Period Pain

Period Pain Tablets Online

Many women experience cramping and back pain before, during, and after their period. Usually, this can be managed with heat packs and over the counter painkillers such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. However, for many women, these pains can be quite debilitating and stronger painkillers are required.

You can treat period pain online from our UK registered prescribing service.

For more information on Period Pain please visit the NHS guide here.

Discreet next day delivery
100% UK-based pharmacy
Free advice and support
We're rated 4.7 out of 5

Start your free period pain consultation

Complete our online questionnaire so our clinical team can check eligibility for the desired treatment.

  • Takes less than 5 minutes to complete
  • Reviewed by our UK-based medical team
  • Approved treatments dispatched same day (before 3pm)
Stephanie Beirne

Stephanie Beirne

Clinical Governance Lead

Overview

What is Period Pain?

Period pain is the name used for the abdominal pain that women often experience at the end of their menstrual cycle, and throughout the length of their period. The severity of the pain is usually at its peak on your heaviest day of bleeding. The pain can affect all women differently, with some experiencing very mild pain (or none at all), while others can have very severe, debilitating pain that disrupts their daily lives.

It is usually felt as painful muscle cramps in the stomach (and sometimes back) and it can either come as short, sharp spasms or a longer, dull ache. Most women will experience period pain at some point in their life, although it can often be most intense in your adolescent years and your twenties, rather than as you get older. It’s also normal to notice differing degrees of pain on each menstrual cycle, with some being worse and others being much milder.

Treatments

Period Pain Treatments

In most cases period pain is mild enough to treat at home. 

The treatments we offer for period pain are:

Self-help measures to try are:

  • Stop Smoking - smoking is thought to increase the risk of period pain
  • Exercise - you may not feel like exercising during a painful period, but being active may reduce pain; try some gentle swimming, walking or cycling
  • Heat – putting a heat pad or hot water bottle (wrapped in a tea towel) on your tummy may help reduce pain
  • Warm bath or shower – taking a warm bath or shower can relieve pain and help you relax
  • Massage – light, circular massage around your lower abdomen may also help reduce pain
  • relaxation techniques – relaxing activities, such as yoga or pilates, may help distract you from feelings of pain and discomfort
  • Transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) – a small battery-operated device that delivers a mild electrical current to your tummy to help reduce pain

Causes

What causes Period Pain?

Each month the lining of your womb (uterus) thickens in preparation for pregnancy, if this occurs the fertilised egg attaches itself to the lining. If the egg isn’t fertilised then the lining breaks down as it is no longer needed. Your body starts to release chemical called prostaglandins which encourage the muscles of your womb to contract and tighten so that they can squeeze the unneeded lining out of your body. This process causes period cramps, these can range from mild manageable pain to pain that stops you from doing everyday tasks. It isn’t known why some women experience more period pain than others. If you experience extreme period, it isn’t normal and you don’t have to live with it, discussing your symptoms with your GP could help you to get treatment to relieve your menstrual cramps.

 

Symptoms

Period Pain Symptoms

Symptoms of menstrual cramps include:

  • Throbbing or cramping pain in your lower abdomen that can be intense
  • Pain that starts 1 to 3 days before your period, peaks 24 hours after the onset of your period and subsides in 2 to 3 days
  • Dull, continuous ache
  • Pain that radiates to your lower back and thighs

Some women also have:

  • Nausea
  • Loose stools
  • Headache
  • Dizziness

FAQ

What causes Period Pain ?

What causes Period Pain?

Each month the lining of your womb (uterus) thickens in preparation for pregnancy, if this occurs the fertilised egg attaches itself to the lining. If the egg isn’t fertilised then the lining breaks down as it is no longer needed. Your body starts to release chemical called prostaglandins which encourage the muscles of your womb to contract and tighten so that they can squeeze the unneeded lining out of your body. This process causes period cramps, these can range from mild manageable pain to pain that stops you from doing everyday tasks. It isn’t known why some women experience more period pain than others. If you experience extreme period, it isn’t normal and you don’t have to live with it, discussing your symptoms with your GP could help you to get treatment to relieve your menstrual cramps.

 

What treatments are available?

Period Pain Treatments

In most cases period pain is mild enough to treat at home. 

The treatments we offer for period pain are:

Self-help measures to try are:

  • Stop Smoking - smoking is thought to increase the risk of period pain
  • Exercise - you may not feel like exercising during a painful period, but being active may reduce pain; try some gentle swimming, walking or cycling
  • Heat – putting a heat pad or hot water bottle (wrapped in a tea towel) on your tummy may help reduce pain
  • Warm bath or shower – taking a warm bath or shower can relieve pain and help you relax
  • Massage – light, circular massage around your lower abdomen may also help reduce pain
  • relaxation techniques – relaxing activities, such as yoga or pilates, may help distract you from feelings of pain and discomfort
  • Transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) – a small battery-operated device that delivers a mild electrical current to your tummy to help reduce pain

What are the symptoms?

Period Pain Symptoms

Symptoms of menstrual cramps include:

  • Throbbing or cramping pain in your lower abdomen that can be intense
  • Pain that starts 1 to 3 days before your period, peaks 24 hours after the onset of your period and subsides in 2 to 3 days
  • Dull, continuous ache
  • Pain that radiates to your lower back and thighs

Some women also have:

  • Nausea
  • Loose stools
  • Headache
  • Dizziness

Author Information

All of our medication and condition content is written by UK qualified pharmacists and doctors.

Stephanie Beirne

Authored by

Stephanie Beirne

Clinical Governance Lead

Nazmul Kadir

Reviewed by

Nazmul Kadir

Director & Superintendent Pharmacist

GPhC Number: 2215377

Review Date1 August 2025
Next Review1 August 2027
Published on7 January 2023
Last Update1 August 2025

How it works

Achieve your goals in just a few simple steps

Start Free Consultation

Step 1

Start Free Consultation

Answer some questions so we can understand your needs.

Review By Our Clinical Team

Step 2

Review By Our Clinical Team

Our expert team will use your consultation as the basis of our recommendation and communicate with you.

 From Prescription to Doorstep

Step 3

From Prescription to Doorstep

Orders are carefully reviewed by a prescriber before discreet dispatch.

Achieve your health goals

Step 4

Achieve your health goals

A plan tailored to your needs for real, measurable results.

Need something else?

We stock over 1102 treatments for 90 conditions

Pricing and quantity options

Feminax Ultra

Strength
Quantities
Quantities 250mg

Mefenamic Acid 500mg Tablets

Strength
Quantities
Quantities 500mg
9 £12.99
28 £24.99

Feminax Express Tablets

Strength
Quantities
Quantities 342mg
16 £6.99
Assessment Popup Background
© Pharmarx Ltd. 2026. Company Reg. Number: SC561117
  • Klarna Logo
Why Cloud Pharmacy?
Fully inspected and regulated service
UK registered pharmacy
Approved UK-licensed treatments
100% online
Discreet next day delivery
Affordable pricing
Latest treatments
Confidential Service
Fully inspected and regulated service
UK registered pharmacy
Approved UK-licensed treatments
100% online
Discreet next day delivery
Affordable pricing
Latest treatments
Confidential Service

Let us find the right treatment for you today

Am I eligible? View treatments