PR release:
Chicago, IL, February 2025 – Endometriosis Awareness Month highlights the chronic condition affecting 11% of American women, but everyone who menstruates deals with the monthly pain. As science looks into the relationship between music and pain relief, could a new playlist be the key to relieving cramps?
For many women, menstrual cramps are more than just a monthly inconvenience: they can disrupt daily life and impact overall well-being. But what if relief could be as simple as pressing “play” on your favorite playlist?
A recent study published in BMC Women’s Health explored the artistry effects of music and drawing as coping mechanisms for menstrual pain in nursing students. The results were promising, showing that listening to music not only alleviated menstrual pain but also helped reduce some of the emotional discomfort often associated with menstruation.
The science behind this finding is rooted in how music interacts with the brain. Research suggests that music activates the limbic system, a region responsible for processing both emotions and pain perception. This stimulation can reduce the transmission of pain signals, making menstrual cramps feel less intense. Furthermore, music has the ability to trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers.
This healing power of music is supported by scientific research. A study published in the National Library of Medicine, titled Standardizing Music Characteristics for the Management of Pain, revealed that instrumental music, particularly without lyrics, is highly effective in relieving pain. The study examined music with specific features: no lyrics, little percussion, no nature sounds, and a tempo of around 60-80 beats per minute (bpm). While each of these features contributed to pain relief, the absence of lyrics consistently showed the strongest results across studies.
Recognizing music’s ability to heal and uplift, U by Kotex® has curated a playlist of 20 classical tracks to help you relax during your period and navigate the ups and downs of your cycle.
| # | Composer | Song title | BPM |
| 1 | Vaughan Williams | Greensleeves | 80 |
| 2 | Rosetti | Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, RWV E3: II. Andante | 79 |
| 3 | Mozart | Sonata No. 8 in A minor, II. Andante cantabile
|
78 |
| 4 | Claude Debussy | The girl with the flaxen hair | 76 |
| 5 | Ennio Morricone | Gabriel’s Oboe | 76 |
| 6 | Bach | Air on the G string | 74 |
| 7 | Léo Delibes | Flower Duet | 72 |
| 8 | Jules Massenet | Méditation | 72 |
| 9 | Pachelbel’s | Canon in D | 72 |
| 10 | Yiruma | River’s Flow in You | 69 |
| 11 | Robert Schumann | Träumerei | 66 |
| 12 | Craig Armstrong | Romeo and Julie Balcony Scene | 65 |
| 13 | Erik Satie | Gymnopedie No. 1 | 64 |
| 14 | Saint-Saëns | The Swan | 60 |
| 15 | Johann Strauss II | The Blue Danube Waltz | 58 |
| 16 | Beethoven | Moonlight Sonata (1st Movement | 58 |
| 17 | Tchaikovsky | Swan Lake Act 2, No.10 | 58 |
| 18 | Johannes Brahms | Lullaby | 56 |
| 19 | Mahler | Adagietto Symphony No. 5 | 54 |
| 20 | Arvo Pärt | Spiegel I’m Spiegel | 54 |
*Listed in order of BPM (beats per minute), from highest to lowest*
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