Sharp pain in bum during period: what is proctalgia fugax?

Periods can be a real pain in the bum – literally! Most of us have been through it all – hormonal acne, heavy bleeding, PMS mood swings, menstrual cramps… you name it. But there is one period symptom that might catch us off guard: ‘proctalgia fugax’.

Also known as ‘fleeting rectal pain’, proctalgia fugax means shooting pain in the bum. It’s aching or cramping around your bum, caused by rectal muscle spasms. What you experience is brief episodes of sudden, spiky bum pain that come without warning.

So, if you’ve ever felt like your bum got struck by lightning – or wondering ‘why does my bum hurt during my period?’ – no, you’re not going crazy.  It might be proctalgia fugax. But why does it happen and most importantly, can you do anything about it? Let’s find out…

Although the exact cause of proctalgia fugax is unknown, there are several factors that could trigger this condition, including sex, stress, constipation, and pooping. ^[1] It’s estimated that up to 18% of us may experience shooting pain in the bum  at some point in our lives. ^[1] Nonetheless, many women+ experience anal pain during their period .

Why is this? During periods, our bodies release hormones called prostaglandins that cause the muscles of the uterus to contract and help shed the lining. Such contractions are what we sometimes feel as period pain. Well, these hormones can also have the same effect on our bowels and digestive system, causing the rectum and pelvic floor muscles around our bottom to contract, triggering muscle spasms and butthole cramps.

Period poop might also be one of the proctalgia causes. Right before our period, our oestrogen and progesterone levels tend to drop dramatically. Since progesterone controls how things move through our digestive tracts, a drop in this hormone level might cause us to get diarrhoea or constipation. Pooping more frequently as well as painful bowel movements during a period might trigger a bout of cramps.

Although it can be surprising and come at the most inconvenient times, the stabbing bum pain from proctalgia fugax usually lasts only a few moments. However, if it keeps you up all night or if the pain lasts for longer than 20 minutes at a time, a visit to your doctor is worth considering.

The main symptom of proctalgia fugax is sharp pain in your bottom. It’s described as an intense shooting or stabbing pain in the rectal area that happens suddenly and without warning but (thankfully) stops fast. 

It can be painful enough to wake you up, if proctalgia fugax strikes while you snooze or cause you to yelp out if you feel it during the day. The pain usually lasts from only a few seconds to a couple of minutes. However, it can last for longer in some cases. Stabbing pain when pooping during your period can last until the bowel movement has been passed.

Although it’s quite literally a pain in the bum, proctalgia fugax is not known to be harmful or dangerous, so try not to worry too much.  Do whatever helps you feel good on your period. Why not take a walk, turn up the tunes and stomp it all out while wearing your best period pants?

Proctalgia fugax can be caused by contractions while giving birth, but it’s most common during the third trimester of pregnancy, at a time when the baby is larger and can put pressure on your anal nerves. It can always feel worrying if you notice changes to your body that are out of your control, and even more so when you’re pregnant and worrying for two! But two-thirds of women experience anal symptoms during their pregnancy and postpartum, so a bit of proctalgia fugax is usually nothing to lose sleep over.^[2]

If bum pain is bothering you during your pregnancy or after, though, you may want to mention it to your doctor or midwife so they can help you with it. It’s always better to check with an expert to make sure everything you’re experiencing is normal, especially if you’re feeling anxious about it.

Shooty bum pains when you go to the toilet to poop can sometimes be connected to endometriosis, in particular bowel endometriosis. If you’re experiencing this along with symptoms like intense period pain, extreme tiredness and frequent thrush infections, it’s a good idea to contact your doctor or gynaecologist to find out more. They’ll explore what’s going on to find the best treatment for you.

Usually, those shooty bum pains should stop within a few seconds, so you can go back to living fearlessly right away – no treatment necessary. But if they’re getting in the way of your routine, you can treat them in the same way you would other period symptoms. Just like when attempting to ease period pain and menstrual cramps, home remedies like taking over-the-counter painkillers, light exercise, or a nice soothing bath with Epsom salt (bubbles optional) can do wonders to help manage.

That being said, if you experience sharp pain in the bum during your period that is more severe or consistent, and it occurs even when you’re not on your period, there is a chance that you could be dealing with a different condition. Then it’s a good idea to make an appointment to get yourself checked by a medical professional. Although it can be awkward to explain there’s something wrong with your bum, remember that helping you is their job and they’ve probably already dealt with similar symptoms before... they’ve likely seen it all!

Our bodies are amazing and sometimes they do strange things too – and that’s okay! Although sporadic instances of butthole cramps can feel like a horror movie jump scare (without the forewarning of an abandoned house and eerie music), keep in mind that they’re normal and temporary. 

Once those unpleasant moments pass, try having a laugh with friends, because chances are, they know exactly how you feel. It’s all just a part of living with periods – sometimes awkward, sometimes uncomfortable, but easier when we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

If you’d like to learn more about your body, find out what’s the deal with period poops and what causes period pain.

Treat that bum with care! To feel as comfortable as possible on your period (butt pain and all), discover our period pants in all shapes and sizes, from a hipster fit to high waist. 

[References]

[1]  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3602260/ 
[2]  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29972721/