Of course, it’s important to talk to your health care provider if you’re dealing with more severe cramps. However, if your cramps are livable—but not exactly pleasant—doctors say there are a few things you can do to ease your pain. When your uterus contracts, it helps your body push out the uterine lining, aka period blood, that has built up inside you during your cycle. On the first day of your period, the level of prostaglandins in your body is high, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists1 (ACOG) says. But as your period continues, the level goes down and you end up feeling less pain. Higher levels of prostaglandins are usually linked with more severe period cramps, says Christine Greves, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Florida. Certain yoga poses may also help you stretch and get some relief, Greves says. She lists the following as being particularly helpful: Streicher agrees: “You should not be canceling plans or having to call out of work because the pain is so bad,” she says. And, if you’re unsure whether your period cramps have ventured into a bad place, Greves recommends talking to your doctor anyway.
