Menstrual like cramps while running

Hi everyone,

Found this thread and even though its 10 years old I think I know the root of the problem!

My gyno said that some women can overproduce prostaglandins- which is the hormone that causes the uterus to cramp during your period. Vigorous movement like running can trigger a release of these hormones, causing painful cramps. The pill stabalises your uterine lining, which is why symptoms can go away when on it.

The solution is to take an anti-inflammatory before you run! Some are over the counter, and there are some that can be prescribed. This will stop the prostaglandin release :)

Hope this helps!!!!

So thankful for finding this thread and others who are suffering with the same problem as me! Much like a lot of people on this thread i'm getting SEVERE pain in my lower abdomen (left side almost always) around 1-1.5 miles into run. It doesn't make a difference what pace i'm going. The pain is excruciating and coupled with nausea/dizziness and is particularly embarrassing when running around the city. I sit for around 5-10 minutes until the pain passes and then after that I can run as normal until my hearts content!!! I'm currently training for my first race (half marathon) and really need to get this sorted before then as there is no way I could race if I have to take 10 minutes out a mile in?!

Any advice would be much appreciated :)

Hi LV - I realize this is an ancient post...

I've read through to the end. My symptoms are identical all the way to getting off BC knowing I'll have pain because we are trying to conceive. We've been trying for nearly a year and I have yet to do that HCV (tube test) but it is scheduled... the pain I feel is more associated with my ovulation time but feels so brutal like my pre-menstral. I do not have PCOS but I have lost an ovary due to a cyst rupture and in my case I just get them one at a time so no resolution for the insulin production. In fact I can't find a doctor who will test me for it because of the PCOS negative. Its so frustrating - I use run for therapy and all this pain associated is really weighing on that outlet. I've read a lot about pelvic floor weakness recently and might go that direction.

Anyway, did you ever find resolution?

So, I’ve been having this problem since I was 17 when I started long distance running. I’m pretty sure I posted about this 13 years ago. I did not want to get on BC or any medication so I suffered with it all these years. I’m 37 now. It seemed to continually get worse. My newest doctor about a year 1/2 ago said I could have endometriosis. I started getting the pain more often and also spotting after longer runs during my ovulation stage. Hormones seemed off, always felt crappy. He said laparoscopy or try BC. I put it off again until about a month ago, I could not handle it it anymore, so I decided on the surgery because I wanted to know what was going on. After going in, he found scar tissue built up from a 2nd grade emergency appendectomy! I just had surgery two days ago and already feel way better! Not sure in the running just yet, but very hopeful. I feel that scar tissue was pulling every which way and on a nerve. I truly believe it’s the issue and excited to get back to my runs! Laparoscopy will help you know the issue rather than medicate and see if it helps. I’m a person that wants to know.

I started intensely exercising at 15 and whenever I would take a break for longer than a month and go back to it, I would have the same problems described in this thread. (I'd do a 10min cardio warm up of skipping or running and 5 mins later the cramps would begin.) I'm 22 now and hearing more and more about endo. I get really bad lower intestinal cramps with diarrhoea on the first day of my period (not consistently but at least twice a year, and I think more so when I'm not on the ball with my health) and shooting pain when I go to the bathroom on those days as well. Based off anecdotes from friends and my own research I believe this sums up to endometriosis, it just makes sense. I know most of you know this but the uterine tissue can't be seen in a CT/MRI so they can't use imaging for diagnosis, it has to be surgery unless you have familial history in which case the symptoms alone might be enough, at least in Scotland. I'm currently in pandemic induced slob state so I will try going down the route of mitigating prostaglandin production pre-exercise and see if that works but thankfully mine goes away as my body gets adjusted to the intense consistent exercise (at least 3 times a week) which I realise probably isn't the case for a lot of you on here :( Thank God for this thread though, bless all you gals for taking the time to write something. Not feeling alone in this is such a relief.

