Hormones are often associated with a whole range of unpleasant symptoms – mood swings, water retention, fatigue, cravings, and pain. You may notice that your body reacts differently to pain throughout the month. Sometimes you are more resilient to pain, other times even a minor stimulus can throw you off balance, and discomfort seems much more intense. This is no coincidence. Female hormones play a role in this, influencing not only physical manifestations but also how the brain itself reacts to pain throughout the cycle.
How the brain processes pain
Pain is not just a physical sensation. It is a complex process that begins in the body but is processed in the brain. Nerve endings in the body detect a painful stimulus and send a signal to the spinal cord and brain. The brain then decides how intensely we experience the pain. And that's where hormones come into play.
What role do hormones play?
Hormones like estrogen and progesterone affect neurotransmitters in the brain (e.g., serotonin), inflammatory processes, and neuronal pathways that transmit and process pain. This influences how the brain and nervous system perceive and interpret pain.
However, according to research, it's not just the level of these hormones that is crucial, but especially how quickly and significantly they change. It is precisely the sharp hormonal fluctuations during the monthly cycle that fundamentally affect pain sensitivity in women.
Painkillers are not as effective for women. Why?
Pain perception during the cycle
We distinguish four phases of the menstrual cycle – menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal. Each is accompanied by changes in levels of estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones, which affect not only the reproductive organs but also the brain and nervous system. How intensely we perceive pain and how the body reacts to it can be related to the specific phase of the cycle and changing hormone levels:
Follicular phase
In the follicular phase, which follows menstruation and lasts until ovulation, estrogen levels gradually rise. Estrogen can have contradictory effects on pain perception. On the one hand, it has anti-inflammatory effects, increases the pain threshold, and promotes the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, which positively affect mood and pain processing in the brain. This is why many women perceive pain less intensely during this period. On the other hand, some studies suggest that sharp changes in estrogen, such as a sudden increase or decrease, can actually be associated with increased pain experience.
Ovulatory phase
During ovulation, when estrogen levels peak and then drop sharply, some women may experience increased pain sensitivity. These hormonal fluctuations can also cause mittelschmerz, or ovulation pain, usually on one side of the lower abdomen.
Luteal phase
After ovulation, the luteal phase begins, dominated by the hormone progesterone. Its effect on pain is more complex, and while it may have a suppressive effect on some women, it can increase pain sensitivity in others – especially if its levels fluctuate or if there is a sharp drop in estrogen. It is during this phase that many women experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, including breast pain, back pain, headaches, insomnia, and fatigue or general mood worsening, which further intensifies pain perception.
What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)?
Menstrual phase
With the onset of menstruation, when both estrogen and progesterone levels fall, the pain threshold is lowest, and the brain reacts more sensitively to painful stimuli. Approximately 45–95% of women of reproductive age experience some form of pain during menstruation, often in the form of lower abdominal cramps, back pain, migraines, or digestive problems. One of the main causes of these problems is prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that trigger uterine contractions and help shed the uterine lining. However, they also cause inflammation and muscle tension, which can lead to increased pain not only in the uterus but also in other parts of the body.
4 tips to manage pain during your cycle
Pain and other physical or psychological symptoms associated with menstruation can take a toll on our bodies, and it's not always easy to cope with them. That's why you can try some of our tips to better manage pain in individual phases:
1. Monitor your body and pain patterns
Keeping a menstrual diary can help you identify when and why pain appears. Try tracking not only physical symptoms but also mood, sleep, or diet. The symptothermal method can also be a great tool.
2. Relieve yourself with massage and heat
For pain relief, you can use a warm compress or try an abdominal massage with Cramp Days oil. Gentle almond oil along with calendula, lavender, and rosemary extracts will pleasantly warm your skin, relieve muscle tension, and soothe your body and mind.
3. Support your body from within
Adequate intake of fluids, vitamins, and minerals helps relieve muscle tension and calm the nervous system. Our Premenstrual Complex contains key nutrients – such as magnesium, vitamin B6, or ashwagandha – which together contribute to well-being especially during the period before menstruation and help alleviate unpleasant symptoms.
4. Focus on breath and the nervous system
Short breathing exercises, meditation, or gentle yoga can help calm your mind and body. Regular breathing work can reduce pain perception and improve stress management. You can find more tips on how to reset your nervous system in this article.
What else to read on Femspace?
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What affects female libido and what role does the menstrual cycle play?
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Endometriosis: A new perspective on pain, diagnosis, and a holistic approach to care
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Sources used
Athnaiel, O., Cantillo, S., Paredes, S., & Knezevic, N. N. (2023). The Role of Sex Hormones in Pain-Related Conditions. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(3), 1866. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24031866
Ferguson, K. (2025, August 23). How do hormones work for pain? Samphire Neuroscience. https://samphireneuro.com/blog/how-do-hormones-work-for-pain
Karout, S., Soubra, L., Rahme, D. et al. Prevalence, risk factors, and management practices of primary dysmenorrhea among young females. BMC Women's Health 21, 392 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01532-w
Femvie products that may help you
We have selected products related to this topic that can support your health:
- 💊 Ashwagandha Plus — adaptogen for hormonal balance and stress reduction
- 💊 Magnesium — a key mineral for women's hormonal health
- 💊 Magnesium-Zinc-B6 — support for hormonal balance and the nervous system
- 💊 Natural Vitamin D — important for immunity and hormonal health
- 📖 Ten Commandments for a Healthy Cycle — a guide to natural support for the female cycle
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes hormonal imbalance?
Chronic stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, excessive exercise or, conversely, a sedentary lifestyle, environmental toxins, and age – all of these can disrupt hormonal balance.
How to recognize hormonal imbalance?
Fatigue, irregular cycles, acne, weight gain, mood swings, sleep problems, or decreased libido can be symptoms of hormonal imbalance.
How to naturally support hormonal balance?
Key factors include a nutrient-rich diet, regular exercise, quality sleep, stress reduction, and targeted dietary supplements. Monitoring your menstrual cycle can help you identify patterns and changes.
