What can I do about bad menstrual cramps?

Women with bad menstrual cramps should initially try anti-inflammatories, and see a doctor if pain persists.

For severe menstrual cramps, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen taken per the instructions on the label during your heavy cramping days, usually the first one to three days of your period, can be helpful. For some women, taking birth control pills can also help reduce their menstrual cramps. If over-the-counter remedies are not helpful or you are interested in other treatments for menstrual cramps make an appointment to discuss it further with your healthcare provider.

If you suffer from severe cramps there are a few things you can try to relieve them. Exercise and healthy diet choices can be effective; you can also try taking two of the 200-milligram doses or one of the two 400-milligram dose of Advil or Motrin every six hours, or four times a day) can keep your body from making so much prostaglandin. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) does not block the hormone that causes cramps, so if you feel better when taking Tylenol, the cramps are going away on their own anyway. Lucky you! If the ibuprofen does not work, ask your doctor for another NSAID called naproxen, which comes in 550-milligram tablets and needs to be taken in the morning and at night to work. The trick is not to miss any doses, as once your body makes the prostaglandins, you get the cramps. If these medicines in the right doses are not effective, the next step is another prescription medicine called mefenamic acid (brand name Ponstel). This drug comes in 250-milligram tablets; you take two initially and then one every six hours. Another option would be to start a birth control pill, which suppress ovulation and thins out your uterus lining; both the egg sac and the uterine lining are sources of those pain-inducing, cramp-causing prostaglandins.