Dr Zoe Williams, an NHS GP and TV doctor, has said it is 'mind-blowing' that millions of women could be using the 'wrong' medicine for period pain. She discussed the issue during an appearance on ITV's This Morning, reacting to a study that found paracetamol is the most common painkiller purchased alongside period products.
Ibuprofen Better for Period Pain
Sharing a clip on Instagram, This Morning wrote: 'Millions of women could be reaching for the wrong pain relief during their period. Dr Zoe explains the surprising reason why.' In the clip, Dr Zoe explained why ibuprofen is often a better choice. She said: 'This is mind-blowing. So when we think about pain relief, we do tend to think of a pain ladder, and usually we think paracetamol first, then ibuprofen, and then, you know, speaking to the pharmacist and going up the ladder. But when it comes to period pain, we know that ibuprofen is better.'
How Period Pain Works
Dr Zoe explained that period pain is caused by prostaglandins, chemicals that make the womb contract to shed the lining. 'They also cause pain,' she said. 'They also cause the bowel to contract, which is why people get period poos. They can cause a bit of contraction of the bladder as well, which is why sometimes when they're on the period, you need to wee more often. And ibuprofen directly impacts the level of prostaglandins.'
Study Findings
The study found that when women bought period products, half also bought pain relief. Of those, two-thirds bought paracetamol and one-third bought ibuprofen. Dr Zoe said: 'I think it's a really good opportunity just to educate anyone out there. As long as you can safely take ibuprofen, that's the first line for period pain. And the best time to start taking it is before the pain comes on. If you know, if you're like clockwork and you know when your period's going to start, if you start taking the pain relief just before your period or as soon as you can, and keep on top of it, then that's the best way to treat it.'
NHS Advice on Period Pain
According to the NHS website, it's common to have pain or discomfort before or during your period. The NHS advises having a warm bath or shower, using a heat pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel on your tummy, trying massaging your tummy and back, gentle exercise like yoga, swimming, walking or cycling, and using painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, period pain could sometimes be caused by health conditions. The NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact 111 if pelvic pain or period pain is severe or worse than usual, and painkillers have not helped.
