Menstrual Cramps, Being Athletic//Physical

[drdeadringer.livejournal.com]

Hello Folks ~

I've got a question or two about menstrual cramps. I'm asking for two reasons: A) I'm writing a story where the information would be helpful B) normal curiosity. I realize there are other communities I could post this to [like "little details"], but to me here seemed like a topic-focused place to ask.


Background Info:
--I'm a boy, so I don't know this through personal experience but instead through female friends and folks like you.
--I've gone through the memories related to cramp relief, which were quite helpful.
--The character experiencing the menstrual cramps is rather athletic or muscular, not a stranger to regular physical labor.


My Questions:
1) The memories suggested that daily exercise, or abdominal-related exercises specifically during menstruating, helped reduce cramping. Is this much help [with or without other treatments like heating pads, pain killers and so forth]?

2) Do women who are more athletic or physically active, generally speaking, experience less intense cramping?


Personal experiences either way and the like are welcome. Feel free to email me if you don't want to post here. Thanks!

Be Seeing You.

Edit:
Thanks folks :)

Comments

[primadonna123.livejournal.com]

Your questions are hard to answer because the saying 'every woman is different' is actually rather apt.

I am personally a very physically active person. However, while on my period I find that an excess of activity adds to my cramps rather than lessens them. This could be attivuted to the cramps, or the fatigue and general 'ick' feeling that goes along with a period. Mine are personally so bad that two nights of the month I cannot sleep (even after attempting Ambian). And the only drug that helps at all is Chocolate.

However, to help you out: My mother always used to tell me to go jog when I had cramps because it always helped her. She said she always had less cramps when she was moving, rather than resting. I just happen to be the opposite.

And any attempt at abdominal activity (sit-ups ect.) completely puts me into pain. In fact if i'm at the gym before my period and it's on it's way, doing sit ups can give me cramps.

And I realise this doesn't help you out much... sorry.

[emmeangel.livejournal.com]

1) Didn't for me. I actually felt worse and had to be sidelined for a couple days during my period (I run track, cheerlead and do martial arts).

2) Do women who are more athletic or physically active, generally speaking, experience less intense cramping?

NO. Mine get worse, and mine are so bad I need a narcotic (think Vicodin) to make it stop so I can function.

Hope it helps :)

[cork118.livejournal.com]

If you're writing a story, I'd say go with whatever works best for the plot-- bad cramps or less cramps. Some very athletic women get flattened by cramps, while some nonathletes barely experience any discomfort. You shouldn't be accused of getting it wrong no matter which way you go. :)

[cork118.livejournal.com]

And I forgot to mention this in my comment, but--

YAY, Zelda icon! Have you played/beaten TP yet? Because it's pretty great.

[drdeadringer.livejournal.com]

Haven't beaten it, but yay!

[niseag03.livejournal.com]

I'm not as athletic as I once was, so responding from the athletic angle is difficult for me. However, just as a woman I have this to say:

Everyone woman is different. Every month is different for that person. (Generally speaking at least.) One month, I barely get a single cramp. The next month, I have cramps that would cripple the strongest person in the world. Sometimes I get really bad gas. Sometimes my breasts ache. Sometimes I get a ton of water retention. It's always different... and I'd call that an exciting thing but, you know, its not. ;)

My personal experience was that the more physically active I am, the less severe my cramps. That's just me.Of course, I also have heard of people having sex to lessen cramps, whereas for me sex during my period actually makes them worse.

SO... the person who said to write this part of your story to be the best for your plot was spot on... this is going to hard to get wrong (or hard to get right, depending on your perspective.)

[briarwood.livejournal.com]

1) The memories suggested that daily exercise, or abdominal-related exercises specifically during menstruating, helped reduce cramping. Is this much help [with or without other treatments like heating pads, pain killers and so forth]?

I've never found it helpful at all; if anything exercise makes it worse. But all women are different and I've been told by others that exercise helps.

In my experience Ibruprofen is the most effective painkiller for cramps, but I'd rather use a hot water bottle. Heat treatment tends to make the cramps worse for a short time, then it gets way better. I don't know why.

2) Do women who are more athletic or physically active, generally speaking, experience less intense cramping?

All women are different. For most, menstrual cramps are "just" cramps, but pain at that time of the month can be caused by other things, like blood clots or some medical conditions. Those wouldn't be affected by fitness levels or activity.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_last_serenade_/]

i do yoga when i'm on my period. it helps immensely with cramps. stuff like running and weight lifting probably wouldn't be that fun, and moreover, i don't think i'd have the energy to DO it, since my period usually leaves me feeling rather "zapped".

[drdeadringer.livejournal.com]

Thanks for mentioning Yoga. For some reason that didn't come into my head earlier :P

[jaipur.livejournal.com]

Lots of women never get cramps at all. If it doesn't fit in your story you can ignore it...