Britannica Sources used in this answer

How can birth control pills help with menstrual cramps?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Blister pack of 28 oral contraceptive pills arranged in four rows, with 21 white active pills followed by 7 orange inactive pills. Arrows indicate the order for taking pills. — birth control A 28-day package of birth control pills.

Birth control pills can help alleviate the pain of menstrual cramps by reducing the levels of prostaglandins in the body.1

Prostaglandins are substances that trigger the muscles of the uterus to contract, which is the primary cause of the intense, painful cramping often experienced during menstruation. By lowering the concentration of these substances, oral contraceptives effectively decrease the intensity of these uterine contractions.1