Why the first two days of your periods are a mess

New Delhi, July 17 When we think of periods, the first thing that comes to our mind is the excruciating pain in the initial two days. It brings our everyday life to a standstill. According to gynecological experts, extremely painful periods are called dysmenorrhea but more than 90 percent women experiences pain, cramping and discomfort around the abdomen region due to uterine cramping.

The uterus releases the hormone prostaglandin during menstruation to kick start the process of uterine muscular contraction, informs Dr Sandeep Chadha, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital.

"Contractions happen at an immense rate and our body expels clots from the uterus during this time. However, if the pain is unbearable then major issues like fibroids and endometriosis could be to blame," he adds.

What are the causes of pain?

Dr Chadha answers: Some people are just at a higher risk of having painful periods. These risks include:

Being under age 20

Having a family history of painful periods

Smoking

Having heavy bleeding with periods

Having irregular periods

Never had a baby

Reaching puberty before age 11

Painful menstrual periods can also be the result of an underlying medical condition, such as:

Premenstrual syndrome

( With inputs from IANS )