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Video: What is the best way to get rid of period pain?
Peer reviewed by Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGPLast updated by Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGPLast updated 18 May 2023
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While it's true that period pain eases as you get older, waiting for that to happen isn't a pleasant prospect. Our experts answer some of the main questions from women about painful periods.
In this article:
Playlist: Period Pain Q&A
5 videos
What is the best way to get rid of period pain?
Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.youtube.com%2Fvi%2Fh6DTwv1NoKM%2F0.jpg&w=384&q=75)
What is the best way to get rid of period pain?
Dr. Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP
![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.youtube.com%2Fvi%2F8iWPn_0-deQ%2F0.jpg&w=384&q=75)
What causes period pain?
Dr. Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP
![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.youtube.com%2Fvi%2FzcIXc1zK9Tk%2F0.jpg&w=384&q=75)
How much period pain is too much?
Dr. Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP
![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.youtube.com%2Fvi%2F2Vn2_jgejQY%2F0.jpg&w=384&q=75)
What does period pain feel like?
Dr. Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP
![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.youtube.com%2Fvi%2FYPTLy9_BfBQ%2F0.jpg&w=384&q=75)
What can cause bleeding between periods?
Dr. Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP
Continue reading below
What is the best way to get rid of period pain?
Relaxation, a hot water bottle, or maybe a gentle massage will help most women at least to some extent. You may well find you need painkillers and for these anti-inflammatories are often best. Your body produces a chemical called prostaglandin and anti-inflammatory drugs such as mefenamic acid or naproxen or sometimes Ibuprofen can help to reduce the levels of prostaglandin that help the lining of the womb to shed and can give rise to period pain.
If your period pain is severe, then hormone methods such as the combined oral contraceptive pills or the IUS (a kind of intrauterine hormone releasing coil), can often help. But if your period pain is caused by other conditions such as pelvic inflammatory diseases or endometriosis, the treatment will very much depend on what the condition is.
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Women's health
What's the link between PCOS and diabetes?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an incurable endocrine condition affecting up to one in ten women in the UK. It's most commonly associated with hormonal symptoms, such as acne, excess hair growth, weight gain, irregular periods, and reduced fertility. However, it is also associated with seemingly unrelated long-term health risks, like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In fact, women with PCOS are as much as 40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women without the condition - so what exactly is the link between PCOS and diabetes?
by Sarah Graham
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Women's health
Missed periods
Missed periods can happen for many reasons. Most of the time there is no worrying cause. As long as you are sure you are not pregnant and you feel well in yourself there is no need for concern if you miss one or two periods. If you don't have a period for 3-6 months, or have other symptoms then you should consult a doctor. Sometimes periods in teenage girls start later than in others. If your periods haven't started by the time you are 16 (or 14 if you have not started developing in other ways such as getting pubic hair and breasts) then contact your doctor. Periods can also be infrequent, erratic or irregular. If you bleed between your periods or after sex, or after the menopause, you should discuss this with your doctor.
by Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP
What causes period pain?
Amazingly we don’t absolutely know what causes many women’s period pain. A lot of women get what is called primary dysmenorrhea or period pain with no physical underlying cause. We know your body produces a natural chemical called prostaglandin in the lining of the womb and that helps the lining of the womb to shed.
We think the women who get bad period pain are super sensitive to that prostaglandin or have higher levels of it in their systems. But there’s also secondary period pain, period pain caused by another condition and those conditions include endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Continue reading below
How much period pain is too much?
How much period pain is too much? How long is a piece of string? Most women will get some period pain for most if not all periods and it tends to be worst in the first couple of days of your cycle.
But if your period pain is a great deal worse than it used to be, if it goes on for much longer then those first couple of days or if it is having a significant impact on your life, then it may well be worth seeing your doctor to see whether you need investigation for conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis or whether they can help with treatment.
What does period pain feel like?
Period pains are often described as cramps because it can be a cramping feeling down in the lower part of your tummy. Every women’s experience is different; but those pains may be made better by putting a hot water bottle onto them, they can come and go and they can spread to your lower back or your upper thighs.
Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
18 May 2023 | Latest version
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