The Pill can help ease period pain

Taking the Pill can help to ease period pain, according to a new study.

Some past studies have suggested that the Pill can help with painful periods, known as dysmenorrhoea, but a 2009 review of all the available research by the Cochrane Collaboration found there was limited evidence of this.

However, Swedish researchers said the findings from their 30-year study shows "convincing evidence" that the combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill can alleviate the symptoms of painful periods.

The researchers, from Gothenburg University, tracked three groups of women who reached the age of 19 in 1981, 1991 and 2001. The groups consisted of around 400 to 520 women, who were questioned about their lifestyle and contraceptive use at the start of the study and five years later.

The study found that women who used the combined oral contraceptive pill suffered less severe pain compared with women who did not use it.

It also confirmed that younger women tend to suffer from more painful periods than older women, and that the pain lessens with increasing age. However, the researchers said the effect of the Pill was independent of age and better overall.

Dr Ingela Lindh, who is also a registered nurse and midwife, said: "By comparing women at different ages, it was possible to demonstrate the influence of COCs on the occurrence and severity of dysmenorrhoea, at the same time taking into account possible changes due to increasing age.

"We found there was a significant difference in the severity of dysmenorrhea depending on whether or not the women used combined oral contraceptives."

She added: "Information about the effects of COC use on painful periods should be included in contraceptive counselling, as it has been shown that women who experience a beneficial effect of COCs other than contraception, such as a reduction in dysmenorrhoea, are more likely to continue with the pill."

At present, the combined oral contraceptive pill is only approved for contraception, although some doctors already prescribe it "off-label" to help with period pain.

This article was published on Wed 18 January 2012