Contractions?

What are genuine contractions like? I feel like I’ve asked this before but I have pregnancy brain. I got my cerclage removed yesterday. For the last hour I’ve been having intense period like pains, like horrible cramps. But nothing that I can time because it’s just like a constant pain. Alongside horrible vaginal/crotch pain, like I fell on a bicycle bar. It will come and go maybe every 5-10 minutes. I don’t want to call my doctor or freak anyone out just yet but gosh. They’re painful.