My first time...

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i started my period for the first time today,& i have horibble cramps.i was wondering about how long periods last,& do the cramps last the whole period?

Usually cramps don't last the whole time, just a couple days. But everyone is different.Periods last anywhere from 3-10 days as far as everyone I know. Take some pain reliever, like Alleve, or Motrin. They also make some stuff specially for period stuff, that helps with the cramps,bloating and irritability...Ummm, Pamprin is on brand that I know of..And congrats on becoming a woman!

Also I find that if the pain killers don't get rid of all the pain or you don't want to use them, A hot bath, hotwatter bottle or other hot compress, stretching or exersize might lessen cramps.

for the cramps wut helps for me is midol :D...i love that stuff....works like a charm for me....and eating bananas...no joke...really seems to help alot

thx 4 the info

Wow really?Ok, next period pains I going nuts on bananas. No over the counter painkillers really work for me it seems.

thanks for all the info you guys.im gonna go eat a buncha bananas now haha ;]

Helmsman, I will definatly be using this advice of yours and if it works I think I will want to worship you for abit. I'm really not into taking any drugs I don't need to.Thank you X7

Try a **cold** compress rather than a hot one.

I thought cold compresses are for new injuries etc, and hot is for old injuries and for mussel pain and getting them to relax.

I can't see how a cold compress would help.

Hot compresses get muscles to relax. Menstrual cramps are not caused by cramped muscles.Heat draws blood to an area, while cold pushes it away. That's why you want to put cold on a fresh (acute) injury -- to keep blood from congesting in a wound and causing further tissue damage.*** Disclaimer: The next sentence is my own hypothesis, and not a scientifically-tested idea. ***Anyway, for menstrual cramps, you want to push congested blood out of the area.There's not really any risk, either way...it's worth a shot. If you don't like it, then you can use heat, or whatever works for you.

Ok, I'm interested in trying it because I'm the curious type but what I've read always said that Menstral pain was calsed my mussle cramps/contractions, hence the hot compress.

what I've read always said that Menstral pain was calsed my mussle cramps/contractions, hence the hot compress.I agree that hot compresses are what are generally recommended, but the cold compress idea was mentioned by a hydrotherapy instructor, who's a woman.It may be that the cramps are causes by the contractions of the involuntary muscles of the uterus, which may or may not make a difference. There some speculation involved here, but it's still worth a shot.Another interesting experiment would be to alternate hot and cold compresses...a few minutes at a time of each. It would take some work, but would also be interesting to try.

well for memy period lasts 3 days, i have no cramps or bloating just crankiness to the extreme, and my period comes every 3 monthsi asked my doctor about itand she said it was because my mom was a smoker then she was pregnant and it may or may not regulate. cramps just last a few days, take advil or motrin if they are bad, bananas help to. hope this helped