The Pain Scale: Where does period pain fall?

Period pain is common - but just how bad is it, really?

Most people rate menstrual cramps at about 5.8 out of 10 on the pain scale. That puts it just above a headache or muscle strain, and just below endometriosis or kidney stones.

But pain isn’t always average. About 1 in 5 people experience period pain that reaches 8 or higher. That’s up there with a broken bone.

Why does it matter?

Because period pain is still too often brushed off - at school, at work, even by ourselves. Seeing it stacked against other types of pain helps validate what many of us have always felt but weren’t always believed about.

And while not every cycle feels extreme, even “moderate” pain can make it hard to think, move, or show up. You’re not weak for needing care.

A few things that can help:

• A heating pad (seriously, heat works wonders)

• Magnesium-rich snacks or supplements

• Stretching, if it feels good - or stillness, if it doesn’t

• Period care that doesn’t make things worse - like our Organic Cotton Pads, which stay breathable and soft on sensitive days

Pain is personal. But it’s real — and it’s worth talking about.

You don’t have to push through every cycle in silence. What you feel matters. And you deserve care that honours that.