Are Painful Periods Hereditary?
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Think about it. Your mom said she had always been a victim of painful periods. So did your sister. And if you get the courage to ask your grandma, you may find out that hers was pretty much the same story too. This also goes for your friends who share in your pain. If you were to investigate their family period history, you may discover that it was a painful and bloody one!
In fact, you’ll hardly ever find someone who doesn’t complain of menstrual cramps! They are just so common and considered to be completely normal for those who have a uterus. And if you ever come across an individual who has been blessed with easy, pain-free periods, the greenest of envy will find its way into your heart! Especially, if you find out that it’s always been that way for them.
So then, the question remains – are menstrual cramps really hereditary? Do we have our genes to blame for our monthly painful misery? Plus, why do some women have it easy, while for others it’s as crippling as it can be?
Before we answer this million dollar question, let’s take a look at the common causes of painful periods.
The Causes Of Menstrual Cramps
If you go by what doctors have to say, your painful periods can generally be attributed to one or the other medical condition(s) that affect your uterus.
Dr. Marc Winter, who is the director of minimally invasive surgery and an OB-GYN at the Laguna Hills-based Saddleback Medical Center (California), explains that painful periods are generally caused by the excess production of prostaglandins, which is a type of chemical that is responsible for the contractions of your uterus (1).
Furthermore, periods, in general, can be classified into two different categories – primary and secondary periods (2). Dr. Paul R. Weber, who is an OB-GYN at the Long Beach, California-based Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, quite simply explains the two types. He defines primary periods as painful menstruation that doesn’t have an associated cause, while secondary periods can be referred to as those that have an explainable cause behind them, such as endometriosis, fibroids, and adenomyosis.
He further goes on to say that while endometriosis and fibroids are well-known causes of painful periods, adenomyosis? Not so much. He explains that adenomyosis takes place when there’s movement in your endometrial tissue (which lines your uterus) into your uterine muscles, which consequently leads to the thickening of your uterine walls (3).
Okay, so, now that explains the causes of painful periods. What roles do genes play then? Let’s get into that now!
The Role Of Genetics In Painful Periods
Truth be told, heredity does play a part in your painful periods and doctors are sure of that. But whether it’s a genetic attribute, a medical condition or a learned pattern is something that can vary, says Dr. Weber.
He further explains that medical experts still do not have any substantial proof that suggests that menstrual cramps are a direct result of a woman’s genes. Research is still not enough to assert with confidence that if the mother experiences cramping, her daughter will too. However, on the other hand, according to Dr. Weber, if the mother has an easy time when on her menses, her daughter will likely take after her, thereby suggesting that there’s a pattern here.
Dr. Winter backs this up by stating that in his experience, he has observed that severe menstrual cramps tend to run through generations of the same family. He also says that even though the relationship between genes and painful periods is not clear, studies have shown that certain genetic variations can increase prostaglandin production, which consequently causes menstrual cramps.
Moreover, the causes of secondary dysmenorrhea such as fibroids and endometriosis can be hereditary as well, says Dr. Yen Tran, an OB-GYN of the Fountain Valley (California) based Memorial Care Orange Coast Medical Center.
She says studies have revealed that if your mother suffers from endometriosis or fibroids, there are higher chances that you will get them too (4). She adds that the structure of your uterus can change depending on which part of your uterine wall the fibroids are located. The direction, as well as the growth rate and location of the fibroids, is regulated by chromosomes 12 and 14. She also says that a vitamin D deficiency can worsen your fibroids, which can lead to painful periods.
So, in essence, you can say that your genes are responsible for your painful periods. That said, this research into the science behind period pain is still not enough and more research is needed. Fortunately, though, period pain is being taken seriously – both by doctors and the women who suffer from it. This is why there’s now a grading system to classify period pain – from no pain to severely debilitating.
However, until we get a clearer picture of all things related to period pain, you might want to ask your healthcare provider for advice when in doubt.
Stay healthy!
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