Over 50? Keeping Up With Your Healthcare Needs

3 Ways To Ease Painful Periods

13 February 2019

Nellie Ryan

Although menstrual cramps are common, some women experience moderate to severe pain during their period causing significant disruptions in their life. Generally, you can find ways to reduce painful periods and make it easier to go back to your normal routine.

Try Multiple Pain Control Methods

You may find you are better able to ease your period pain if you tackle it in different ways. When taking over-the-counter pain relievers, alternating between ibuprofen or naproxen and acetaminophen works somewhat better than just sticking with a single pain-relief pill. A heating pad or warm pack is a good option to not only reduce menstrual cramps, but to help with pain that might occur in your back or down your thighs. Adding a TENS unit can also reduce cramping and loosen tight muscles in your lower-back. Your doctor might be willing to prescribe a stronger anti-inflammatory medication if the retail versions are not helpful.

Change Your Feminine Products

Some women find their cramps lessen if they use other feminine hygiene products. For example, it is common to have less intense cramps if you use pads instead of tampons. At minimum, you might try relying on pads when you are at home and save your tampons for when you leave the house. Organic feminine hygiene products, might be a better option since they are made from organic cotton and do not have any unnecessary additives. Another option is the use of reusable or disposable menstrual cups, which some women report reduces cramps, but has similar benefits to using tampons. You may need to try different brands of menstrual cups before you find the one that best fits your body before you can decide if it's helpful.

Consider Birth Control

Hormonal birth control containing progestin is frequently used for women who have problematic periods. These types of birth control carry fewer risks than those containing estrogen, but some are also correlated with significant weight gain. The best option is to try a mini-pill first, since you can simply stop the medication if you have major side effects and try a different brand. Women who use progestin-only birth control not only achieve a reduction in cramping and bleeding during their period, but some stop having a period altogether. Depending on your response to birth control pills, you might decide to try a long-term option, such as an intrauterine device (IUD). An IUD will consistently release hormones for up to five years, which can be easier than remembering a pill.

You may need to try different tactics to reduce pain associated with your period. If all else fails, trying birth control might be the answer to gaining control over period pain. Discover more here if you need to learn more about your health.

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