“Why do I have back pain during my period?”

When you have a period the uterus which is essentially a type of muscle contracts perhaps to try to slow down the bleeding. In some women these uterine contractions are more painful than in other women, and the pain can radiate via the nerves that innervate the uterus to the back of the lower extremities. The good news is that the intensity of menstrual cramps tends to decrease after having the first baby. Also the cramps often respond to non-steriodal anti-inflammatory medications or various hormonal contraceptives. Severe cramps that do not respond to medical therapy could be due to a condition called endometriosis.