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Emma Wilkinson
Health reporter, BBC News
Exercise does not help to alleviate period pain, despite it being commonly
recommended for women with monthly symptoms, say researchers.
A study of more than 650 university students reported in BJOG found 28% had
moderate to severe period pain.
But Birmingham University researchers said they found no link with the amount
of exercise the participants did.
GPs said women should be encouraged to do exercise regardless but drugs are
available for those with period pain.
The study authors said beliefs about exercise being an effective treatment for
bad period pain had persisted for years.
They carried out a questionnaire among 18 to 25-year-olds to find out what age
they started their period, how often they had periods, what contraception they
used, and whether they had children or had any conditions such as endometriosis
or fibroids.
The students were also asked what type of exercise they did and how often as
well as other general lifestyle questions.
Responses showed that 72% had no or very little period pain but 28% had
moderate to severe pain with their monthly cycle.
After taking into account mood, ethnicity, weight, smoking, and use of the
contraceptive pill, they found no link with how much exercise a woman did and
whether she suffered from period pain, or how bad her pain was.
'Anecdotal beliefs'
Researcher, Dr Amanda Daley concluded that more research was needed before
women are told that exercise will reduce of alleviate period pain.
"Anecdotal beliefs that exercise is an effective treatment have prevailed for
many years and while it might seem intuitively appealing to promote exercise as
a treatment for menstrual disorders, the findings from this study, along with
many others, would not support such a view.
"Of course there are many other important health reasons for encouraging women
to be physically active and exercise performed in moderation is unlikely to be
harmful."
Royal College of GPs chairman Professor Steve Field said women with period pain
should do what works for them and exercise might make them feel better in
general.
"It is a common problem and people usually self-medicate.
"Some exercise is good for you of course but the main treatment for period pain
is the contraceptive pill."