Girls with period cramps may have pain in the lower belly or back. The pain may start just before a period begins and continue for the first few days of a period. Although period cramps are common, some girls have pain that is so bad it can get in the way of going to school, studying, or sleeping.

Health care providers usually treat period cramps with pain relievers taken by mouth. If needed, birth control pills ("the Pill") can be prescribed. The Pill can help balance hormones and make cramps less severe. 

• When you have pain from cramps:
  • Take ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand), or naproxen (Aleve®, Anaprox®, or a store brand) as directed. These are available at the drugstore or grocery store without a prescription.
  • Try a heating pad on your belly or back.
• Be physically active as much as possible. Being active may make cramps less severe.
• If the health care provider prescribed birth control pills, be sure you take them exactly as directed.
• If you are on birth control pills and sexually active, use condoms every time you have sex to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs).

You have:

• cramps that do not get better after you follow the health care provider's instructions
• vaginal discharge that is different from usual
• cramps or belly pain between periods

What causes period cramps? Period cramps are caused by chemicals in the body called prostaglandins. These chemicals make the muscles of the uterus tighten. This causes pain in the lower belly and sometimes the back.