Anonymous inquired: I read once that shaving the pubic hair around the vagina can help alleviate cramps during periods. This seems too good to be true but I am curious. Does this work? Also, do you have any good recommendations for helping with severe cramp pains?

I have no idea where one might find such a tidbit but it’s not true. There’s nothing connecting body hair and period cramps.

Things that can alleviate or that many people say helps them:

Heat to the crampy area - using hot water bottles, heated wet rags, heating pads, hot baths, and etc.

Over the counter pain relievers.

Prescription pain relievers.

Birth control.

Sexual stimulation and orgasm.

Increasing certain foods/nutrients.

Cutting out certain foods/nutrients.



Massage.

Napping/sleeping and lying down.



Light exercise.

Involved distractions that make you feel happy and fulfilled - conversations, shopping, video games, music, etc.

If your cramps are so severe you can’t get out of bed, can’t leave your home, it makes you sick, or it makes you faint, definitely consider talking to a healthcare provider.