Breaks my heart that some of you are struggling with infertility, I've seen how tough that is on people and I wish you all the power in the world to get through it all. Pain aside, that is one thing that really worries me about endo. I'm allergic to a lot of anaesthetic so the thought of surgery just for a diagnosis irks me, I'm going to leave it as is for now and hopefully keeping fit mitigates the pain. My friend's family is plagued by PCOS and endo, one of her aunts had her endo tissue removed just for it to grow back again after, Kayla Itsines had hers grow back after pregnancy but was spotless until then and seems fine now. It sucks that getting a diagnosis is hard enough and then the variations of what comes after are insanely broad too.

So happy for you Lauren for getting all that scarring removed!!! Hope you and everyone else in this thread are doing well :)

I know this is a really old post, but these are the best replies I've found anywhere. I'm 21 and have been experiencing this exact same pain every time I've taken up running since age 15/16. Each time I start running, I stop again because I'm so afraid to run as the pain is just so bad. Like everyone says, it's like really severe period cramps or what I imagine contractions to be like, as though my insides are going to fall out! Always starts 15mins into the run, and end up doubled over in tears and having to stop.. goes after sitting down for 5/10 minutes.Doesnt seem to be good related or anything to do with hydration or HR. Rarely hurts when I'm on my period, but the rest of the time, particularly around ovulation, it's very bad.

My first doctor said it was short hamstrings (definitely not!) and I've now had an external and transvaginal ultrasound which were completely normals, no cysts or anything. Not sure really what the next step should be medically wise? Worried they are just going to drop the case because they don't know what it is.. no idea if it could be sometimes like endometriosis? Did anyone get any answers?

I’m so glad to see I am not alone! I have the same issue. Im 37. I track my cycle pretty closely so I know that it is on/around ovulation. Severe cramp 1 to 2 miles into a run, then I have to sit for 5-10 minutes (though I want to crawl into a hole). I feel 100% fine after it passes.

Im not on BC and don’t want to be. I’ll try someone’s recommendation of taking an anti-inflammatory before the run around ovulation if prostaglandin is the issue. Otherwise I’m thinking it is endometriosis. I also have severe cramps on my period that get worse with age.

This has to be it. I had a labroscopy and removed a giant fibroid on top of uterus and some endo on my uterual ligaments... I thought that would be the fix.. but nope, two months after surgery, it’s back when I’m running.

I believe this is the problem for sure. I can’t think of anything else.

what... the hell... have i stumbled upon???/

I've never posted on here before, although I'm a pro runner and so occasionally ~peruse~ letsrun, but this thread is the SINGLE most informative thing I've seen on the site and so I couldn't resist.

I'm 26 and have had the exact same experience that so many of you have described, starting around the age of 17, and have been met with the same lack of answers/solutions. I've talked to sports med people, endocrinologists, gynos, etc. and no one seems to have a remote clue about what might be going on.

For me it usually happens roughly around ovulation (but sometimes more random), about 3 miles into a run, and goes away after I stop and walk for about 2-5 minutes (walking helps although I usually feel like I want to die). And then I feel fine for the rest of the run, as if nothing happened. The pain is spot on the way other people have described - what I would imagine contractions to feel like, or as if there is an intense pressure twisting in my abdomen. I get it usually on a couple runs a month, but may go several months without feeling it, and I get it after nearly every race. I can say without a doubt that it is the most intense pain I've ever experienced.

I sought out help from doctors etc. when it started to interfere with my workouts (I've had to stop in the middle of tempos before, which is really irritating) and was met with no answers. It is SO, SO relieving to hear that I'm not the only person who has experienced this (although I'm so sorry for what everyone has to go through). I'm generally interested in endocrinology and have thought a lot about whether the pain is related to cyclic hormone fluctuations gone awry, but I have no real basis to go off of other than the timing of the cramps. I have also read that because vasopressin (released when dehydrated) and oxytocin (which causes uterine cramping during birth) are both released from the same place, sometimes your body can accidentally release both when it is only meaning to release vasopressin. Personally, I haven't seen a link between dehydration and the cramping though, so for me that theory doesn't really hold up.

