Cramping After Period

Menstrual cramp are a normal part of menstruation for a large number of women. The pain caused by menstrual cramps can be mild or severe and it can be felt usually in the lower abdomen and the pelvic region. The medical term for menstrual cramps is dysmenorrhea, which can be primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is normal and is not associated with any gynecological problems, while secondary dysmenorrhea can have an association with some abnormalities of the reproductive system. However, some women can experience cramps after their period. Like menstrual cramps, cramps after period are not experienced by all women.

What Causes Menstrual Cramps?

Menstrual cramps or cramps during menstruation are caused by the contraction of the muscles of the uterus. This muscle contraction is caused by a hormone known as prostaglandins. Contraction of the uterine muscle is important, as it helps to push blood and the old endometrial lining through the cervix and then out of the body through the vagina. Higher the level of prostaglandins in the endometrium, the more intense can be cramps which occur during the period. The cramps can also become intense when blood clots and the tissues from the lining of the uterus pass through the small opening of the cervix.

Cramps After Menstruation

As has been explained already, menstrual cramps are caused by the hormone prostaglandins. Women usually experience mild cramping close to ovulation. During menstruation, the old endometrial lining of the uterus is shed, after which the level of estrogen in the body rises in order to prepare the body for ovulation. Ovulation usually takes place in the middle of a menstrual cycle. Ideally, the menstrual cycle is about 28 days, and for a menstrual cycle of 28 days, ovulation can take place in around 14 days from the first day of period.

During ovulation, an ovum or egg is released by the ovary. During and after ovulation, the level of progesterone in the body rises in order to maintain the lining of the uterus and prevent subsequent ovulation. If the egg gets fertilized by sperm, it can get implanted in the uterus. But, if fertilization does not occur, then the endometrial lining of the uterus is no longer needed and hence, it is shed or discarded from the body during menstruation. Now, women can experience mild cramping after their period around the time when ovulation takes place. This type of cramping is referred as ovulation pain, which can last for a few hours to about 2 to 3 days.

Cramps during ovulation can be usually felt in the lower abdomen or near the ovaries. Such pain and cramping usually affect only one side of the body. This type of cramping can be caused by pulsing or rhythmic expansion and contraction of the Fallopian tubes, which can take place during or just after ovulation. This kind of movement actually helps to move the egg or ovum through the Fallopian tube. Another possible reason for ovulation pain or abdominal cramps after menstruation could be congestion in the Fallopian tubes. This congestion can be caused by mucus, which is secreted before ovulation. Such congestion can cause pain and cramps a few days before ovulation.

Again, a small amount of blood is released at the time of ovulation. To release an egg during ovulation, the ovarian follicle has to rupture, which in turn can cause some small blood vessels to tear. This can cause cramps during ovulation. Apart from the cramping pain, some women can also experience spotting or brown discharge after the period due to this reason. In sexually active women, spotting or brown discharge and cramping may also be a sign of implantation bleeding. The spotting and cramping may be caused when the fertilized egg is implanted in the lining of the uterus, i.e. when the egg burrows into the lining of the uterus. Implantation occurs early in pregnancy, usually around 6 to 7 days after fertilization.

To sum up, mild cramps after the period are not unusual and are usually not a major cause of concern. However, if you can spot a small amount of blood or brown discharge along with cramping, then it is better to get yourself examined. Spotting after the period could be a sign of implantation bleeding or some other conditions. Bleeding between periods can occur due to various reasons including, hormonal fluctuations, use or discontinuation of contraceptives, use of intrauterine device (IUD), vaginal infections, injury to the vagina due to insertion of objects, etc. So, if the cramping is severe and is accompanied by spotting or bleeding, then it is better to get the condition medically evaluated in order to rule out the possibility of any serious condition.