what is a good thing to do for bad menstrual cramps??

Good thing to do for bad menstrual cramps - don't get them to begin with!

Cramps aren't just part of being female, they aren't something you have to just tolerate, pain is your bodies way of telling you that something is wrong so I would suggest finding the cause of the cramps and doing something about them. In most cases women can totally prevent cramps, rather than just ease them when they happen, this can be done with methods as simple as regulating hormones, herbal treatments, or most importantly diet and lifestyle changes - the following are a few simple ideas, but seriously look into this yourself as everyone is different so there may be a different cause and different things may work for you...certainly midol isn't going to help!

Diet is a big deal, get a balanced diet with foods rich in essential fatty acids and low in refined sugars, refined carbohydrates and hydrogenated fats, avoid foods that make you bloated such as salty foods, and some find dairy, caffeine and soy cause problems. Vitamins will help; omega 3, flaxseed oil (approx. 500Mg 2-4 times a day), B vitamin complex with 100mg of vitamin B6, Magnesium (100mg every 2 hours during menstruation), and vitamin E in d-alpha tocopherol form (50mg 3 times a day) - or just try a multi-vitamin daily and increase magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium which are needed for healthy menstruation.

Avoid painkillers, they numb the pain at best but at worst it can make cramps progressivly worse as your body builds up immunity to their effects, instead try Clary Sage oil rubbed into your stomach, it works better than painkillers and it supports estrogen production and acts on pituitary gland to prevent cramps to begin with. Cell salts are a good painkiller alternative too, when you get cramps take them every 5-10 minutes until the pain stops.

Excercise to stretch abdomen and improve breathing, this video of yoga postures for cramps - http://www.videojug.com/film/yoga-postures-for-men... Masturbation is also good excercise as it relaxes you and helps circulation. Complimentary treatments can help such as Chiropractice care or Acupressure, this video showing you how to use certain points to stop cramps http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afYHM9y4lJY

Try drinking herbal teas; yarrow, lemon balm, black haw, chamomile, red raspberry, wild strawberry, valerian, and raspberry leaf all help, also try the Chinese medicine Bupleurum (xiao yao wan) you take 3-4 tablets 4 times a day a few weeks before your period. Also take Evening Primrose oil or Black Cohosh capsules daily to regulate hormones to help prevent cramps.

If you use tampons then consider changing to a better option, tampons expand into the cervix causing pain and outwards adding to the bloated feeling so well-known for increasing menstrual cramps. Tampons are also bad for vaginal health in general which effects your menstrual health, instead try sanitary pads, softcups or menstrual cups, which are not only healthier and more convenient than tampons but menstrual cups can also significantly reduce menstrual cramps.

If all else fails see a doctor, get tests to see if there is an underlying cause as well as investigating yourself possible causes and treatments. If everything seems okay then ask for an anti-inflammatory drug such as Mefenamic acid to block the the synthesis of prostaglandin F2 alpha, a hormone responsible for cramps, you take these 3 times a day for the first 4 days of your period and they will help cramps better than any other prescription medication.

Be warned - many doctors use birth control as a quick-fix but this works not to 'regulate' your periods but to stop them all together (the bleeding you do get break-through bleeding not menstruation). Although this will stop your cramps it's only because your periods have been stopped so the problem is being hidden. There are also side-effects including increased cramping, and seriously lessens your ability to care for your sexual health - in short it's better to get the problem treated than hidden.

i get horrible cramps too. I get anemic when im on my period so i take a little pill of iron and it help tremendously! i also keep a heat pad on my belly, sit in a comfortable position and SLEEEEEP! midol is great for mild cramps but its no match for what i feel, and if you feel how i do then im sorry :( you'll feel better soon though.

Yeah, taking pills doesn't treat it as quick.

-Drink Green Tea- helps my sister

-Warm water bottle/heating pad on wear it hurts- helps my mom

-Mild excercise(Walk the dog, ride a bike,etc..)

Drink hot tea or something worm and when you are done with that lay down and make your self like a little ball and cover your self with a blanket and if you want you can watch some tv hoped it worked worked for me.

good luck

i have found that using a heating pad or lying down curled in a ball on my side helps. and in regard to what one person on here said some women DO just have to learn to deal with them. medicine may not help and you can't just checkout of your life for one week every month.

drink lots of water.

put a heating pad on the crampy area.

some mild excercise like the person above said.

relax.

sleep.

take some medicine and a warm shower and a heating pad will help

Hot bath, heating pad, ibuprofen (my GYN says this is a must).

midol didnt work for me either. pamprin does.

i being a guy thou i suggest you try a nice warm bubble bath it may ease them slightly