I hope to someday find answers to this and wish I had more solutions to offer, but I will say to anyone who feels like they want to quit because of it - I've somehow gotten to the professional level in running and I honestly credit having to push through this random pain on a regular basis in part for making me tough. I think it's made me develop the skill of talking my body down from a difficult spot and occasionally wonder (when I'm in the 5 min of agony wishing I didn't need to deal with this) if I would have reached the place I'm in without it. So basically what I'm saying is you all are tough as hell, don't give up.

I really hope this thread stays alive until someone comes back with an answer. I’ve never met anyone with this same pain, so it’s extremely comforting to be able to reference this post.

A description of my symptoms: About a mile into a run I can start to feel a very mild cramping sensation, like period cramps. If I push through, the cramps get so severe, sometimes I throw up. It’s seriously the worst pain ever. I’m either on the ground breathing deeply or pacing like a crazy person. Lasts about 2-3 minutes. But, if I catch the onset of the pain soon enough and I slow down on my run, the pain doesn’t escalate to that bad of a level. I can walk it off, takes awhile, but eventually goes away and I can run normally for miles and miles after that. It is the most bizarre thing. The pain is so terrible though that I hate running now because I have to deal with it.

I can’t find any other reason for this pain - diet, dehydration, time of day - it doesn’t matter. It happens every time I run, without fail. This consistency started just after high school, but during high school, it would happen only occasionally. I played soccer and basketball and only felt the pain once or twice during PE. The pain only occurs while running. I can bike, hike, walk, play sports just fine.

Hopefully we can get some concrete answers soon. I feel for everyone experiencing this and I’m so sorry. Thank you all for sharing too!

That’s wonderful news, glad to hear it!

For this poster and all others, this is 100% related to endo and not being dehydrated or underfueled before a run (although diet can impact endo).

There are 3 ways to treat endo: 1) Surgery where adhesions are cut out 2) Medications 3) Birth Control. There are variations of the kind of surgery that is performed. Educate yourself here:

https://nancysnookendo.com/about-endometriosis/

I had this issue for 10+ years and my surgeon sent me to a physical therapist as a last ditch effort before surgery and PT dramatically increased my quality of life. Imagine your belly the same way you would a knee that has had a bunch of scarring. PTs can use techniques to break up scar tissue in your knee and a very talented PT can do the same with your belly. For me, my right ovary was adhered to my bowl and so when I would ovulate and then get my period (so half of each month) I would have INSANE pain that was cramps. This would happen not running and running (same level of pain) and I got so frustrated I'd just go run and at times vomit because the pain was so bad (again while running and not running).

The things that helped me:

1. Find a good PT who works on women and absolutely do no accept anything other than healing. You can heal from endo.

2. The supplement Serrapeptase (Arthur Andrew Medical is a reputable brand), is very helpful in reducing inflammation

3. Food - I have found what I eat matters. Any inflammatory food like gluten, dairy, sugar will make endo worse. This sounds dramatic and super bandwagon-ish and also I've been in pain 10 years and will basically do anything to give me quality of life back.

4. Extra weight - I was about 10 pounds above my normal "my jeans fit comfortably" weight and this made it a ton worse.

Hi Sally,

Would you mind sharing your warm up exercise please? I have taken your advice and the warm-up does prevent the pain coming on for the most part which is amazing, so thank you so so much for sharing this! I have the exception that it doesn't work about a week before my period so I'd like to try different warm ups and see if this makes a difference. I, alongside everyone else on this thread, would love to see an end to this pain induced from exercising. I would highly recommend anyone on this group to try Sally's suggestion and please feedback how you get on - we are in this together!

So thankful I found this thread. I suffer too and have done consistently since taking up distance running 3 years ago. Pain starts at mile 2, disappears by mile 4. Starts gradually, peaks, then dies away. Doesn’t return. I don’t suffer for a few days before and when I’m my period, but the rest of the month can be torture. Sometimes it’s bearable but other times I think I’m going to throw up or faint. I seem to be able to dull it down with ibuprofen pre run, but I’m aware that is not ideal as running on NSAID’s can cause kidney issues.

I’ve always run through and found the pain worsens if I stop (but still calms down after 5 minutes, just gets worse for that 5 minutes than if I were to keep running).

