Cramps Some women get them some don't. Those who do sometimes get these twisting gut wrenching cramps that leave a girl wanting to lie in bed with a container of ice cream. It's believed that a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin produces this pain. Prostaglandins usually occur in the body at the beginning of labor, creating strong contractions that help push the baby out. During menstruation, these prostaglandins still cause contractions in the uterus, resulting in less blood and oxygen going to the muscles, which causes the cramping discomfort.
To ease cramping pain, some women prefer to lie in bed with a hot water bottle or hot compress on their stomach. Others try exercising or walking around, while some others use over the counter medicine such as Midol or aspirin.
Tampons or pads? Really--it's all up to you. And there's even more choices out there than you may realize. There are tampons, pads, natural/re-usable pads, menstrual cups or sponges (natural or otherwise). The important thing is to know what your needs are and what you'll be comfortable with.
Tampons, menstrual cups and sponges all offer internal protection while pads and re-usable pads offer external protection. Sometimes, a combination of the two types is what works out best.
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