12 Ways to Quickly Relieve Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) occur when the muscles of the uterus, the organ that helps with menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth, contract (tighten and relax) before and during your period. Hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle or conditions such as endometriosis, where uterine tissue grows outside the uterus, can cause menstrual cramps. If you suffer from menstrual cramps, there are several options that can help you.

Most home remedies work well alone to relieve menstrual cramps by relax the uterine muscles. Some options include:

• Use a heating pad: Hot water bottles and heating pads are great options to use at home to relieve your cramps. You can even make your own by adding dried beans and rice to a sock, then warming it in the microwave. Research suggests that using heat therapy may be just as effective as taking pain-relieving medications in improving your symptoms.
• Drink ginger tea: Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to help improve your symptoms. You can boil pieces of ginger for several minutes on the stove or try ginger tea bags to see if it can relieve your cramps.
• Try a TENS unit: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a painless treatment that uses harmless electrical currents to reduce the pain caused by menstrual cramps. This device has patches that you apply to your skin and a control box with switches to increase and decrease the intensity of the electrical currents.
• Take a hot shower: Hot showers can also help you and your muscles relax when you have cramps. However, little research supports the use of hot showers rather than direct heating methods, such as hot water bottles and heating pads.

Making certain lifestyle choices can help improve your overall health, including menstrual cramps. Staying active is a known way to help. Doing moderate-intensity exercise, such as taking a brisk walk or doing yoga, can relieve cramps. However, you need to exercise throughout the month, rather than just during your period, for it to be most effective against cramps.

Although researchers are still working to understand why staying active can relieve menstrual cramps, it’s a good lifestyle adjustment to make in general. A balanced diet and reducing stress are also recommended to contribute to your health.

Medical treatments for menstrual cramps target the production or action of prostaglandinswhich are chemicals that cause your uterus to contract. These include medications such as:

• Combined contraception: This is a contraceptive that contains both progesterone and estrogen (hormones of the female reproductive system), which can help reduce cramping by limiting the amount of prostaglandins produced during your period. This type of contraception often comes in the form of a pill, patch or vaginal ring.
• Progesterone-only contraception: This contraceptive thins your uterine lining, which reduces prostaglandins and cramping. It may also reduce the number of periods over the course of a year, or even stop them altogether while you take it. This type of contraception can come in the form of a pill, injection, implant in the arm or in the form of intrauterine device (IUD), which is a T-shaped contraceptive inserted into the uterus.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These medications help improve your cramps by directly blocking prostaglandins. There are many NSAIDs, such as Motrin (ibuprofen) and aspirin. Motrin and Aleve (naproxen) are most effective in reducing cramps.
• Tylenol (acetaminophen): Like NSAIDs, this medication helps reduce the sensation of pain. This is a good option for people who cannot take NSAIDs due to underlying health conditions.

There are also alternative treatments you can try to relieve your menstrual cramps. The most studied alternative treatment for cramps is acupuncture or acupressure. You can also ask a doctor about trying a magnesium supplement or a magnesium bath to relieve your cramps, as magnesium can help reduce inflammation and cramping.

Although minor cramps are common in most people who menstruate, you should see a doctor if your cramps are severe. what stops you from going to work, going to school, or enjoying your daily activities.

Your doctor can determine the underlying cause of your cramps and provide treatment options tailored to your needs. Most cramps are caused by prostaglandins. However, other causes of cramping include conditions like endometriosis, which may require other treatments. Endometriosis can also impact your fertility. Therefore, having an open conversation about the severity of your cramps can help if you are trying to get pregnant and are having difficulty achieving it.

Menstrual cramps are often caused by hormonally induced uterine contractions. However, underlying conditions can also play a role. Certain holistic remedies, such as heat therapy, ginger tea, exercise, good diet and stress management, can help relieve menstrual cramps.

Medical options, such as NSAIDs and hormonal contraceptives, target prostaglandins, and alternative treatments like acupuncture or magnesium may also be helpful. If cramps are interfering with your daily life, consider speaking with a doctor to determine the cause and explore treatment options.