You’ll have your period about 400 times in your life—so you’d better make sure it’s as painless as possible! Half of all women experience painful periods (called dysmenorrhea), which usually start a year or two after their first period. The frequency of painful periods usually decreases as you age or after you have had a baby.
Pain and cramping in the abdomen and pain in the lower back can range from mild to severe, lasting two or three days. Severe cramping may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Some women may also experience breast tenderness, bloating and weight gain.