Is Your Period Supposed to Hurt This Much? Pelvic Physio for Dysmenorrhea

From a young age, many women are taught that period pain is just a normal burden of biology. We are handed a heating pad, told to take some ibuprofen, and expected to push through our daily lives.

But if you are missing work, curled up in a fetal position, vomiting from the intensity of the cramps, or experiencing radiating pain down your thighs and lower back, you need to know this: Debilitating period pain is common, but it is NOT normal. 

The Uterus and the Pelvic Floor: A Painful Chain Reaction

Primary dysmenorrhea (period pain not caused by endometriosis or fibroids) starts with the uterus. During your period, your body releases chemicals called prostaglandins that make the uterine muscle contract to shed its lining.

Here is where the pelvic floor gets involved. Your uterus does not exist in a vacuum; it sits directly on top of your pelvic floor muscles. When the uterus goes into violent, painful spasms, your pelvic floor muscles (and lower back muscles) instinctively clench to "guard" the area from the pain.

Over time, this repeated monthly clenching creates chronic trigger points. Eventually, the uterine cramps are only half the problem—the other half is a hypertonic (overly tight) pelvic floor that is constantly in a state of defensive spasm.

How Milton Physio Plus Can Change Your Cycle

You don't just have to wait out the pain every month. We take a proactive, physical approach to your menstrual cycle:

• Nervous System Down-Training: We teach you targeted breathing techniques to calm the body's fight-or-flight response, which actively reduces the severity of the muscle spasms.

• Manual Therapy: We perform internal and external releases of the pelvic floor and abdominal fascia between your cycles. By ensuring the muscles are relaxed and healthy before your period starts, they are much less likely to go into a severe spasm when the prostaglandins hit.

• Visceral Mobilization: Gentle massage techniques over the abdomen to improve blood flow to the uterus and surrounding organs, reducing congestion and cramping.

Stop letting your period steal a week of your life every month. Let’s get your muscles out of defense mode.