Women told they could be using 'wrong' painkillers during their period

Women told they could be using 'wrong' painkillers during their period Dr Zoe Williams discussed the mistake during an appearance on ITV's This Morning A doctor has said it is 'mind-blowing' that millions of women could be using the 'wrong' medicine for period pain. Dr Zoe Williams, an NHS GP and TV doctor, discussed the problem during an appearance on ITV's This Morning. The doctor shared her reaction to a study which found paracetamol is the most common painkiller purchased at the same time as period products. Sharing a clip from a recent episode on Instagram, This Morning wrote: "Millions of women could be reaching for the wrong pain relief during their period. Dr Zoe explains the surprising reason why." In the clip, Dr Zoe explained why there could be a better choice for many women. The GP said: "This is mind-blowing. So when we think about pain relief, we do tend to think of a pain ladder, and usually we think paracetamol first, then ibuprofen, and then, you know, speaking to the pharmacist and going up the ladder. "But when it comes to period pain, we know that ibuprofen is better. So period pain is caused by prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemicals that make our womb contract, which is what we need to happen because we're trying to shed that lining. But they also cause pain. "They also cause the bowel to contract, which is why people get period poos. They can cause a bit of contraction of the bladder as well, which is why sometimes when they're on the period, you need to wee more often. And ibuprofen directly impacts the level of prostaglandins. "So in this study, they found that when women would buy, it's millions of women they looked at, when they were buying period products, half of them bought pain relief. So, assuming that pain relief was for period pains, two-thirds bought paracetamol and a third bought ibuprofen. So I think it's a really good opportunity just to educate anyone out there. "As long as you can safely take ibuprofen, that's the first line for period pain. And the best time to start taking it is before the pain comes on. If you know, if you're like clockwork and you know when your period's going to start, if you start taking the pain relief just before your period or as soon as you can, and keep on top of it, then that's the best way to treat it." According to the NHS website: "It's common to have pain or discomfort before or during your period. There are things you can do to help ease the pain." The NHS advises people to: - have a warm bath or shower - use a heat pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel on your tummy - try massaging your tummy and back - try some gentle exercise like yoga, swimming, walking or cycling - use painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen However, period pain could sometimes be caused by health conditions. The NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact 111 if your pelvic pain or period pain is severe or worse than usual, and painkillers have not helped. Speak to a GP about any health concerns.