Naproxen vs TENS for Period Pain

Did you know that periods don't have to be painful?

Seriously! No more breast pain, back pain, or cramping. I was shocked when I first heard this from Erin Borbet, an amazing acupuncturist.

I was skeptical until I tried a few simple things, and guess what? My period became pain-free. 

It's unbelievable that more people don't talk about this. I believe it's because many of us just don't know that periods can be painless and not terrible.  

Today, let's discuss using TENS vs. Naproxen for period pain and figure out which one is better.  There are 3 specific studies (Milson, et al, 1994; Lewers et al 1989 and Marjoribanks, et al, 2015) that we’ll be studying, and full citation, and links to each, are at the end of this blog. Let’s get to it:

First: What actually happens in a Period?

A lot.  😃  But the 200,000 foot view is that the uterus has been building up a nutrient-rich lining (the endometrium) to help nourish a baby, in case a fertilized egg is implanted.  If no egg is implanted, the body releases hormones and chemicals to cause the uterus to contract, and drop this lining.  

The 3-5 days of moderate bleeding is your period, and it really, REALLY, ought to be symptom free in individuals without endometriosis, fibroids, or other complicating factor. 

But I Thought Period Pain Was Normal? You’re Saying it’s NOT?

Yep, that is what I am saying.  Just like pelvic pain or leaks after pregnancy or childbirth are “common but not normal”, painful periods are “common, but not normal”, and there are many things (easy things) we can all do from a primary prevention medical model, to reduce or eliminate our painful periods.  

Note: Those of you with Endo or fibroids, don’t kill me.  I realize that painfree periods are not possible in those specific conditions.  Yet this is another reason why we should all aim for painfree periods, because if we’re doing “all the right things”, and the pain is persisting, it could be a sign of something else going on “down there” that we want to address. 

Can Naproxen and TENS both help reduce period pain? 

Back to the studies!!

The bottom line is YES: Both TENS and Naproxen significantly reduce period pain in 80% of individuals studied. However, TENS has a major advantage because it reduces pain without affecting uterine movements.

This is important, because these normal uterine contractions during a monthly cycle help keep abdominal contents mobile, and allow the body to “get rid of” the endometrial lining most effectively. Imagine your organs moving a bit when you twist or turn. They may not move like your elbow, but they do move.

Reducing period pain without stopping these movements is a big deal. Naproxen might reduce pain, but it also stops the uterus from moving. So, what's stuck in there between the uterus and other abdominal contents may remain sticky, causing pain at the next cycle.

TENS, meanwhile, eliminated period pain in 80% of individuals without stopping the uterus from moving. That's pretty impressive for a device that costs less than $100.

While Money Can’t Buy Happiness, it Could Buy Period Pain Relief in 8/10 People!

You’re in charge of your own Naproxen selection.  Here are my favorite TENS units:

• TENS 700 Digital TENS Unit: Generally less than $50. Pros: Affordable, reliable. Cons: Manual intensity adjustments.
• Auvon Dual Channel TENS Unit Muscle Stimulator: Price less than $50. Pros: Lots of pads, preset programs. Cons: Looks a bit fancy for my taste.
• iRelieve TENS and EMS Combo Unit: Price $75. Pros: Clear programming options. Cons: More expensive.

There's also the Ova+ I show in some of my videos, priced at US$54 at the time of this blog writing. It's rechargeable, discreet, and suitable for mild period pain. You can buy that at Tenscare.uk (I love them!!)

So that’s how Naproxen or TENS units can help with pain free periods!

Thanks for reading! If you want to learn more, check out Pelvic Floored’s online course offerings!  

A Period Specific Course is in the works, but until then, the 2-hour Vag Lab teaches you MANY lifestyle improvements for a happier period, as well as how to do a self pelvic floor muscle assessment, and how to find and relax your own pelvic floor muscles, for a painfree period!!  And you can also buy a Cooch Ball, which I use in Vag Lab, and many of my online courses, as one of the many tools to relax your down there :) 

Thanks for reading!

xoxo, Dr. Kelly 😊

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• Lewers et al., Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in the relief of primary dysmenorrhea. Phys Ther 1989;69:3-9
• Marjoribanks J, Ayeleke RO, Farquhar C, Proctor M. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(7):CD001751. Published 2015 Jul 30. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001751.pub3
• Milson et al., A Comparative Study of the effect of high-intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and oral naproxen on intrauterine pressure and menstrual pain in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1994;170:123-129.