If more pain relief is needed, up to 600 milligrams of ibuprofen can be taken every six hours. Some girls find a heating pad on their abdomens soothing, but the heating pad will be much more effective if used along with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. For some girls, menstrual cramps are very severe and occur with dizziness and vomiting during the first few days of the period. These cramps are not relieved by 400 to 600 milligrams of ibuprofen. In some situations, very severe cramps may be a sign of other gynecologic problems, such as an abnormality in the way the uterus and other structures formed in embryonic life, or a medical problem such as endometriosis.
Oral contraceptives turn off ovulation and can therefore substantially relieve menstrual cramping.
They can be particularly helpful in girls who experience stomach upset when they take anti-prostaglandin medications or who vomit with every period. Oral contraceptives are recommended for adolescent girls of all ages, when needed, regardless of whether or not the girl is sexually active. Your doctor can help determine whether this option is best for your teen. Endometriosis occurs in a small percentage of teen-age girls and is much more common in adult women. In endometriosis, small nests of the type of cells that line the uterus attach themselves to abdominal organs outside the uterus.