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Kids Health Info

Period pain (dysmenorrhoea)

  • Key points

    • Pain is common leading up to a period and for the first few days after it starts.
    • The medical term for period pain is ‘dysmenorrhoea.’
    • Periods cause pain for a few reasons. Cramps are usually due to the uterus muscles tightening to help it shed its lining.
    • It is important to support your young person if they have painful periods.
    • If period pain is stopping your young person from doing everyday activities, such as playing sport or going to school, they should speak to their doctor.

    Read the teen fact sheet

    About period pain

    Pain is a very common part of having periods – especially in the days leading up to a period and the first few days after it starts. Up to 90% of teenagers get period pain. The medical term for painful periods is ‘dysmenorrhoea’ (pronounced diss-men-uh-ree-ah).

    Young people with periods often get cramps or feel heavy in their pelvic area, between the hips. Many also have pain in their stomach or lower back.

    Along with cramping pain, people may have the following symptoms:

    • Aching
    • Nausea
    • Bloating
    • Headaches
    • Tender breasts
    • Tiredness
    • Dizziness or feeling faint
    • Diarrhoea.

    All bodies are different. Some people experience more period pain than others.

    What causes period pain?

    Periods cause pain for a few reasons. Cramps typically happen when the uterus muscles tighten to help the uterus shed its lining. This is the layer of skin inside the uterus; the medical term for it is the ‘endometrium.’

    When a person with periods does not get pregnant during their menstrual cycle, their hormone levels drop, and their uterus releases many inflammatory chemicals. These chemicals:

    • break down the uterus lining
    • tell the uterus to bleed so it can flush out the lining
    • prompt the uterus to contract so it can push out the broken-down lining
      • the period blood that comes out of the vagina during menstruation is a mix of blood and broken-down lining.

    Cramping pain is usually from the uterus contracting; however, the natural chemicals it releases can also make people feel achy, nauseous, dizzy, or faint. Some pain may also be due to back bleeding (also called ‘retrograde menstruation’) – this is when the period blood flows backwards into the pelvic area. Retrograde menstruation is not dangerous; it is very common and normal, but it can irritate the bladder and pelvic floor muscles.

    Different types of period pain

    The location and timing of period pain can mean different things.

    If your young person has painful periods, here are some possible reasons why:

    • Intense pain on the heaviest days of their period
      • Possible causes:
        • Their uterus may have to contract a lot to push out blood and clots – especially if they have heavy periods and lose so much blood it affects their daily life.
        • They may have retrograde menstruation (back bleeding).
        • They may have an underlying health condition.
    • Pain that lasts through their whole period
      • Possible cause:
        • Their uterus may release more inflammatory chemicals; they can cause pain and make the uterus contract more.
        • A small number of people have an underlying difference in the shape of their uterus which may cause more pain.
    • Pain when passing a stool (pooing) or urinating (peeing)
      • Possible causes:
        • They may have retrograde menstruation.
        • The muscles that help them pass stools (poo) or urinate (pee) may have tightened. These muscles are close to the uterus, so they can get irritated during a period – especially if there is retrograde menstruation.
    • Pain that is worse at the end of their period, rather than the start
      • Possible causes:
        • They may have an unusual or different-shaped uterus.

      Supporting your young person with period pain

      Period pain can be very upsetting – especially for young people. If painful periods seem to be affecting your young person’s quality of life, they may need professional help. For example, if your young person’s pain is so intense that they:

      • cannot go to school or work
      • often cancel plans with friends or family
      • fall behind at school
      • plan their life around their period
      • go to the school sick bay every month.

      If your young person has period pain, it is important to support them. This could mean:

      • Offering to talk with them about their pain and other symptoms.
        • Avoid pressuring them to share. It is best to let them know you are happy to chat whenever they are ready.
        • If your young person is not comfortable sharing with you, encourage them to speak to another trusted adult, such as a school nurse, wellbeing staff member, or even a sports coach.
      • Listening to them and reassuring them that their pain is real.
      • Giving advice when they ask for your opinion.
      • Helping them to organise medical appointments, as required.
        • If your young person is around 14 years or older, they usually have a right to speak to a doctor alone. However, it is a good idea to offer to go with them.

      Your young person’s doctor can give medical advice on their period pain. They may order tests or refer your young person to a specialist, such as a pelvic pain physiotherapist, depending on their symptoms.

      Treatments for period pain

      Other parts of your young person’s life can affect their periods and period pain. For example, if they are stressed at school, or there is a lot of change at home, their periods may be more painful.

