Rheumatologist Questions Menstruation

Why do I get lower back pain just before my periods?

Every month instead of stomach pain, I suffer from a severe lower back pain just before my periods. This pain is very intense and is very annoying though it settles on its own. Is it a normal symptom or does it have something to do with my back?

4 Answers

Before periods womens can get lower back pain but for further evaluation you should also see your gynaecologist and PCP to have xray lower back done to differentiate the cause.
Hello!

This question is best answered by your gynecologist. Some conditions like endometriosis can cause severe pain in and around menses.

Thanks!

Best regards,
Dr Brionez
Could be either
Having lower back pain with menstrual cycles is not that infrequent. Pain in the low back is referred from the genitourinary organs primarily the uterus. Some women experience some swelling of the uterus as aching in the lower back. Other women experience discomfort associated with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus that sheds every month, the endometrium, has developed on the surface of other structures in the pelvis. They will shed cells into the pelvis causing inflammation and pain. The key factor is that the pain is cyclical, following the pattern of the menstrual cycle. An OB-GYN physician has therapies that can be helpful in controlling these monthly low back events. For more information about back pain, you can visit thespinecommunity.com.

David G. Borenstein, M.D. MACP., MACR.