Dr Karan Rajan has explained how vitamin D supplementation could help with period pain. The author of ‘This Book May Save Your Life’ and host of the ‘Dr Karan Explores’ podcast, he often shares educational content on social media.
Recently, the NHS surgeon discussed period pain management in his newsletter, 6 Interesting Things. Dr Karan shared why vitamin D could help people with primary dysmenorrhea, which refers to period pain that isn’t caused by any particular health condition.
As he shared his breakdown, the health expert explained vitamin D is not a cure-all, but there is science behind using vitamin D to help period pain. Dr Karan said: “Vitamin D, in its active form calcitriol, plays the role of a prostaglandin puppeteer (you know that sneaky chemical which causes pain).
“It represses the enzymes responsible for prostaglandin synthesis while simultaneously upregulating the enzymes that break them down. The result? Fewer of those pain-inducing prostaglandins floating around, theoretically leading to less uterine agony.”
He also explained that an analysis of eight clinical trials found supplementation could reduce the intensity of pain and the number of days with pain for women with primary dysmenorrhea.
It’s worth noting supplementation might be most helpful for people deficient in vitamin D, and the doctor said more is not always better, reports the Mirror.
According to the NHS, adults should not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day, as this could be harmful to health. Ten micrograms a day is enough for most people. However, we do not make enough vitamin D from sunlight between October and March, so the government says everyone should consider taking a supplement during autumn and winter.
In his newsletter, Dr Karan summarised: “While vitamin D shows promise, it’s not a silver bullet. It’s more like a bronze arrow in the quiver of period pain management.” He also said that NSAIDs, hormonal contraceptives, heat therapy, and exercise could all help with painful periods. He advised speaking to your GP if you regularly experience debilitating periods. As the expert said, when it comes to painful periods, it’s about finding what works for you.
The NHS says having a warm shower or bath, using a hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel, massaging your stomach, trying gentle exercise, and using painkillers can help ease period pain.
You should see a GP if your periods become more painful, heavier or irregular, you have pain during sex or when peeing or pooing, or you’re bleeding between periods. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if your pelvic pain or period pain is severe or worse than usual, and painkillers have not helped