Girls and women who go through their menstrual cycle every month can vouch for the discomfort on those tough days. In addition to all other symptoms that the menstrual cycle or period puts you through — bloating, breakouts, period rashes, fatigue, mood swings, and cravings — there’s period pain as well. The intense throbbing and cramping pain called primary dysmenorrhea, or period cramps, could be mild for some and intense for others. The pain adds to the discomfort, affects quality of life, and is debilitating at times. While many means, including painkillers, have been tried and tested, experts suggest heating pads as a safe, convenient and non-pharmacological means to manage period pain.
Primary dysmenorrhea: The period cramps
“Primary dysmenorrhea (period cramps) is a common condition in menstruating people,” says Dr Srividhya Guddeti, consultant, obstetrics and gynecology, Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Bengaluru. “The pain is caused due to uterine contractions, which typically happen just before and during your periods. The chemical culprits here are prostaglandins released by the breakdown of endometrial cells lining the uterus.”
The painful cramps affect the quality of life. To escape the intense pain, many take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) as painkillers. But are painkillers safe for period pain?
“Nowadays, most people tend to take NSAIDs for treating period pain even without a dysmenorrhea diagnosis. This can lead to many side effects,” explains Dr Sonamm Tiwari, consultant gynecologist and obstetrician, Hiranandani Hospital, a Fortis Network Hospital, Mumbai.
“Most people normalise period pain and do not seek medical help,” she continues. “With the continued use of self-medication (NSAIDs) without professional intervention, there is always a potential risk for an increase in side effects such as gastrointestinal disturbance, stomach irritation, ulcers, and kidney damage.”
Heat therapy for treating period cramps
A very simple and feasible solution to manage period pain or cramps is using heat therapy (heating pads, hot water bags or hot water bottles). It can provide relief with no side effects whatsoever and is easy and convenient.
“Various types of heating pads are available for cramps. You can choose from hot water bottles, electric heating pads, microwavable heat pads and chemical-driven heat patches,” says Dr Guddeti. “Chemical pads are comparatively practical in usage as people can wear them under clothing and keep them in place for up to eight hours. Once the patch is exposed to air, a chemical reaction generates heat, whereby the temperature ranges between 45-50 degrees Celsius. Skin burns are less likely with these.”
How heat therapy provides pain relief
Heat therapy, or thermotherapy, is a non-pharmacological method for managing period cramps.
“It causes vasodilation. This increases blood circulation and causes the uterine muscle to relax, thereby reducing pain, spasms, and stiffness,” Dr Guddeti explains. “It also prevents the build-up of lactic acid in muscles, which can otherwise cause pain. Heat also alters the pain perception by altering signals to the brain.”
There are two types of heat therapy — superficial heat therapy and deep heat therapy.
Superficial heat therapy involves the traditional way of treating period pain by using hot water bags, hot water bottles, towels, etc. Dr Tiwari highlights, “Superficial heat ranging from 40-45 degrees Celsius spreads to the site applied, up to a depth of one centimetre. Hence, it reduces the pain to just a certain extent. On the other hand, deep heat therapies like shortwave diathermy are done in medical setups. It involves the usage of electromagnetic waves that pass through the body and help generate heat. The produced heat radiates to about two to five centimetres. This brings about vascular and metabolic changes in the tissue, eventually reducing the pain.”
How to use heating pads effectively
The intensity of the pain and the level of discomfort differs from person to person. So, there are no hard and fast rules as to how exactly and for how long one should use heating pads. However, experts share some tips to make the use of heating pads for period pain more effective.
“Since heating pads have the potential to reduce period cramps, you can use them for a period of 10 to 30 minutes,” Dr Tiwari highlights.
“One can also apply heat pads for up to 20 minutes, three times a day for better action. Always use a low heat setting, and avoid usage on broken skin. If needed, reduce the exposure to heat by wrapping a sheet or towel around it and never fall asleep with these on,” adds Dr Guddeti.
Avoiding caffeine and alcohol, and regularly practising certain yoga poses for period cramps, meditation and breathing exercises are other alternative remedies to manage period pain.
Takeaways:
- Period cramps or primary dysmenorrhea causes period pain in girls and women going through their menstrual cycle and affects their quality of life.
- Heat therapy — through hot water bottles, electric heating pads, microwavable heat pads and chemical-driven heat patches — is an alternative non-pharmacological means to treat period cramps.
- While using heating pads for period pain, the heat brings about vasodilation. This increases blood circulation and blood supply to the pelvic region, causing the uterine muscles to relax. Thus, it reduces pain, spasms, and stiffness.
