Ways To Make Period Cramps Go Away

Use A Menstrual Cup Or Discs

Certain menstrual products can be left in during penetration.

Menstrual discs and menstrual cups sit higher up in the body on the cervix blocking the blood from trickling down where the penis/dildo/finger is going to go.

Luna adds, Some people even report that having sex with a menstrual cup in is extra enjoyable because of the ways it puts pressure on their G-spot.

Just keep in mind that while these menstrual cups and discs look similar to birth control devices like the diaphragm or cervical cap, menstrual products dont double as birth control.

Treatment for period cramps includes medical treatment, lifestyle changes, and home remedies.

Medical treatment:

• Pain relief medications:Over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc. can help reduce the pain of cramps. Prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be advised for women with severe pain.
• Oral contraceptive pills :Oral contraceptives contain hormones that prevent ovulation and reduce period cramps. These hormones may also be administered in other forms such as injection, skin patch, or intrauterine device .
• Surgery: Surgery may be required to treat uterine fibroids or endometriosis and reduce associated symptoms.

Ways To Relieve Period Cramps

While menstrual cramps can be painful, you can take many routes to relief and get rid of the pain.

More than half of women who menstruate report some pain from period cramps for a day or two each month, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. While menstrual cramps, also called dysmenorrhea, are usually not a sign of a serious health condition, they can put a crimp in your lifestyle.

To help with the pain, here are 10 safe and effective tactics. If your period cramps seem severe or you dont get relief despite trying some of these options, check with your doctor to rule out more serious health issues.

A heating pad can be just as effective as medication to treat menstrual cramps.

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Try Fish Oil And Vitamin B1 For Natural Relief

Another natural route to period cramp relief is taking fish oil supplements, vitamin B1, or both, according to research published in September 2014 in the Global Journal of Health Science. Scientists assigned 240 teens with menstrual cramps and other pain to take B1 and fish oil, B1 alone, fish oil alone, or a placebo. The teens took 100 milligrams per day of B1 and 500 mg daily of fish oil supplements.

When the teens reported their pain, those taking either the fish oil, B1, or both had significantly less pain than the placebo group. The pain also didnt last as long if they took fish oil or B1.

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Whos At Risk For Endometriosis

Anyone with a uterus can get endometriosis, but most people diagnosed are in their 30s and 40s. You might have a bigger chance of having it if:

• you’ve never had kids

• your periods last more than 7 days

• your monthly cycles are short

• someone in your family has it

• you have a health problem that keeps blood from flowing out of your uterus when you have your period

Acupuncture May Help By Relaxing The Nervous System

Acupuncture can help relieve cramps, says Jeannie Bianchi, a licensed acupuncturist in San Francisco. Were relaxing the nervous system, she says, which causes more robust blood flow to the internal organs. Acupuncture is also thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

In a January 2011 Cochrane review, experts looked at six studies that observed the effects of acupuncture on period cramps. They compared acupuncture with no treatment or conventional treatment on 673 women. In another four studies, they compared the effects of acupuncture versus no treatment or conventional treatment in 271 women.

Overall, they found that both acupuncture and acupressure could reduce pain, but concluded that more evaluation was needed.

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Ways To Help With Period Cramps

There are a lot of reasons to be in awe of our periods. Their cyclical nature, the reminder of how much is happening within our bodies, their potential connection to the never-ending cycle of the moon and the tides and yet, none of that takes away from how not-great or even downright debilitating period cramps can feel.

The good news is that if you are suffering from menstrual cramps each month, a few methods can help provide relief.

Get Your Vitamins And Minerals

Apart from following a healthy lifestyle and workout routine, one factor that plays a key role in managing period pain is your diet. Dr Aujla explained, What you eat before and during periods can have a great impact on your menstrual cycle. Certain vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B1 and magnesium, including spinach, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, cauliflower, avocado, and oranges, are recommended to help reduce period cramps.

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Yoga Position # : Pigeon Pose

The pigeon pose will help your hips feel more relaxed as they carry the stress of menstrual cramps. The pigeon pose will help stretch and relieve the pain felt in your hips.

First, position yourself in the upright sitting position. Bend your right knee, and extend your left leg behind you. Arch your back as you place your hands on your hips. A more intense stretch can be achieved if you reach your arms over your head and bring your hands together.

Position yourself on all fours. Bring your right knee forward towards your right wrist, and extend your right ankle so it is in line with your left hip. Slowly slide your leg back. For balance and depending on your flexibility, you may need to keep your hands positioned on the ground.

As your leg extends back, you will feel the stretching of your left hip and you may also feel stretching along your right side, but it shouldnât be painful. If it is painful, you may need to modify the pose.

