As if bloating [1], fatigue, PMS, and headaches weren't enough, there's another fairly common period symptom that can wreak havoc on your day: joint pain. While people don't always connect joint pain to their menstrual cycle [2], in research published in BMC Women's Health [3] involving over 10,000 people, 43 percent of those with menstrual cramps also experienced mild to severe joint pain during their period.
Joint pain during your period is most often due to the hormone fluctuations that occur during that point in your menstrual cycle. The good news is that, if your joints hurt during your period, you don't need to panic. Still, there are ways to get ahead of the pain (and maybe even resolve it altogether). Ahead, three ob-gyns explain what causes painful joints before or during your period, and what you can do to help mitigate symptoms.
Experts Featured in This Article:
Hyacinth Norris [4], MD, FACOG, is an ob-gyn in the Maryland and DC area.
Peace Nwegbo-Banks [5], MD, FACOG, is a board-certified ob-gyn and creator of Unwind & Chat events.
Tamika K. Cross [6], MD, FACOG, is a board-certified ob-gyn and CEO of Opulence Health and Wellness [7].
Why Joints Hurt During Your Period
Joint pain before your period or during your period is likely connected to a hormone-like fatty compound known as prostaglandins, says Hyacinth Norris, MD, FACOG. "As the lining of the uterus is shed, prostaglandins are released," Dr. Norris tells PS. "They diffuse into the local bloodstream and into neighboring tissue." These prostaglandins prompt the uterus to contract, helping it to expel its lining, which is made of blood and tissue [8]. But prostaglandins trigger inflammation too, which can worsen joint pain and even lower your pain threshold, making you more sensitive overall. Dr. Norris notes that estrogen levels also decrease around the same time prostaglandin levels rise, which may also cause inflammation and contribute to pain.
How to Treat Joint Pain During Your Period
Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to try to soothe joint pain before or during your period. Here's what experts recommend:
- NSAIDs: As a preventative measure, Peace Nwegbo-Banks, MD, FACOG, recommends taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, two to three days before the start of your period. NSAIDs have been shown to prevent the production of prostaglandins [9] by inhibiting two crucial enzymes. Taking NSAIDs a few days before you expect your period to begin may reduce the prostaglandins your body produces, helping to prevent joint pain. To keep the pain away, you can take them for a day or two once your period begins. Make sure to check with your doctor before starting any new medication, and note that NSAIDs are only meant for short-term use.
- Birth Control: Oral contraceptives [10] are another alternative for managing joint pain. Dr. Nwegbo-Banks says that a continuous method of birth control may help minimize hormonal fluctuations and reduce joint pain. By keeping the endometrial lining thin, continuous contraceptives help prevent it from breaking down and producing an influx of prostaglandins, which means less inflammation (and potentially less pain).
- Low-Impact Exercise: To ease joint pain during your period, Tamika K. Cross, MD, FACOG, says you can also try low-impact workouts [11] like yoga or Pilates (but only if you're feeling up to it). While hitting the yoga mat may be the last thing you feel like doing when you're already achy, some gentle movement can actually help the body release endorphins, which have pain-relieving properties.
When to See a Doctor
Although minor aches during your period usually aren't cause for concern, experts caution that joint pain in general can be associated with conditions like lupus [12], osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. If the pain is so intense that it gets in the way of your daily activities, or if it worsens over time, make an appointment with your doctor to rule out any other potential conditions.
— Additional reporting by Mirel Zaman and Chandler Plante
Emily Weaver [13] is an entertainment and lifestyle contributor for PS. Her writing focuses on celebrity relationships, movie and book news, and product shopping guides. Her bylines include PEOPLE, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, HelloGiggles, Scary Mommy, and more.
Mirel Zaman [14] is the wellness director at PS. She has nearly 15 years of experience working in the health and wellness space, writing and editing articles about fitness, general health, mental health, relationships and sex, food and nutrition, astrology, spirituality, family and parenting, culture, and news.
Chandler Plante [15] is an assistant editor for PS Health & Fitness. Previously, she worked as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributed to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her free time, she overshares on the internet, creating content about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.
