How to Deal with Menstrual Cramping (5 Steps)

More than half of all women experience the pain and aggravation of monthly cramps. Fight back effectively with these tips.

 

Warning: See your doctor if cramping is severe or sudden; you experience pain at times other than your period; or cramping is accompanied by fever.

 

Step 1: Take naproxen or ibuprofen

Take naproxen or ibuprofen. Don’t wait -- take it at the onset of pain and repeat every six hours until the pain subsides.

 

Step 2: Apply heat

Put a heating pad on your abdomen or lower back to soothe the pain, or take a hot bath to relax your pelvic muscles.

 

Tip: Drink ginger root tea to ease cramping. Make your own by slicing ginger root and simmering it in water for 15 minutes.

 

Step 3: Exercise

Exercise reduces muscle tension and increases circulation, so take a walk, get on your bike, or practice yoga. Getting on all fours with your hips elevated can also relieve pain. 

 

Step 4: Take supplements

Take vitamin B in the morning, and calcium and magnesium supplements before bed one week before your period starts to help prevent uterine contractions.

 

Tip: Birth control pills prevent ovulation and reduce the severity of menstrual cramps.

 

Step 5: Use progesterone cream

Use an over-the-counter progesterone cream to help fight cramps. The South American medicinal plant maca root may also offer relief.

 

Did You Know?

A 1978 study named menstrual pain and discomfort as the greatest single cause of school and work absences among American women.