Dig into the science of what makes period cramps so painful, and find out what we still don’t know about this common experience.

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Period pain affects hundreds of millions of people. Anywhere from 50 to 90% of people who menstruate deal with painful abdominal or pelvic cramps during their period. Individual experiences can vary, from mild discomfort, to throbbing aches, to contraction-like cramps that rival the pain of labor. So, why do menstrual cramps hurt so much? Chen X. Chen explains this surprisingly common experience.

Lesson by Chen X. Chen, directed by Caitlin McCarthy.

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View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/3-things-that-cause-painful-periods-chen-x-chen
Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/3-things-that-cause-painful-periods-chen-x-chen/digdeeper

Animator's website: https://www.strangebeast.tv/directors/caitlin-mccarthy
Music: https://www.workplaywork.com
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