It's common to have some pain or discomfort before or during your period. There are things you can do to help ease the pain. If your pain makes it difficult to do your daily activities (such as go to work or school) or you have other pain symptoms, speak to your GP.

Check if it's period pain

Period pain can affect anyone who has periods. Period pain usually happens around the start of your period.

You may have period pain if:

• you have pain in your tummy at the start of your period, or several days before your period
• you have painful cramps in your tummy that spread to your back and thighs
• you have a sharp pain or a dull ache in your tummy

Period pain usually lasts for up to 3 days.

How you can ease period pain

There are some things you can do to help ease period pain.

Do

• have a warm bath or shower
• use a heat pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel on your tummy
• try massaging your tummy and back
• try some gentle exercise like yoga, swimming, walking or cycling
• use painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen

Cutting down on alcohol and not smoking may also help ease period pain.

Causes of period pain

Mild period pain (or ‘cramps’) are quite common and are often a normal part of the menstrual cycle that occur when your womb tightens during your period.

Sometimes period pain is more severe and can be caused by a condition such as:

• tissue similar to womb tissue growing in other places (endometriosis and adenomyosis)
• growths in and around the womb (fibroids)
• an infection of the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries (pelvic inflammatory disease) 

Intrauterine devices (IUD) also known as a ‘coils’ can sometimes cause period pain, particularly during the first 3 to 6 months after it's put in. Copper IUDs may increase period pain, while hormonal IUDs may help to reduce period pain. If you would like to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different IUDs, book an appointment with your GP or sexual health clinic.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 Wales if:

• your pelvic pain or period pain is severe or worse than usual, and painkillers have not helped

You can call 111 or get help from 111 Wales online.

See a GP if:

• your period makes it difficult to do your daily activities (such as attending work or school, moving, concentrating, sleeping, socialising)
• your periods become more painful, heavier or irregular
• you have pain during sex or when peeing or pooing
• you're bleeding between periods

It may help to write down your symptoms before seeing your doctor.

You can use the Endometriosis Cymru online symptom reporting tool to help you collect information about your period symptoms. Using the tool doesn’t mean that you will have endometriosis, but it can help you to keep track of key symptoms and their impact on your day-to-day life to help you discuss this information with your doctor. You can use the tool to create a short report that you can share with your doctor.

If you have severe period pain, a GP may recommend:

• anti-inflammatory medicines like naproxen, flurbiprofen or mefenamic acid
• a TENS machine – a small device that uses mild electrical impulses to reduce pain
• hormonal contraception like the pill, implant, hormonal IUD or injection – these thin the womb lining, making your period lighter and easing the pain

The GP may refer you to a specialist (gynaecologist) if your period pain does not get better after trying these treatments for 3 to 6 months.

You might need tests, such as an ultrasound scan, to find out what's causing your period pain.