Period Cramps: How to Care for Your Daughter

Girls with period cramps may have pain in the lower belly or back. The pain may start right before a period begins and continue for the first few days of a period. Although period cramps are common, some girls have pain that is so bad that it can get in the way of going to school, studying, or sleeping.

Health care providers usually treat period cramps with pain relievers taken by mouth. If needed, they might prescribe birth control pills ("the Pill"). The Pill can help balance hormones and make cramps less severe.

• To help your daughter when she has cramps:

  • Give ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand), or naproxen (Aleve®, Anaprox®, or a store brand) as directed for pain. These are available at a drugstore or grocery store without a prescription.

  • Have her try a heating pad on her belly or back

  • Help your daughter get plenty of physical activity. Being active may make cramps less severe.

• If the health care provider prescribed birth control pills, be sure your daughter takes them exactly as directed.

• If your daughter is on birth control pills and is sexually active, talk to her about using condoms to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs).

Your daughter has:

• cramps that do not get better after she follows the health care provider's instructions

• vaginal discharge that is different from usual

• cramps or belly pain between periods

What causes period cramps? Period cramps are caused by chemicals in the body called prostaglandins. These chemicals make the muscles of the uterus tighten. This causes pain in the lower belly and sometimes the back.