Hold this pose for several breaths before returning to the center and repeating the pose with your right leg outstretched behind you and your left knee bent. Repeat 5 to 10 times.

Massage With Essential Oils For Pain Relief

Massage with certain aromatic essential oils can also relieve menstrual cramp pain, according to a study published in May 2012 in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. Investigators assigned 48 women with menstrual cramps and other symptoms to massage either essential oils or a synthetic fragrance on their lower abdomen. The women used a mixture of diluted essential oils from the end of one period to the beginning of the next. Lavender, clary sage, and marjoram were used in a 2-1-1 ratio, and the essential oils were diluted to a 3 percent concentration overall in an unscented cream of essential oils to 97 ml of an unscented cream).

Women in both groups reported less pain, but the essential oils group did better. Based on the womens reports, researchers found that the duration of pain was reduced from 2.4 to 1.8 days after self-massaging with essential oils.

Just be sure youre using essential oils safely. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy suggests diluting pure essential oils in an unscented cream or lotion or other type of oil before using directly on skin to avoid irritation and other problems.

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When To See A Doctor

Severe menstrual pain can be a sign that something more serious is going on. Call your doctor if:

• Home remedies, including heat and pain relievers, do not ease your pain
• You cannot participate in normal activities because of your period pain
• Pain continues even after your period ends
• You’re also experiencing symptoms of depression

Severe menstrual pain could be a sign of other health conditions, including:

• Cervical stenosis
• Uterine fibroids

When Should I Call The Doctor

If your PMS is severe, your doctor can help with treatments, including medicine. Call the doctor if you:

• don’t feel better after trying home treatments
• feel very sad or hopeless
• ever think about hurting or killing yourself
• can’t do your usual activities because of your PMS symptoms
• have PMS symptoms that don’t go away after the first few days of your period

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It’s That Time Of The Month Again Right

For some weird evolutionary reason, periods and feeling terrible love to go hand in hand. Nobody asked for it, but a lot is actually being thrown at your body — including bleeding, cramps, bloating, and two sex hormones that are on the fritz, leaving you with the usual emotional roller coasters.

To sum it up its a lot. The most severe of them all is the menstrual cramps that usually starts a couple of days before your actual period, alongside PMS. Medically known as dysmenorrhea, these cramps are caused by involuntary muscle contractions that occur in your uterus during your period, pushing it to press against blood vessels and deprive it of oxygen. This decrease in both blood flow and oxygen in your uterus then causes the all-too-familiar cramping.

Unfortunately, these cramps can be so severe that many women find themselves unable to continue with daily activities when it hits, much less function in the first place. In fact, it is thought that at least 20% of women have disruptive period pain.

Thankfully, there are many ways to treat and minimize them. Heres what you can do as you navigate this monthly journey:

Make Sure To Stay Hydrated

It sounds counterintuitive, but drinking more water can actually help lessen bloating by keeping your digestive system, uh, running smoothly. Get even more water in your diet by adding in water-rich fruits and vegetables like cucumber and watermelon.

You can also go a step further and sip on warm or hot water, which can actually help lessen period cramps from the insideheated beverages have a relaxing effect on muscles, says Dweck.

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The Luteal Phase And Athletic Performance

During the back half of your menstrual cycle, your body is preparing for your next period or pregnancy, if you happened to conceive during this cycle. This means your hormones are running at a higher level, due to an increase in estrogen and progesterone. More hormones means a decrease in anabolic, or muscle-building, capacity. This means that its time to take it easier, focusing on lower-intensity workouts with more recovery time.

Also, rather than being able to easily access stored carbohydrates, your increase in hormones has that energy locked up tight. Now, your body needs fuel from extra carbs and calories from the outside . Plus, your body also needs more water during the luteal phase more hormones means a greater risk of dehydration.

Uterine Fibroids: A Monthly Period Nightmare For Some

As many as three out of four women will develop uterine fibroids, but most will not experience any symptoms. Fibroids range in size from microscopic to large enough to distort the shape of the uterus.

Uterine fibroids can turn monthly menses into a monthly nightmare by increasing not only the amount of bleeding, but the severity of period pain, says Lauren Streicher, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, and the author of Love Sex Again. The reason behind the pain is that the uterus during the period must contract to expel the large blood clots that often result from heavy bleeding, says Dr. Streicher. Fortunately, fibroids do not put women at increased risk of uterine cancer and very rarely become cancerous.

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Soothe Your Period Pains With Heat Therapy

Applying heat to your abdomen or back can make you feel more relaxed and may soothe your pain during your period. Studies have suggested that it helps to relax your uterine walls and blood vessels in that area, which improves the flow of blood to the uterus.

