Start with heat and gentle movement, then add a painkiller if you need one. Period pain is common and usually manageable, but severe pain isn’t something you just have to put up with.
Want steps matched to your pain level? Try the cramp relief planner.
Why period cramps happen
Period cramps happen when your womb tightens during your period. You may feel a sharp pain or a dull ache in your tummy, starting at the start of your period or just before it. The pain usually lasts for up to 3 days.
What you can try at home
- Heat. Use a heat pad or a hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel on your tummy, or have a warm bath or shower.
- Massage. Gently massage your tummy and back.
- Gentle exercise. Try yoga, swimming, walking or cycling.
- Painkillers. Paracetamol or ibuprofen, following the instructions on the pack.
- Cutting down on alcohol and stopping smoking. Both may also help.
What to try first
If you’re in pain right now, this order is a sensible place to begin:
- Start with heat. It’s simple, and you can use it while you rest.
- Add a painkiller if you need one. Follow the instructions on the pack, and ask a pharmacist if you’re unsure which one is suitable for you.
- Move gently once you feel able to. A short walk or some yoga is enough.
- Notice what helps. Logging your cramps in the period tracker can show when they tend to start, so that you can be prepared next month.
What a GP can offer
- Stronger anti-inflammatory medicines, such as naproxen, flurbiprofen or mefenamic acid
- A TENS machine, which uses mild electrical impulses to reduce pain
- Contraception, such as the pill, implant or injection, which thins the womb lining so that periods are lighter and less painful
- Tests such as an ultrasound scan, and treatment of any underlying condition
- Referral to a gynaecologist if your pain doesn’t improve
When something else is causing the pain
The NHS lists several conditions that can cause period pain, including:
- Endometriosis, where womb-like tissue grows in other places
- Adenomyosis
- Fibroids, which are growths in and around the womb
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries
These are reasons to get pain checked if it’s severe or has changed. Keep a note of when your pain starts and how long it lasts, as this makes it easier to describe at an appointment.
When to see a GP
See a GP if:
- Your periods have become more painful, heavier or irregular
- Period pain stops your daily activities
- You have pain during sex, or when peeing or pooing
- You bleed between periods
- You notice changes in how much you pee or poo
- You have a swollen tummy, loss of appetite, or weight loss without trying
When it’s urgent
Call a medical helpline such as NHS 111, or get an urgent GP appointment, if pelvic or period pain is severe or worse than usual, and painkillers aren’t helping.
Call emergency services if you could be pregnant and have sudden, intense tummy pain, or feel very dizzy or faint.