Menstrual cramps, or dysmenorrhea, are throbbing dull aches that women get prior to and during their monthly menstrual cycle. Most women experience cramps at one time or another, say doctors at the Mayo Clinic. Severe cramps can signal a more serious condition. Most menstrual cramps lessen with age. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to lessen the pain and treat menstrual cramps.
Step 1
Start taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) the day before your period begins to treat menstrual cramps. Mayo Clinic doctors recommend taking regular doses throughout the menstrual cycle to avoid the pain of cramps. They also suggest prescription-strength NSAIDS that you can get from your doctor.
Step 2
Consider using birth control pills, injections or patches to relieve menstrual cramping. The hormones in birth control interrupt ovulation and tend to reduce the severity of dysmenorrhea.
Step 3
Apply heat to your abdomen when cramps become difficult to bear. Lie down with a heating pad over the area, or soak in a hot bath to relieve the pains of menstrual cramps.
Step 4
Take vitamins and dietary supplements that contain thiamin, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. The Mayo Clinic reports that various studies have shown that vitamin supplements have proven effective in treating menstrual cramps.
Step 5
Prevent menstrual cramps by engaging in a regular exercise program. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health say that walking and pelvic rocking exercises can prevent or at least reduce the severity of cramps. They add that a diet high in complex carbohydrates and low in salt and sugar also will help treat menstrual cramps.
Step 6
Learn relaxation techniques that can relax all the muscles in the body, as well as train the mind to focus away from the menstrual cramps. Yoga, meditation and prayer have worked for many women in reducing the pain from cramps, say reports from the National Institutes of Health.
Tips and Warnings
- While it may not be part of your regular sexual routine, consider masturbation or having sex during your period. Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center cite reports that orgasms can help reduce the pain of menstrual cramps.
- Talk to your gynecologist if regular over-the-counter medications don't help with the pain. You may need surgery to remove fibroids or to relieve endometriosis that's causing the cramps.
Things You'll Need
- Medication
- Birth control
- Heating pad
- Vitamin supplements
