Quitting smoking isn’t only a good idea for the obvious reasons. It might also lessen your period pain.
Women who smoke are more likely to suffer from period pain than women who don’t smoke. This suggests an Australian study which was covered by the British Medical Journal (BMJ). Within a nine year period, over 9,000 women (who in 2000 were between the ages of 22 and 27) were frequently asked about their smoking habits and the severity of their menstrual pain.
About one in four women said they regularly experienced severe period pain. This percentage was a bit higher in smokers (29%) than in non-smokers (23%). Women who started smoking at a young age (12 or younger) had a higher risk of suffering during their cycle.
It seems that the younger you start smoking, the higher your chances are of getting painful periods. Researchers claim it’s possible that smoking in your early teens disrupts the hormones involved in menstruation. Smoking also causes the arteries to constrict, which reduces the blood flow and can lead to pain.
When compared to women who have never smoked, both ex-smokers and current smokers had a higher risk of period pain. It isn’t clear yet if quitting smoking also lessens your period pain. But, seeing as there are several other health benefits, there’s certainly no harm in trying!
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Sweet dreams
Periods at an early age
Menstrual synchrony: fact or fiction?
