Getting bad period pains can be no fun. But there are lots of ways of turning bad period pains into no big deal.
Tampons are a really great period hack. You insert one into your vagina, and all you see is a string hanging out, and no period blood on your knickers. What a neat solution! But…what about that burning question on a lot of girls’ minds?
First, it’s important to understand why bad period pains happen. Sometimes not knowing why you’re in pain can make it feel more concerning, and therefore, more painful. Knowing what causes bad period pains can ease some of your discomfort, even if it’s mental.
What Causes Period Pains? Period pains are ultimately caused by hormone-like substances made by your body called prostaglandins. These are produced by your uterus when it’s time to get your period. Prostaglandins make your uterus contract (why your lower abdomen feels the way it does when you get your period) so that it pushes your uterine lining – aka your period blood – out of your body through your vagina. Really bad period pains are known as dysmenorrhea.
How to Allevieate Bad Period Pains? Here’s a quick cheat sheet for getting relief from really bad period pain.
Keeping your muscles warm and loose is key for counteracting the contractions in your uterus and alleviating bad period pain. Try some of the following to relax your muscles and increase circulation to your abdomen to fight very bad period pain:
- Light yoga stretches
- Brisk walks
- Curling up with a heating pad
- Staying hydrated
- Plain old resting are all good ways of relaxing your muscles and increasing circulation to your abdomen.
Will I Always Have Bad Period Pains?Some months you’ll find that you experience really bad period pains, and other months you’ll find that they’re really no big deal. This is due to a fluctuation in your hormones from month to month. Don’t worry. It’s totally normal.
What If My Period Pains Are Really Bad? While having some period pain period pain is normal (we all experience it at some point or another), extremely bad period pain is not. If your period pains are preventing you from going about your daily activities – like going to school – you may want to see your doctor. The doctor will help you get to the root of what is causing your bad period pain, so you can feel better.
If you want, you can ask your mum, a friend or a trusted adult to make an appointment for you.
