Study: Women Often Buy Wrong Painkiller for Cramps

The two drugs work in different ways. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medicine that lowers prostaglandins — the chemicals that make the womb muscle tighten and cause cramps. When prostaglandin levels are higher, the pain is often worse. Paracetamol, on the other hand, mainly works in the brain to block pain signals and reduce fever. This makes it good for headaches or flu, but it does not fight inflammation. The charity Endometriosis UK suggests taking ibuprofen a day before a period starts. Researchers think people may simply choose paracetamol because it feels more familiar.

Investigators said the results show how little period pain has been studied. Professor James Goulding of Nottingham University told the BBC that "if men got period pain, we'd know a lot more about it by now." He called it a chance to improve public health education. Survey data suggests seven in ten British women suffer serious period pain, with about three painful days each month. The NHS advises seeing a doctor if cramps disrupt daily life, as they can be a sign of conditions like endometriosis.