I have recently discussed with my GP….he has performed an ultrasound and found a cyst…it unlikely this is related as it seems to be a “common” cyst, cycle related and unlikely to have been present for long. No other issues were identified.

Having read all the replies on here, I’m inclined to agree this is prostaglandin related. I’m going to try stopping for 5 mins (annoying as it is) as soon as I feel the mild pain start, before it builds…let that subside and set off again and see if it’s passed. I know Ibuprofen/naproxen helps (which makes sense if it’s prostaglandin related) but would rather not get in that habit. I might try paracetamol as that is safer to run on (although doesn’t prevent prostaglandin release, it might curb the pain?). I’m also going to discuss BC with my GP as it ties in nicely with a new relationship starting and inevitable impending peri menopause anyway (I’m 42). So possibly 3 birds, one stone…

I can’t believe I stumbled upon this thread. Reading through the original post, I actually thought I may have written it under a fake name. In the summer of 2007 I was having my best training leading into the year I achieved all of my collegiate PRs. I had been suffering from all of this since 2003 as a sophomore in high school. We did all the things: NSAIDS, low dose BC, bumped up to higher BC, countless images, etc. Nothing. I always felt like my teammates and coaches thought I was such a liar because no one else I knew was facing it and it seemed to be something I would blame my poor races on. But just like you ladies have said, it wasn’t consistent. Good days = good performances. Cramp days = hopeless. Thankfully my college coach worked with me and being on BC seemed to curb it to the best it could.

After being done collegiately, I felt no need to be on BC anymore and sure enough, the cramps came back with a vengeance. In my upper 20s, I was less intense with my training but was having regular menstrual cramp issues that caused me to lose a day of work each month. I went to my general doc with some other issues as well and he wanted to put me on about 7 meds, including BC again. I had been reading on Celiac Disease and asked to be tested for that. He literally laughed at me but had the test done. Two weeks later: positive for Celiac.

So that was 4.5 years ago and my strictly gluten free diet has been magical. I can’t say that this would be the solution/diagnosis for every one of you women, but I know that feeling of desperation and the desire to try ANYTHING to make it stop. It’s crazy to me that one of the original responses mentioned a potential dietary issue and even elimination diets. I wish I had known this back then!

Best of luck, ladies!

Hi!

Although I'm sad so many people are experiencing this, I'm also relieved to see its not just me. Lots of advice, I've written a few bits down in a desperate hope that something might work, so thank you!! I've done the eating/drinking/pain killers/ibs pills/electrolytes before running. Nothing seems to work. And it's at any point during my cycle. I'm not on any birth control. I'm 37 and I've not had children or ever been pregnant.

Here is my story..

Similar story I'm sure. 10 mins into a run, excruciating period type menstrual cramps which leave me on the floor for 5-10 mins, then I feel absolutely normal afterwards and can carry on with my rub.

I've had various internal and external ultrasounds, nothing found. Blood tests. Nothing. I got sent to a pelvic floor specialist, so I try and do those exercises 3 times a day... Still no change. I've had 10 urethral dilations. No change. This has been on going for most of my life. No answers. I even had an MRI on my back to check for nerve damage.

I'm awaiting a referral to the speclised abdominal pain clinic in London now. Hopefully they can help.

Please keep updating this page with your advice / diagnosis and results!

I've written on this thread before and it's I'm sorry others are experiencing this, but I do take a little comfort in knowing it's not just me. About a month ago I had the most horrific eposide yet - a mile ish in as usually - finish almost went and I was vomiting from the pain which is just so embarrasing as the pain goes after around 15 minutes and then I'm fine.

I've just got home from my 2nd hospital appointment in a year where i've had an internal ultrasound and am 'structurally fine' - I feel so frustrated as I know from ultrasounds there is nothing obviously wrong, which is great, however I'm still experiencing the same symptoms and am at a loss as what to do and no doctors can offer any other solutions. I'm based in the UK and am thinking of saving to go private to see if there are answers there, I know the NHS is extremely stretched.

As always, if anyone finds any answers, please let us know! :)