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Menstrual Cramps
About this symptom
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Check Your Symptoms
- Home Treatment
- Prevention
- Preparing For Your Appointment
- Related Information
- Credits
Try the following home treatment to help relieve your menstrual cramps:
- Use heat, such as hot water bottles, heating pads, or hot baths, to relax tense muscles and relieve cramping. Be careful not to burn yourself.
- Drink herbal teas, such as chamomile, mint, raspberry, and blackberry, which may help soothe tense muscles and anxious moods.
- Exercise. Regular workouts decrease the severity of cramps. For more information, see the topic Fitness.
- Empty your bladder as soon as you have the urge to urinate.
For more information on managing menstrual cramps, see:
| Try a nonprescription medicine to help treat your fever or pain: |
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| Be sure to follow these safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine: |
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Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:
- You become pregnant.
- Pain is getting worse despite home treatment.
- Menstrual cramps are lasting longer than your period.
- Other symptoms develop, such as fever, nausea, vomiting, or vaginal discharge.
- Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
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