Can Intercourse Scale back Menstrual Cramps?

The SMSNA periodically receives and publishes ‘visitor editorials.’ The present article was submitted by Mia Barnes, a contract author and researcher who makes a speciality of girls’s well being, wellness, and wholesome residing. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Physique+Thoughts Journal.

Having intercourse whilst you expertise menstrual cramps is wholesome and might present important advantages. Whereas it won’t be the primary exercise that involves thoughts when your PMS or interval cramping begins, many individuals take pleasure in intercourse to scale back menstrual cramps, expertise elevated pleasure and profit from different benefits. Study extra about having intercourse whereas menstrual cramps are occurring and the way it may also help your physique.

Menstrual Cramps Outlined

Menstrual cramps consult with decrease stomach cramping within the three days main as much as or throughout your menstrual cycle. This ache happens in 75% of ladies below 25,¹ however can proceed after that age in case your interval is extra intense.

Earlier than your interval begins, your physique produces prostaglandins to stimulate uterine contractions,² ultimately expelling your uterine lining as menstrual blood. When the cramping is tolerable however uncomfortable, you’ll be able to have intercourse to handle it earlier than using different sources like over-the-counter (OTC) ache relievers or heating pads.

It’s value noting some individuals have extra intense menstrual cramps than others. Any discomfort that makes your physique tense, feels debilitating or makes you nauseous will probably reply greatest to OTC ache relievers as a substitute of intercourse. Hormonal imbalances may cause this excessive discomfort together with intense temper fluctuations³ and infertility.

When you’re involved concerning the severity of your menstrual cramps, discuss together with your OB-GYN. They will talk about your different signs and well being historical past to establish potential diagnoses like endometriosis.

Advantages of Utilizing Intercourse to Scale back Menstrual Cramps

Some individuals keep away from having intercourse whereas cramping as a result of they assume the muscle and nervous system stimulation might make their ache worse. Nevertheless, intercourse can scale back menstrual cramps after they’re nonetheless a minor discomfort. The largest drawback is the potential for an additional mess — contracting your uterus and cervix throughout an orgasm can launch your shedding uterine lining and lead to early menstrual bleeding.

These are just a few of the first advantages of utilizing intercourse to scale back menstrual cramps:

• Lowered menstrual cramps: For some, intercourse can relieve their pre-menstrual or lively interval cramps. The Theo Mei Approach encourages girls to have a number of orgasms³ whereas cramping to ship a rush of endorphins all through their our bodies. Endorphins are a pure pain-relieving hormone.
• Elevated independence: Though you’ll be able to create a pain-relieving impact with penetration, you don’t want it to expertise aid. The Theo Mei Approach emphasizes how orgasming leads to useful endorphins. Self-stimulation to realize an orgasm can ship the identical outcomes should you stay by your self, don’t have a associate, or don’t choose penetration.
• Elevated intercourse drive: When you’ve intercourse, your mind releases dopamine⁵ as a result of your physique is doing one thing pleasurable. Dopamine is a feel-good hormone, so it’s pure that you simply’ll wish to repeat no matter exercise produces extra of it. You could improve your intercourse drive by having intercourse extra typically, particularly if it combines pleasurable emotions with ache aid.
• Pure lubricant: Though the vaginal canal can lubricate itself, having intercourse to scale back menstrual cramps may cause your interval to start a day or two early. The muscle contractions earlier than and through orgasm could launch your shedding uterine lining.² The ensuing blood gives further lubrication that could be a major profit should you expertise vaginal dryness because of a hormonal imbalance.

Different Tips for Having Intercourse Throughout Menstrual Cramping

These are just a few different suggestions for having intercourse simply earlier than or throughout your interval, which can enhance your consolation and pleasure:

• Talk your consolation ranges: Communication is important to pre-menstrual or interval intercourse. Some individuals would possibly really feel discomfort because of their cramping depth, which may change after bodily stimulation begins. It’s essential to let your associate know in case your ache worsens so the sexual exercise ends. If intense cramping occurs with each interval and prevents you from making an attempt this type of ache aid, discuss together with your physician. It might point out you’ve a situation like endometriosis and wish therapy.
• Use safety: Like all intercourse, it’s very important to make use of safety to keep away from unintended being pregnant or STI transmission. Condoms are 98% efficient at stopping pregnancies⁶ and 71–80% efficient⁶ at stopping STD transmission. Different sources like dental dams additionally hold sexual companions from transmitting STDs when used accurately.
• Take away tampons: It is best to take away tampons or interval cups earlier than partaking in menstrual intercourse after your interval begins.
• Put together for the mess: Preparation makes cleanup simpler. You’ll be able to lay down towels or hold washcloths and wipes close by for afterward.

Total, having intercourse to scale back menstrual cramps gives many advantages and might relieve your ache. If you wish to do that ache administration approach, talk overtly together with your associate. You’ll be able to at all times cease and depend on different menstrual cramp-reliving actions if sexual exercise doesn’t present the optimistic advantages you’re searching for.

Keep in mind, if intense menstrual cramping is a month-to-month incidence and you could find little to no aid, discuss with an OB-GYN. You might have an undiagnosed situation or hormonal imbalance that requires medical help earlier than you’ll be able to relieve your cramps.

Sources:

1. Armour, M., Parry, Okay., Al-Dabbas, M. A., Curry, C., Holmes, Okay., MacMillan, F., Ferfolja, T., & Smith, C. A. (2019, July 24). Self-Care Methods and Sources of Information on Menstruation in 12,526 Younger Girls With Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Evaluation and Meta-Evaluation. PLOS ONE. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371percent2Fjournal.pone.0220103
2. Kant, A., Kannan, J., Chandra, S., Chandravati, kalra, B., Mary, H., Kasture, P., Rajshekhar, B., Jindal, A., Amuthambigai, Dalal, S., Jain, R., Kulkarni, S., Vinay, S., Sindur, U., Ojha, P., Chakravarty, R., Harini, Mayekar, A., … Chaudhary, V. (2023, June 28). Unraveling Prostaglandin and NLRP3 Inflammasomemediated Pathways of Main Dysmenorrhea and the Function of Mefenamic Acid and Its Combos. Indian Journal Of Medical Follow. https://ojs.ijcp.in/IJCP/article/view/206
3. Hormonal Imbalance Signs and Remedies. Synergy Wellness. (2023, July 21). https://synergywellnesscenter.com/weblog/hormonal-imbalance-symptoms/
4. Sparks, W., & Salceies, R. (2023, Could 24). Theo Mei Approach (TMT) – A Particular Technique Eliminating or Decreasing Menstrual Ache. Educational.oup.com. https://tutorial.oup.com/jsm/article/20/Supplement_2/qdad061.052/7165547
5. Zachry, J. E., Nolan, S. O., Brady, L. J., Kelly, S. J., Siciliano, C. A., & Calipari, E. S. (2020, December 14). Intercourse Variations in Dopamine Launch Regulation within the Striatum. Nature Information. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-020-00915-1
6. Condoms: Delivery Management, Varieties, How They Work & Effectiveness. Cleveland Clinic. (2022, September 15). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/well being/medicine/9404-condoms