Period pain – dysmenorrhoea | Better Health Channel
Women of any age can experience painful periods and some women find periods are no longer painful after pregnancy and childbirth.
Managing period pain
Key facts
- Period pain is common and can feel different from person to person.
- Heat packs, exercise and relaxation may help you manage period pain.
- Pain-relief medicines, hormonal treatments and other pain-relief measures can also help.
- See your doctor if period pain is stopping you doing your usual activities.
- For some people, period pain is caused by an underlying health condition.
What is period pain?
Period pain, also called dysmenorrhoea, is common.
People experience period pain differently. It can range from mild to severe and may stop you from doing your normal activities.
Period pain is usually manageable and considered normal if it:
- happens at the start of your period, usually within the first 3 days
- doesn’t affect your daily life
- improves with pain-relief medicines or a heat pack
- does not get worse over time
Types of period pain
There are 2 types of period pain:
- primary dysmenorrhoea
- secondary dysmenorrhoea
Primary dysmenorrhoea often starts in the first year after you begin to get your period. It’s more common in teenagers and people under 30 years. It is the most common type of period pain.
Secondary dysmenorrhoea often happens years after the start of your periods.
What symptoms are related to period pain?
What causes period pain?
Primary dysmenorrhoea
Natural chemicals in your blood called prostaglandins cause this type of period pain. They make the muscles of your uterus (womb) tighten.
Secondary dysmenorrhoea
This type of period pain is caused by an underlying health condition, such as:
- endometriosis
- adenomyosis
- fibroids and polyps in your uterus
- pelvic inflammatory disease
It can also be caused by an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD).
When should I see a doctor?
See your doctor if your period pain stops you from doing your normal daily activities. For example, if you need to have time off school or work. If you’re still concerned and feel your symptoms aren’t being fully addressed, you may want to get a second opinion from another healthcare professional.
Read more on how to find the right health professional.
It can help to keep a record of your past periods to share with your doctor. You may want to record:
- when you get your period
- how long it lasts
- how heavy it is
- your symptoms
How is period pain diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms. They may want to examine you. Before examining you or your child, your doctor will ask for your consent. This means you agree for them to do the examination.
Tell your doctor if you would prefer another doctor to examine you. For example, you may feel more comfortable having a female doctor do a pelvic examination.
You can also ask to have a friend or family member with you at the examination.
In some cases, they may arrange further tests, such as:
- an ultrasound scan
- an MRI scan or CT scan
- a hysteroscopy — a procedure that uses a small camera to look inside your uterus
How is period pain treated?
There are a few treatments you can try to help with period pain.
If you have secondary dysmenorrhoea, it's best to treat the underlying cause.
Self-care at home
Some people find their period pain is relieved by:
- using a heat pack
- gentle exercise
- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) (a pain-relief method that uses a small, portable machine)
- acupuncture
- relaxation or meditation to reduce stress
- supplements such as magnesium
Foods that may help with period pain
There is evidence to show that foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce period pain. These foods include:
- chia seeds
- walnuts
- flaxseeds
- salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel
- oysters
- edamame beans
Ginger can help with period pain and reduce nausea.
There is also some evidence that foods rich in vitamin E can help with period pain. Foods rich in vitamin E are:
- sunflower seeds
- nuts
- spinach
- broccoli
- kiwifruit
- mango
- tomato
Pain-relief medicines for period pain
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, mefenamic acid and naproxen stop your body making prostaglandins.
They work best if you start taking them 1 to 2 days before your period starts. You should continue taking these medicines regularly for the first 2 to 3 days of bleeding. You can buy them over the counter from a pharmacy.
You can take NSAIDs without food, but if they upset your stomach, try taking them with a meal. These medicines may not be suitable for everyone. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist to check they are safe for you.
Paracetamol can also help for mild cramps.
Pain-relief medicines and breastfeeding
Both paracetamol and anti-inflammatory pain medicines, including ibuprofen, can be safely taken while breastfeeding (Opens in new tab).
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist before starting a new medicine, especially while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Hormone treatments for period pain
Your doctor may prescribe hormonal contraception to help you manage period pain. Examples include:
- combined oral contraceptive pill
- contraceptive vaginal ring
- progestogen implant
- hormonal intrauterine device (IUD)
You can use pain-relief medicines as well as hormonal treatment.
Some hormonal contraceptives can also improve heavy periods and period pain. In some people, periods may stop altogether.
Resources and support
Visit Jean Hailes for Women's Health for more information about period pain.
Family Planning Australia has information on period problems.
Jean Hailes for Women's Health has Easy Read resources on women’s health topics, including endometriosis, menopause and heavy periods.
Languages other than English
Jean Hailes has fact sheets (Opens in new tab) in languages other than English.
The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (Opens in new tab) has health resources for women, available in more than 70 languages.
Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
Find an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) (Opens in new tab) or Affiliate near you.
Read about annual health checks (Opens in new tab) for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Information for sexually and gender-diverse families
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia has a Genders, Bodies and Relationships Passport (Opens in new tab). This is a tool to support clear communication between intersex, trans and gender diverse people, and health and social care services. The Passport is designed to help people to get quality care and help organisations to achieve inclusive practice.
Find out how we develop and review our content.
Last reviewed: July 2024
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