Trust us when we say — periods can be a real pain in the bum. And we don’t mean it figuratively! If it feels like your butthole has been hit with a lightning bolt during periods, it doesn’t mean you have to suffer in silence.
Yes, there are a lot of unpleasant things that one experiences around periods — anal pain during period, pelvic pain, severe constipation followed by projectile period poop, leg cramps from hell, nasty migraines, butt pain during period, extreme nausea, and even a whole lot of mood swings, you may want to start using period care kits, pain relief patches, or products made specifically for period problems. But that terrible butt cramp during your periods can also totally throw you off balance. If it hurts to sit down during your periods, then it is a case of butt cramps, and if you’ve experienced something similar, you are not alone.
While pelvic pain during periods or period cramps are more talked about, severe cramping in the anus is also a fairly common occurrence and can be extremely annoying for people with vaginas.
Eager to find out more about these butthole cramps and how to stop cramps in buttocks during period? Read on:
Related: Understanding and managing periods with 5 P’s
What causes butt cramps during periods?
Butthole cramps during periods are a direct result of overactive prostaglandins. These hormones constrict the blood vessels in your uterus to expel the blood, causing intense cramping of the uterine muscles. This can also cause a contraction of the rectum and the muscles around the anal canal, resulting in anal pain during period.
Apart from prostaglandins, there are a few other causes of butt cramps in period.
- Uterine fibroids: The presence of fibroids in your uterus can push it against your butt or back. Apart from causing heavy bleeding, infertility issues, and pain during sex, fibroids can also result in butt muscle cramps.
- Period poops: Progesterone and estrogen levels decrease dramatically right before your periods. These hormones can affect your digestive system and also make pooping a lot harder. This can, in turn, trigger anal pain during period.
- Increased muscle tension: Gluteal muscles make up the majority of your butt muscles. Bloating and cramps during periods can increase the pressure on your gluteal muscles. Due to increased tension, these muscles might spasm and cause butthole cramps.
- Endometriosis: Endometriosis lesions (aka bits of your uterine lining) are located on the nerves all around your pelvic region. During periods, such nerves can send pain signals to the area around your anus and intensify cramps around that area.
- Heavy leg day at the gym: This may sound surprising, but leg day at the gym can turn out to be a real pain in the ass (literally!). A vast majority of people perform squats, leg lifts, and kettlebell swings incorrectly and end up contracting their pelvic floor (including their butthole) a lot more than required. Doing this on your period can worsen the condition and trigger butt pain during period.
How to get rid of bum cramps on period?
Butt cramps are annoying for sure, but do you know how to get rid of butt cramps? Luckily, there are remedies available to control the pain.
- If you are experiencing butt cramps due to muscle tension or over-exercising your legs, a bath, massage, and gentle stretching can help. If needed, you can also take an OTC painkiller or supplements. But make sure that you speak to your doctor before you consume any medication.
- Female masturbation using sex toys is also a great way to deal with butt cramps. Dilators and butt plugs can help you to stretch out the muscles around your anus and counteract the contractions. You can also have anal sex with your partner. But if you are not up for that, some good old vaginal sex can also help.
- Constipation can worsen your anal pain during period. So keep an eye on your diet and include the recommended amount of daily fiber. Trying these remedies may help you to have a simply better period.
- Products like pain relief patches or cramp relief roll-ons also help in relieving butt cramps during periods. Pain relief patches reduce period discomfort and menstrual cramps. Whereas, period relief roll-ons reduce menstrual pain in the lower back, legs, abdomen and thighs.
Sirona’s period pain relief patches give you instant relief from menstrual cramps. These are cool patches with no chemical actives or side effects and they work for up to 8 hours. The best part? Sirona’s pain relief patches are safe, sleek, and convenient to use!
When should you see a doctor about your butt pain during periods?
If the butt cramps are extremely debilitating and interfere with your day-to-day activities, relying on painkillers or home remedies may not be enough.
If you are frequently dealing with butt cramps, you could be suffering from endometriosis, fissures, hemorrhoids, or fibroids, which require medical intervention. Maintain a pain diary to be absolutely sure that these butt cramps get triggered around your period. Also, note down the severity of the pain so that you can correctly report your symptoms to your doctor.
What comes to your mind when you get butt cramps during an office meeting?
Tell us in the comments section below.
Also Read
5 ways a partner can help in period pain: If you really want to help your partner deal with period pain, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of 5 ways you can help your partner in period pain!
Menstruation cramps causes and treatment: Menstrual cramps are not easy to handle. We understand that. But do you know why it happens and how to get rid of them? Read on to know!
Period cramps before periods: If you are also someone who has experienced cramps before periods, this guide will help you. Read for all the possible reasons why this happens and how to get rid of it!