Cramps

Period Cramps

We know how it goes, you have just had the best day with all your buddies, enjoying the latest rom-com movie, checking out all the new styles and fashions on show, maybe even sneaking a peek at some cute guys and then that familiar painful throb starts to emanate from your tummy. You think to yourself again ‘ it’s that time of the month again’ and sigh with a kind of knowing surrender, cos you know you are in for at least a few days of seriously un-cool period cramps (also known as Menstrual Cramps or Dysmenorrhea) that are gonna mess with your schedule. About half the women in the entire world will suffer from period cramps at some point so you are not alone in having this problem. Lots of girls quickly master using tampons and pads to deal with their period but are still irritated by the cramps they get. However, do you know what causes these cramps? And did you know that there are some super simple ways to make your period cramps less painful? Well, you will in a couple minutes, thanks to your personal period cramps advisor U by Kotex.

What causes period cramps

Girls all over Australia get period cramps during the first few days of their period. The cramps are normally caused by a hormone called Prostaglandins, which actually helps your period to happen. The hormone causes your tummy (your Uterus if we are getting technical) to contract so that it’s easier for the extra fluffy lining that your uterus has built up (in preparation for a possible pregnancy that didn’t happen this month) and egg to exit your body in the form of your period. One thing you should understand is that period cramps are a different kind of cramps/pain than you would get from PMS. PMS affects girls a little bit before their period starts and gets better when they actually have their period, while period cramps usually start as soon as girls get their period.
Period cramps normally start right before you get your period and are at their worst about a day after you first start feeling sore. You might get cramps more than your mum or older sister as they tend to affect younger women and girls more and get less painful with age. You may also notice some pain in your lower legs and thighs, and unfortunately the same hormone that causes period cramps can also cause you to feel nauseous, dizzy and bloated. Period cramps can be genetic (like your blue eyes or long fingers) so ask your mum if she suffered from cramps when she was younger, you never know, she might have a home remedy you can try.

Making Period Cramps less painful

So now you are all clued up on what causes period cramps but that’s not what you were looking for was it? You were looking for dead simple ways to make your period cramps less ouchy. Well, unlike Hansel and Gretel, you have come to the right place. There are a few things that you can do to make your period cramps easier to bear. A nice warm hot water bottle is a remedy that has been used for ages and always seems to do the trick a little bit. In fact, any kind of heat is probably going to help you out, so a nice relaxing hot bath will also help reduce the pain you are feeling from period cramps. Aah … feel those cramps just melting away.

Although it sounds weird exercise has also been proven to help relieve period cramps. Exercising releases endorphins (hormones that make you feel good) and helps relieve stress and tension in muscles. A cup of chamomile and honey tea is nature’s way of relaxing and soothing your body; give it a shot, even if it doesn’t work for you it’s still delicious. If you prefer more conventional medical remedies, there are lots of over the counter painkillers that specifically target period cramps, a quick visit to your pharmacy or even local supermarket should kit you out perfectly (you should try take the medication as soon as your cramping starts). It’s also an idea to grab a multi-vitamin to top up all your vitamins and minerals in your body, if you do take a multi-vit; try making sure it has Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Magnesium and Thiamine in it (double check with your doc before just to make sure that the multi-vit you get is the right one for you). Smoking, coffee and alcohol can all make your period cramps much worse, so avoid these, especially around the time of your period.

If your period cramps are really sore, so much so that you can’t go to school or do everyday things, you should go see your doc. They might even prescribe the Contraceptive Pill which has also been known to regulate periods and make period cramps less severe. Period cramps are our bodies way of slowing us down so we don’t do too much while our body is going through these big monthly changes. Take note of these messages from your body, after all if you seem too tired to get out and about then you probably are so rather than pushing yourself, catch up on some much needed R&R. The good news is that period cramps will probably get less painful as you get older and luckily they only last a few days, and then they are gone for another whole month.