Painful Periods: Dysmenorrhea
What is dysmenorrhea?
4 out of 5 women experience painful periods, aka dysmenorrhea, at some point in their life.
Period symptoms usually begin 1 or 2 days before bleeding starts and last for 2 to 5 days. For some women, the pain is mild, but for many others the pain is severe enough to impact their lives every month.
Sometimes this discomfort may be due to an underlying condition, such as endometriosis or fibroids.
Symptoms of painful periods can include:
- Cramps in the lower abdomen
- Lower back pain
- Pain that radiates down the legs
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loose stools
- Headaches
Period symptoms are not normal and can be our body’s way of telling us that something is out of balance.
Lifestyle changes combined with acupuncture can help to restore that balance and eliminate painful periods.
How to make periods less painful
There are several things you can start doing today to help manage your symptoms:
Supplements
Magnesium
Magnesium relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus and reduces the contractions that cause cramping and pain during the menstrual cycle.
Fish Oil
Fish oil can help minimize period pain by lowering inflammation and increasing circulation.
Turmeric
Much like Fish Oil, turmeric contains blood moving properties that help to reduce pain and cramping. If you suspect you are pregnant, you should stop taking turmeric right away.
Diet
Avoid cold and raw foods such as ice cream, cold or iced beverages, and salads. These contribute to painful periods by slowing down blood circulation which leads to increased cramping and pain.
Adopt an anti-inflammatory diet. Certain foods cause inflammation, which leads to pain. An anti-inflammatory diet eliminates these foods and can dramatically decrease aches and pains of all types. Typical inflammatory foods to avoid include highly processed foods, alcohol, and sugar.
Eliminating these foods from your diet has many health benefits in addition to reducing pain.
Acupuncture
How Can Acupuncture Help?
Studies have found that acupuncture can reduce period pain in 91% of cases.
Acupuncture can help eliminate your pain in the following ways:
- Improving circulation and blood flow
- Regulating hormones that influence our menstrual cycles.
- Reducing inflammation throughout the body
- Mitigating the effects of stress
If you live in the Bay Area and would like to work with us:
- Visit our website and book an appointment online.
- If you have questions, book a discovery session.
- If you are ready to get started, book a new patient visit.
We’ll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to address your painful periods.
Blair Baker, LAc, DAIM, FABORM
Licensed Acupuncturist
Doctor of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine
Fellow, Acupuncture Board of Reproductive Medicine
Blair is dedicated to supporting women’s health with compassionate, integrative care. She specializes in fertility, perimenopause, menopause, chronic pain, and digestive health, creating personalized treatment plans that nurture both physical healing and emotional well-being. By blending the wisdom of traditional acupuncture with modern medical insight, Blair helps women navigate hormonal transitions and reclaim balance, resilience, and lasting wellness. Outside of her clinical work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, quilting, drawing, and connecting with family and friends.