You can look up clinically-proven, effective heat therapy patches that relieve menstrual cramps on our in-app wellness Marketplace. Delivery is straight to your doorstep so you dont even need to leave home for it! Alternatively, you can try to make your own homemade heat therapy at home, such as using a hot towel or a hot water bottle.

Extra Tip: Check The Period Product Your Using

The period product you use may also be able to relieve some of the discomfort you feel during your period. Some Ruby Cupusers tell us that their menstrual cramps have reduced since switching to a menstrual cup.

One of the benefits of using a menstrual cup is that it can also make those heavy period days a lot easier to manage, as one cup can hold as much as three super tampons, saving you the worry about changing your period product quite so often.

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Up The Magnesium In Your Diet

Dietary magnesium seems to help ease the pain of cramps, says DeJarra Sims, ND, a faculty member at Bastyr University in San Diego and the author of Your Healthiest Life Now.

Magnesium is found in many foods, including almonds, black beans, spinach, yogurt, and peanut butter.

If you want to take a magnesium supplement, Dr. Sims suggests speaking with your doctor, since the dose you need depends on the severity of your cramps along with other factors.

Reach Out For Social Support

Social interaction is a key component of good mental health. Staying connected helps lessen feelings of isolation and decrease the effects of stress, and can give us a feeling of purpose and fulfillment. Make sure to spend time with the people you care about, even if its just a few hours at a time.

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What Should I Eat To Reduce Period Pain

Diet

• Papaya is rich in vitamins.
• Brown rice contains vitamin B-6, which may reduce bloating.
• Walnuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds are rich in manganese, which eases cramps.
• Olive oil and broccoli contain vitamin E.
• Chicken, fish, and leafy green vegetables contain iron, which is lost during menstruation.

Why Womens Athletic Research Is Catching Up The Role Of Hormones

Lets address the big question in the room. Why havent we discovered this sooner? It all comes down to the primary focus of early sports medicine science: male athletes. As a result, many of the results from past nutrition and training research apply perfectly to men, but not so much for women.

Fortunately, as the field has become more diverse, more recent womens sports medicine research has produced a wealth of information on how the female bodies interact with activity and nutrition. And it shouldnt come as much of a surprise that the more we study, the more we discover just how distinct and different a womans needs really are.

Even more importantly, were finding that those needs arent particularly constant from week to week. A womans hormones affected by age, maturity and pregnancy history set the pace for her reproductive system and physical performance.

Were finding that hormone levels can influence a womans susceptibility to certain injuries, how your body processes food and even how flexible your joints are. Of course, as physicians and dietitians, were just starting to scratch the surface plenty more research needs to be done in a lot of areas. However, theres a lot you can do with what we know now to hack your menstrual cycle and make it work for you.

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Pop A Safe Painkiller To Cut The Inflammation

Not everyone wants to turn to medicine to soothe period cramps, but moderate use of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication , such as Advil or Aleve , can help, Palmieri says. Menstrual cramps occur because of local release of substances called prostaglandins, he explains, and NSAIDs lower prostaglandin production and decrease overall inflammation and pain.

Check first with your doctor to be sure NSAIDs are a good choice for you, especially if you have a history of bleeding or kidney issues. And read the label for dosing instructions to be sure you dont accidentally take too many.

Enjoy A Cup Of Ginger Or Cinnamon Tea

Going natural to get rid of that pain is very awesome. Drinking a cup of cinnamon or ginger tea or both can help you to fight against really bad cramps during period. The ginger tea has been found to serve as an anti-inflammatory substance which reduces pain.

The cinnamon tea also has anti-spasmodic properties which can help to reduce the risk of pain during menstruation. Enjoying a cup of these tea is of great benefit working tremendously in different ways.

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Curl Up With A Heating Pad To Ease Period Cramps

a heating pad has been studied, and it seems to work, says Palmieri. Indeed, one small study published in 2001 in Evidence-Based Nursing found that topically applied heat was just as effective as ibuprofen for period cramps. Examples of over-the-counter medicines containing ibuprofen include Advil and Motrin.

The researchers assigned 84 women who had cramps to one of four groups. One used a combination of a heated patch and ibuprofen . A second group used an unheated patch and ibuprofen. A third group used a heated patch and a placebo pill. A fourth group, the control, was given an unheated patch and a placebo pill.

Over the two study days, the women using heat plus ibuprofen, heat alone, and ibuprofen alone reported greater pain relief than those on the placebo. Women using heat with ibuprofen did not report differences in pain relief compared with those using ibuprofen alone. But with heat, they experienced faster improvement in pain relief: about 90 minutes after starting, compared with nearly three hours for those taking medicine alone. More women who used both heat and ibuprofen reported complete pain relief compared with those in the control group, the researchers found.

A review of studies published in March 2014 in the Journal of Physiotherapy found that heat reduced womens period pain significantly.