Summary
Read the full fact sheet- Period pain happens when the muscles in the uterus contract or tighten strongly.
- Period pain is more common in younger women.
- Some pain during your period is normal and can be easily managed.
- There are ways to treat painful periods.
On this page
What is normal period pain?
It’s normal to have some pain during your period. Period pain is normal if:
- you have pain on the first 2 days of your period
- it doesn't impact your daily life
- it goes away when you use pain-relief medicine, hot or cold packs or TENS (a small device that blocks pain signals).
Symptoms of period pain
Symptoms of period pain may include:
- cramping or heaviness in your pelvic area
- pain in your stomach, lower back and legs
- a constant ache
- nausea or diarrhoea.
Causes of period pain
People who have painful periods may have higher levels of natural chemicals (called 'prostaglandins') that cause the uterus to contract.
Some period pain is caused by other conditions, such as endometriosis, fibroids or adenomyosis.
Treatment for period pain
If you have painful periods, you can try:
- pain-relief medicine (e.g. ibuprofen) when the pain starts
- regular exercise, which releases natural chemicals (endorphins) that relieve pain
- putting a heat pack or hot water bottle on your abdomen and lower back to help relax the muscles
- relaxation techniques (e.g. meditation) to relieve stress
- complementary therapies like acupuncture or naturopathy, or supplements like fish oil and magnesium.
You can talk to your doctor about hormonal treatments such as the pill or the Mirena™ intrauterine device (IUD).
When to see your doctor
Talk to your doctor if simple treatments for period pain don’t help or if your symptoms are so painful they impact your quality of life.
It can be helpful to record information about your periods so you can discuss this with your doctor. Things to record include when you get your period, how long it lasts, how heavy it is and how it impacts your daily life.
More information
For more detailed information, related resources, articles and podcasts, visit Jean Hailes for Women's Health.
Where to get help
- Armour M, Parry K, Manohar N, et al. 2019, ‘The prevalence and academic impact of dysmenorrhea in 21,573 young women: A systematic review and meta-analysis’, J Womens Health (Larchmt), vol. 28, no. 8, pp. 1161-1171.
- McKenna K, Fogelman C 2021, ‘Dysmenorrhoea’, American Academy of Family Physicians, vol. 104, no. 2, pp.164-170.
- Managing period pain, NPS MedicineWise
- Dysmenorrhoea, Queensland Health.
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