Use of Birth Control Pills for Painful Menstruation

Birth control pills offer a variety of other benefits besides preventing pregnancy. One such benefit is the treatment of painful menstruation. In fact, it is not uncommon for doctors to prescribe birth control pills to treat painful periods in women who do not otherwise need birth control. Since all birth control pills are only available by prescription, you will need to talk to your doctor about using birth control pills to treat your painful menstruation.

How Birth Control Pills Treat Painful Periods

• During a normal menstrual cycle, hormones cause your uterus to develop a thick lining that will nourish a fertilized egg should pregnancy occur. If pregnancy does not occur, this thick lining starts producing chemicals called prostaglandins prior to the start of your period. When your period begins, these prostaglandins tell the uterus to contract in order to help expel the uterine lining. High levels of prostaglandins can cause painful menstruation.

  When you take birth control pills, the pills control your hormone levels in order to prevent pregnancy. This control over your hormones also limits the growth of the uterine lining. When you get your period, the thinner uterine lining does not produce as many prostaglandins, a decrease that causes your period to be less painful than normal.

Getting and Taking Your Pills

• Talk to your healthcare provider about using birth control pills to treat your painful periods. She will review your medical history and determine whether birth control pills would be a good choice for you. She will then write you a prescription for a certain type of birth control pill.

  Birth control pills need to be taken at the same time each day, even if you are only using birth control pills for painful menstruation. Remind yourself to take your pill by setting an alarm or taking it at the same time you do some other regular activity, like eating dinner or brushing your teeth.

Disadvantages

• Some women experience side effects while taking birth control pills, such as headaches, nausea, or mood changes. Many side effects go away on their own within a few months, so try waiting three months to see if your side effects subside. If you're still suffering after this time or if side effects are too severe to wait, talk to your health-care provider. She may switch you to a different type of birth control pill. You might have to try out several different pills before finding one that works for you, but given the large number of different types available, you'll likely eventually find a good fit.

Other Options

• If you can't or don't want to take birth control pills, other hormonal birth control options, such as the birth control patch, shot or vaginal ring, are also often helpful in treating painful menstruation.