How to relieve menstrual cramps

Is your period pain especially bad? Here’s why it might be and what you can do to treat it.

It’s common for women to experience some cramping with their period. It starts a day or two before their period starts and can continue for a few days after it ends. The pain comes from increased prostaglandins, which trigger uterine muscle contractions to help expel the uterine lining.

If you’re suffering from more cramps than usual, or if they’re lasting longer than you’re used to, something else might be going on. If you’re in your 40s, and your period is more irregular, heavier, or more painful, it could mean you’re entering perimenopause. That’s the 1-10–year transition into menopause. Your periods may become irregular and heavier, and your cramps may be more acute than ever. If your period pain keeps getting worse, it could also be because of a reproductive system disorder. Some possible disorders are endometriosis (a disorder in which tissue from the lining of the uterus is found outside the uterus in places like the ovaries or bladder), adenomyosis (tissue from the uterus lining grows in the muscle wall of the uterus instead), or fibroids (growths in or on the wall of the uterus). You’ll want to talk to your doctor to get diagnosed.

Bring the heat:

To get some relief from period pain, place a HeatWrap like ThermaCare^® on your lower abdomen. Put it below your belly button with the adhesive side against your underwear. Also take a warm shower or bath. Even drinking a warm beverage like tea could help.