that your cramping tends to be light, moderate or severe/debilitating, or a combination of all of the above?
moderate to severe

b) what days of your cycle are your cramps the worst?
The first day or two

4. have you ever had to miss school or work or social engagements due to cramps?
No

5. do you find certain foods you eat or behaviours you engage in during the course of a month affect the intensity/duration of your menstrual cramps? if yes, what foods/behaviours make your cramps worse?
Standing tends to make them worse

6. a) what methods have you used to try and manage the pain from menstrual cramps?

b) what has worked the best for you?
Taking ibuprofin

c) what hasn't worked at all?
Grinning and bearing it

7. (for those who say they don't suffer from menstrual cramps currently) have you ever had menstrual cramps in your lifetime? if so, what do you think changed in your body/life that ended them? if not, thanks for playing!

[Sunny]

Here's a question I have. Does anyone else get pressure or pain (even throbbing) in the vaginal area (not the abdominal area), especially if you stand too long?

[delicious]

My cramps are mild and I only get them on the first day. Tylenol usually takes the pain completely away. Exercise helps, too. As does sex.

[veggiewriter]

1. do you ever have menstrual cramps? (if no, please go to question 7.)

Not since I was a teen.

7. (for those who say they don't suffer from menstrual cramps currently) have you ever had menstrual cramps in your lifetime? if so, what do you think changed in your body/life that ended them?

I had horrible backaches when I was a teenager (until about 19); the first day of my period would be so bad I couldn't get out of bed. My mom was very understanding--I didn't have to worry about going to school, she'd bring me breakfast and lunch in bed, and I'd drink tea and read all day long. Sounds nice, right? Except for the fact that if I moved even a little bit from my pillowy position my back would feel like someone was pounding away brutally with a sledge-hammer on my lower vertabrae.

By the time I started college, though, the pain had died down to just a dull ache and once I started bc I had no cramps at all. Still don't! :)