Perimenopause Cramps: What’s Happening & How to Manage It

Many people entering late reproductive stage (LRS) assume that perimenopause marks the beginning of the end of uncomfortable period symptoms, including cramps. Yet for some, not only can cramping continue during perimenopause, but the pain associated with cramping can also become even more severe.

If you’re experiencing worsening cramps during perimenopause you’re not alone. Here are some of the factors that can contribute to your cramping, and tested strategies that may help to soothe your discomfort.

Why am I getting perimenopause cramps?

Perimenopause, also known as the menopausal transition, refers to the time when your body makes its natural transition to menopause (which is defined as having gone 12 months with no menstrual period).

During perimenopause, you may begin to experience changes and symptoms—including hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness—which are rooted in hormonal alterations, especially changing estrogen levels.

Throughout the reproductive years, estrogen levels fall and rise relatively predictably during the menstrual cycle. But once you enter perimenopause, all of that changes.

Though some may have periods that end abruptly and others may experience irregular periods for years, the changes in hormone levels during perimenopause can cause new or worsening symptoms.

Because estrogen levels often rise during perimenopause, this can cause your uterus to release more prostaglandin, which can increase the likelihood and severity of your cramps (also known as dysmenorrhea).

Cramps may also be a sign of another condition, including:

• Endometriosis
• Adenomyosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Cervical stenosis
• Uterine fibroids

How to manage perimenopause cramps

Thankfully, you don’t have to suffer through perimenopausal cramps. Research shows that there are several strategies that can help you find relief:

• Take a walk. Some people find that regular exercise, including walking and sex, can help to ease cramps.
• Apply heat. Soaking in a hot bath or using a hot water bottle or a heating pad on your lower abdomen may help to soothe your cramps.
• Try over-the-counter pain relievers. Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the output of prostaglandins and have been shown to be especially effective in reducing pain and cramping. For optimal relief, take ibuprofen (or another pain reliever like acetaminophen if you cannot take NSAIDs) as soon as bleeding or cramping starts.
• Explore natural remedies. There are some alternative remedies aimed at relieving menstrual cramps. However, many of these remedies have not been studied enough for medical experts to recommend them. Some herbal products, for example, may help to relieve cramps. These herbs include pycnogenol and fennel.
• Look into MHT (if recommended). Talk to your doctor about whether menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) may help to reduce your cramps.

When you should talk to a doctor

If cramps interrupt your quality of life and cannot be managed with at-home treatments, reach out to your doctor. It’s possible that your cramps may be a sign of another condition, like uterine fibroids or pelvic inflammatory disease.

How estradiol (estrogen) can help

The hormonal changes that take place during perimenopause can be difficult, but working with a specialist menopause provider can help. At Evernow, we offer hormone therapy that can help you find relief safely and effectively, both for cramping and other bothersome symptoms of perimenopause.

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Sources

Dysmenorrhea. (2020). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4148-dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea. (2020). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menstrual-cramps/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374944

Menopause 101: A primer for the perimenopausal. (n.d.). https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/menopause-101-a-primer-for-the-perimenopausal

Perimenopause. (n.d.). http://www.cemcor.ca/resources/life-phases/perimenopause

Perimenopause. (2021). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666

Perimenopause: Rocky road to menopause. (2020). https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/perimenopause-rocky-road-to-menopause

Vitamin E and fish oil, separately or in combination, on treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. (2018.) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29542390/