To help ease period cramps, doctors may prescribe hormonal birth control, which uses hormones to help prevent pregnancy.
Hormonal birth control lowers the amount of chemicals called prostaglandins in your body. They make the muscles of the uterus contract (tighten and loosen). With fewer of these chemicals, there aren’t as many contractions. That means there’s less pain. Your periods may also be lighter and shorter, and sometimes they even stop while using this type of birth control.
Hormonal birth control methods include the:
Other things you can try either with hormonal birth control or instead of it to ease cramps include:
If you have severe cramps that get worse or keep you home from school or normal activities, see your doctor. They can help you find a treatment that's best for you.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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