It's common to have pain or discomfort before or during a period. There are things a person can do to help ease the pain.
Check if it's period pain
Period pain usually happens to people around the start of their period. It can affect anyone who has periods.
A person may have period pain if they:
- have pain in their tummy at the start of their period, or several days before their period
- have painful cramps in their tummy that spread to their back and thighs
- have a sharp pain or a dull ache in their tummy
Period pain usually lasts for up to 3 days and can affect daily activities.
How a person can ease period pain
There are some things that can help ease period pain.
- have a warm bath or shower
- use a heat pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel on the tummy
- try massaging the tummy and back
- try some gentle exercise like yoga, swimming, walking, or cycling
- use painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
Information: Cutting down on alcohol and not smoking may also help ease period pain.
Causes of period pain
Period pain happens when the womb tightens during a period. It's often a normal part of the menstrual cycle.
Sometimes painful periods can be caused by a condition such as:
- womb tissue growing in other places (endometriosis and adenomyosis)
- growths in and around the womb (fibroids)
- an infection of the womb, fallopian tubes, and ovaries (pelvic inflammatory disease)
An intrauterine device (IUD) can also cause period pain, particularly during the first 3 to 6 months after it's put in.
