How do you help a woman with cramps feel better?

Question

When a woman says she has period cramps, is there anything her man can do to make her feel better?

Answer 1

RUN and keep out her way!!
lol just kidding... personally I think maybe to pamper her.. rub her feet... allow her to just lay there while you rub her stomach or her back which ever she likes.. run to the store for her without her knowing and get her favorite candy or ice-cream.. its mroe of the Awwww.... of you going without her asking then getting the item itself.. go get her flowers... something anything...

Its the thought of you going out of your way to let her know that YOU know she isn't feeling good.. and showing that your willing to do what it takes to get her to smile will help... TRUST ME... PAMPER HER!!

Answer 2

You are such a caring and compassionate partner for asking this question! Actually, there are a couple of things. First of all, all myths aside, a really good orgasm can help cramps. I am not kidding!
Also, some stretching can help. Picture this: she lies on her back and bends her left leg so that her left ankle rests over her right knee. Her left knee will sort of be up in the air, so gently put some pressure on the inside of her knee joint to stretch her left groin muscles. Do this several times, increasing the gentle pressure. Repeat for the right side.
Also, if she is crampy but not cranky, use your sense of humor and charm to get her laughing...one of the best medicines ever!
Good luck to you both!

Answer 3

If it is bad get her into the doctor for a female exam. They found a cyst in me when I was only 26, and I was in pain a LOT before I knew I had one.

Birth control pills work great for improving a woman cycle. Therapy Heat Patches are awesome on the tummy. The midol in the pink box (tylenol NOT Aleeve based) is the best. Back rubs are the bomb too....

Answer 4

Sometimes she might not want you to but if she says so you can massage her stomach or lower abdomen carefully because if she is like me her cramps hurt...horribly. You can supply some sweets like chocolate for her or a heating pad. Believe me, you will get 1000 gold stars at the end of the day for this.

Answer 5

Hehe... leave the room. Better yet, leave the country!

Seriously though, you can offer to get her a heating pad; sometimes the heat helps. Aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin or Pamprin are all useful as well. If she drinks, mix her up a nice smooth cocktail - the cramps might still be there, but she won't care!

Answer 6

A heating pad and some Mentholatum. if you don't have either than find a very warm pan of water and keep applying every once in a while rub the cramps and she will feel alot better.

Answer 7

Yes. Get her advil or whatever pain medicine she wants. Also rub her shoulders or rub her right below her belly button where the cramps are. That helps some. Also a hot pack in the same area helps too.

Answer 8

Get her heating pad and tel her to put it on her stomche. Give her midol and ice cream. Rent The notebook & youre in.

Answer 9

Some background + info, including therapies for her...

Derived from the Greek words dys, meaning “difficult,” meno, meaning monthly, and rrhea, meaning “flow,” dysmenorrhea is the term used to describe painful menstrual cramping.

Almost all menstruating women experience some cramping during their periods, referred to as either primary dysmenorrhea, which refers to "normal" menstrual pain, or secondary dysmenorrhea, which arises as a result of an underlying disease or disorder. The condition is among the leading complaint in women who present to their physicians for gynecologic pain. More than half of all menstruating women have pain associated with menses, and studies have shown that dysmenorrhea is one of the most common reasons women miss work and/or school. Nearly 10% of women with the condition are incapacitated for up to three days each month[1].

"Normal" menstrual cramps occur in almost all women due to the release of hormones known as prostaglandins. These are hormones produced by the endometrium (the lining of the uterus), which cause the uterus to contract, sometimes quite painfully, in order to expel the menstrual debris. Some women produce higher levels of prostaglandins than others, so they may hurt more. Increased prostaglandin production can also cause the distressing gastrointestinal symptoms some women may experience. Primary dysmenorrhea most commonly occurs within a few years of menarche (a woman’s first period), while secondary dysmenorrhea can occur years after the onset of menarche.

Pain with primary dysmenorrhea usually begins on or about the first day of a woman’s period and can last up to 72 hours. In a woman with secondary dysmenorrhea, she may have painful symptoms occurring a week or more prior to her period and lasting even after her flow has stopped. In the case of a woman who has secondary dysmenorrhea, there are other reasons for her pain, including diseases or conditions like Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, cervical stenosis, structural abnormalities in the vagina or uterus itself, fibroids, or similar concern.

Dysmenorrhea can be diagnosed based on symptoms, patient history, physical findings, and when appropriate, diagnostic tests such as vaginal or pelvic ultrasound, hysteroscopy (an examination of the inside of the uterus) and/or hysterosalpingogram (an evaluation of the uterus and fallopian tubes). In cases of secondary dysmenorrhea, laparoscopic surgery can be very beneficial at affording a diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause. Symptoms often include painful pelvic or abdominal cramping, headache, suprapubic cramping (an area of the pelvis overlying the bladder), backache, pain radiating down into the thigh area, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea and even syncope (a temporary of consciousness). Upon physical exam, those with primary dysmenorrhea exhibit normal vital signs and a tender uterus, but no cervical or ovarian abnormalities. Patients with secondary dysmenorrhea may exhibit varied vital signs depending on the underlying cause and may be found to have tenderness, nodules, and/or enlargement of the uterosacral ligaments, the rectovaginal septum or other adnexa (the region of the pelvis that encompasses the ovary, fallopian tube and surrounding broad ligament).

Treatment options are based on the underlying cause of the pain (primary v. secondary dysmenorrhea) and range from medical to alternative therapies. Commonly, Non-Steroidal Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or ibuprofen may be recommended to help with cramping, and more recently, COX-2 inhibitors have also been approved for treatment of dysmenorrhea. Prescription painkillers may also be recommended where appropriate. Combination (ethynylestradiol and progestin) oral contraceptives can also help reduce prostaglandin production, thereby alleviating the cramps. Heating pads can also offer temporary resolve of the pain. Avoidance of smoking (which has been shown increase cramps) and reduced intake or total avoidance of salt, sugar, high fat and dairy products, alcohol and caffeine can also afford relief, as can increasing the intake of fiber, calcium and complex carbohydrates. Recent studies also indicate that Vitamin B6 complex, calcium and magnesium supplements, and Omega III fatty acids (fish oil supplements) also may help relieve cramping. Pelvic massage, exercise (which releases endorphins, the body’s own natural painkillers), Yoga (the cat stretch and the pelvic tilt), visualization techniques, aromatherapy, acupuncture and herbs like Dong Quai, Ginseng, Stragalus root, Ligusticum root and White Peony root are also said to be helpful alternative techniques for managing the pain.

If Endometriosis or another disorder is the underlying or secondary cause for dysmenorrhea, you will benefit most from having the disease diagnosed and effectively removed. It is important to determine if the cramps are "normal," or if they could be due to another cause. Pain that is crippling or incapacitating is never normal and should be investigated as soon as possible so that appropriate diagnosis and subsequent treatment can be rendered.

Reference:
[1] Jamieson DJ, Steege JF. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome in primary care practices. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;87(1):55-58.

Answer 10

Advil, a heating pad, a warm bath, whatever she wants to eat or drink that sounds good to her.