I know RLS is more common in women for lots of reasons primarily related to iron loss. I know I have iron issues and iron helps my RLS. Lately though I have been getting these weird stomach jerks/contractions that are the worst! As a soon to be 60 year old male, giving birth every night seems like a cruel joke.
I have asked before and only men responded. Do women experience these stomach jerks/cramps?
That could be the start of an interesting debate. One however which has been taking place for decades, if not centuries.
More recent studies in psychology, sociology and physiology (since about the 1960s) have shown there are statistically significant differences between men and women.
There are differences in brain development which lead to differences in such things as manual dexterity, language development, perceptual abilities, emotional differences and so on.
There is of course considerable hormonal differences.
This only explains differences between large groups of men and women. Not how one individual differs from another individual. As an example some research by a nurse researcher called Bem, showed that stereotypical ideas of what it to be feminine and what it is to be masculine aren't necessarily associated.with being male or female. Some men are more feminine than some women and so on.
I can only tell say my experience of RLS sounds similar to what many other men and women have written in this forum. Sometimes it sounds different, but I've never noticed any difference between genders.
Not in relation to RLS/PLMD.Menses however are a different story...
I realize you posted a year ago but somehow am just now seeing this. I recognize your name and know you’re still an active member so I figured I’d respond. I’m a woman and also have (or had) the abdominal jerks and contracts you mentioned. Sometimes it is of my stomach or uterus and sometimes it’s higher, right under the rib cage. Maybe it’s the intestines spasming? But yours sound much worse than mine. I’ve never given birth but there’s no way I’d equate my abdominal twitching and spasming with giving birth. Thankfully. In fact, there’s basically no pain to it, for me. Just occasional discomfort…and always complete annoyance. Because there’s no conscious control it’s just a matter of waiting for it to eventually stop. Sorry that’s happening to you. Getting my PLMD/S under control mostly eliminated the abdominal “activity.” Hope you’re squared away by now too.
Thank you. Since I started Dipyridamole my PLMD has been practically nonexistent. What do you do for your PLMD?
Wow. I have never even heard of dipyridamole. Was the near resolution of PLMD a welcome side effect? Or was the dipyridamole prescribed specifically for PLMD? I googled it and it sounds like a powerful drug. Do you abstain from all alcohol?
My abdominal twitching/tremors/spasms/contractions are also almost nonexistent these days, but I don’t know why. If I don’t actively take steps to avoid the lower extremity PLMS (mostly in my feet and/or legs), I’m still debilitated by it. But with dietary restrictions (avoiding sugars and MSG), exercise, nightly stretching, gabapentin, and THC, I am able to have a normal life. I’m really happy you’ve found a solution to yours! Thanks for sharing the information about dipyridamole! I am definitely going to keep that in my mental rolodex. 
This article explains the role of adenosine in RLS. It describes the causes and mechanisms of PLMD in RLS! Dipyridamole was originally used as a blood thinner (with aspirin). It didn't work very well so was basically discontinued for that purpose.
The reason it is used for RLS it is an ENT1/ENT2 inhibitor. It was chosen for what it does in the brains of people with RLS. The only side effect which has pretty much gone away is a small headache.
But you know as well as I do, the ticks and jerks are NOT voluntary. So I have no control. The fact that the jerks and twitches stopped, even during the day was a benefit. The best part is I don't have RLS at night. Enjoy the read, I promise you it is worth it.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Thank you for this article! I wish I was smart enough to understand it. Lol I started reading it but had to look up so many things, many of which required reading other hypotheses to try to understand, it became a bit overwhelming. But I genuinely trust dipyridamole works for you and this idea excites me! I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow and plan to ask her about it. I’m managing okay without needing to add another drug to my routine at this point, but I love knowing this is an option if/when things change in the future. And it makes me very happy knowing how it has helped you. Thanks so much for sharing your solution and the medical information to back it up!
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50 Y/O with years of RLS experience
