Every woman has their own menstrual pain tale to tell. Some people’s menstrual cycle passes by without any pain, while some people have worse symptoms each day until their period is over.
Some people describe the manifestation of menstrual pain as a cramping or crunching feeling in their lower abdomen, which usually comes with a wave of nausea, headaches, and tiredness.
Another set of people would describe menstrual pain as shooting pain in the buttocks. The pain is usually sudden and intense, then it becomes mild, before another wave of intense pain. If you’ve ever wondered what that pain is and why it happens, look no further, we’re going to be explaining the phenomenon.
Note: Shooting pain in the buttocks during menstruation is often called referred pain. The idea is that pain from one area of the body radiates to another. Cramps from the uterus can cause pain that spreads through the buttocks.
The Concept
Menstrual cramps happen when the uterus squeezes itself to shed its lining which comes out as a combination of blood, tissue, and mucus. There are chemicals called prostaglandins, which makes this contraption even stronger and causes the cramp to be more painful. The uterus is close to nerves and muscles that connect with the lower back and buttocks. When the uterus squeezes or contracts, it can irritate these nearby nerves, sending shooting pain to areas like the lower back, hips, and buttocks.
Possible Causes
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is when tissues similar to the lining of the uterus grow outside of it, in places where it doesn’t belong. It can be in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or even in the tissues around the pelvis.
During your period, this tissue acts like it’s inside the uterus and breaks down, causing intense pain. But because it is outside the uterus, it can cause more irritation and swelling in nearby areas like the buttocks or the lower back.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
PID is an infection in a woman’s reproductive organs. It usually starts from bacteria and causes swelling in places like the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
This swelling puts pressure on the nerves and muscles nearby, which can lead to pain spreading to your lower back or butt. During your period, the cramps can make this pain worse because when the uterus squeezes, it irritates the already swollen area.
Ovarian Cysts
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms on or inside the ovaries. Some cysts are harmless and disappear on their own, while some tend to grow large. When these cysts grow large, they can press on nerves in the pelvis, causing shooting pain.
Nerve Irritation (Sciatica)
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. This nerve starts in your lower back and goes down through your hips, buttocks, and legs.
If something like a cyst presses on this nerve, it causes shooting pain. Menstrual cramps make this worse by increasing the pressure around the pelvis, where the sciatica nerve is located, causing pain to spread to the buttocks and legs.
Conclusion
Menstrual pain feels different for every woman. You either barely feel any pain, or experience severe pain that can spread to places like the buttocks. This “shooting pain” happens because the squeeze of the uterus affects nearby nerves, causing pain to spread to the lower back and buttocks.