      If your young person has painful periods, the following measures may help:

      • Taking anti-inflammatory pain-relief medicines
        • Your young person should take anti-inflammatory medicine as soon as their pain starts; the worse the pain gets, the harder it will be to control.
        • The best over-the-counter medicines for period pain are ibuprofen, naproxen, and mefenamic acid. They are all anti-inflammatory medicines that work by blocking the body from making the chemicals that cause cramping pain.
        • Paracetamol may help mild cramping pain, but it does not usually work as well because it is not an anti-inflammatory.
      • Trying antispasmodic medicines, such as hyoscine butylbromide
        • These medicines may help relieve cramps.
      • Making their periods lighter
      • Skipping periods
      • Using heat
        • Heat can relax muscles in a similar way to pain-relief medicine.
        • Your young person could rest a heat pack where they feel the most pain or have a warm bath.
      • Eating nutritious foods
        • Your young person should aim to eat three balanced meals a day, with two to three nutritious snacks in between. For example, fruits and vegetables, healthy fats such as avocado, and wholegrains such as oats.
        • They should also drink plenty of water – around five to eight cups (1.25 to 2L) every day.
      • Exercising and stretching
        • Regular exercise helps period pain by increasing blood flow and triggering the body to release ‘endorphins’ – natural pain-relief chemicals. Even a short walk may help.
        • Encourage your young person to do simple stretches to loosen the muscles that get tight during a period.
      • Seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist
        • A pelvic health physiotherapist is an allied health professional who specialises in managing different kinds of pain related to periods.
        • They can work with your young person to create a treatment plan that reduces their pain.
      • Trying a nerve-stimulation device (TENS)
        • A TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) sends very small electric pulses through the skin. It does not hurt.
        • The device helps to block pain messages and prompts the body to release endorphins.
        • Your young person should speak with a health professional before using a TENS device. They will share which device is best, where to get one, and suggest the best settings to use.
      • Getting enough sleep
        • Sleep can help period pain as it relaxes muscles.
        • As a guide, young people aged seven to 12 need around 10 to 11 hours of sleep, while young people aged 13 to 18 need around 8 to 10 hours of sleep.

      When to get help

      Go to a hospital if:
      • your young person has extreme and sudden pelvic pain.

      See a doctor or health professional if:
      • your young person’s periods are affecting their quality of life, such as causing them to miss school or sports practice.
      • your young person’s period pain does not get better with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine.

      Look after your young person at home if:
      • their period pain gets better with anti-inflammatory medicine and other supportive measures, such as heat and exercise.
      • their period pain is not affecting their quality of life.

      Common questions about period pain

      What are prostaglandins?

      Prostaglandins are natural chemicals that the body makes. In the context of periods, prostaglandins prompt the uterus to contract so it can shed its lining. People with worse period pain tend to have higher prostaglandin levels.

      Should my young person take paracetamol for period pain?

      Paracetamol can help period pain, but it does not usually work as well as anti-inflammatory pain-relief medicines like ibuprofen. This is because anti-inflammatories treat the cause of the pain and block the body from making the chemicals that cause it.

      Can my young person take ibuprofen and naproxen at the same time?

      Your young person should not take ibuprofen and naproxen at the same time as they belong to the same group of medicines. It is safe to take paracetamol with ibuprofen or naproxen because it is from a different group of medicines.

      Could my young person’s period pain be endometriosis?

      Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside the uterus – usually in the pelvic area. Some people with endometriosis have extreme period pain and other symptoms like heavy periods, but others do not have any symptoms.

      Period pain does not always mean endometriosis. In fact, pain-related symptoms affect people without endometriosis as much as people with endometriosis.

      If your young person’s periods are very painful and you are worried they may have a health condition, it is always worth speaking to a doctor.

      Will my young person need a pelvic exam to investigate their period pain?

      A genital or pelvic exam is rarely necessary to investigate a young person’s period pain. If their doctor suggests one, it is a good idea to ask why.

      My young person’s period pain is impacting their mental health. How can I support them?

      Period pain can be distressing to a young person. Even if treatments help to reduce their discomfort, they may still find it hard to cope with their emotions.

      Start by supporting your young person at home. The stronger your relationship, the more comfortable they will feel sharing with you. You could also offer to help ease their pain, such as by getting them anti-inflammatory medicine or heating their heat pack. This will make them feel safe and cared for.

      If your young person is struggling with their mental health, you should encourage them to speak with their doctor, school nurse, or school counsellor. They can help your young person or refer them to a psychologist or another mental health specialist with experience in pain.

      Can I get a second opinion on my young person’s period pain?

      You can always get a second opinion on your young person's period pain. It is very important that your child feels like their doctor is listening to them; they know their body best. It may be a good idea to find a doctor that specialises in period health. You could also ask for them to be referred to a paediatric and adolescent gynaecologist.

      For more information


      Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Gynaecology department, with input from the Kids and Teens Pelvic Pain Clinical Network multidisciplinary team. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

      Reviewed August 2026

      Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.


    Disclaimer

    This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.

    Updated July 2025

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