Which is more painful: labor contractions or severe menstrual cramps?
Disease description:
Since my first menstrual period, I've experienced dysmenorrhea. However, I've heard that labor contractions are also very painful. I'd like to know which is more painful—labor contractions or severe menstrual cramps?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Aiming
The pain of dysmenorrhea is slightly milder than that of uterine contractions, and the intensity of pain is related to the severity of both contractions and menstrual cramps. At the beginning, patients experience contractions similar to menstrual pain. By the second delivery, the pain intensity becomes much stronger. Contractions gradually increase in intensity and shorten in duration. Initially, contractions resemble menstrual cramps, but since uterine contractions slowly intensify and progressively worsen the pain, the level of pain also gradually increases.
