Menstrual cramps can cause varying degrees of discomfort in women. These complications of the menstrual period can be only slightly uncomfortable for some women, while for others they can be painful, affecting the mood of the woman and restricting the activities she can participate in. There are steps you can take to ease the discomfort.
Step 1
Heat up a heating pad and hold it against your abdomen. Warming this area usually reduces the cramping in most women. You can also soak in warm bath water.
Step 2
Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve the severity of menstrual cramps. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include ibuprofen and naproxen. You can also visit your doctor to get a prescription for mefenamic acid drugs, such as Ponstel.
Step 3
Use birth control to prevent ovulation and lessen menstrual cramps. Birth control uses hormones to interrupt your normal cycle. These hormones also reduce the intensity of menstrual cramps, according to the Mayo Clinic. You can take oral pills---which are the most common form of hormonal birth control---or use birth control administered through injection, a skin patch or a ring inserted in your vagina. Visit a doctor or gynecologist to get birth control that will inhibit ovulation.
Step 4
Ask your doctor if your menstrual cramps are the product of a disorder like endometriosis or fibrois. If it is, you can have surgery to remove the excess or abnormal tissue exacerbating your menstrual cramps. Once you recover from the surgery, you should experience less intense menstrual cramps.
Tips and Warnings
- Frequent exercise throughout the month also helps reduce the intensity of menstrual cramps when your period arrives. Acupuncture is also reported by some women to relieve menstrual cramps, although there is no medical evidence to support this.
Things You'll Need
- Heating pad
- Warm bath water
- NSAIDs
- Birth control
