Women on the Pill have less menstrual pain

Young women on birth control pills tend to have less painful menstrual periods than those not on the contraceptives, a new study finds.

Swedish researchers found that of 2,100 women followed from age 19 to 24, those on the combined birth control pill (estrogen and progestin) had less-severe menstrual pain over time.

It's already common practice for doctors to recommend the Pill to women with dysmenorrhea - menstrual cramps, back pain and other symptoms that are severe enough to disrupt a woman's life.

Birth control pills are not specifically approved for that purpose, but doctors can prescribe them for dysmenorrhea on an "off-label" basis. However, it has not been clear how effective the pills are against period pain.

The new findings are not conclusive, but still caused excitement among some researchers.

"Our study provides evidence for the effective relief of painful periods with combined oral contraceptives," said Dr. Ingela Lindh of Gothenburg University in Sweden, who led the study.

What is Ortho Tri-Cyclen?

Ortho Tri-Cyclen (ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate) contains a combination of female hormones that prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). Ortho Tri-Cyclen also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Ortho Tri-Cyclen is used as contraception to prevent pregnancy. It is also used to treat severe acne.

Ortho Tri-Cyclen may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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Both Lindh and one of her co-researchers have financial ties to companies that make hormonal contraceptives, although the new research was not supported by drugmakers.

Menstrual pains typically fade as a woman gets older, and they often lessen after childbirth. But even when age and childbirth were taken into account, Pill users had less painful periods in the new study, Lindh told Reuters Health in an email.

The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, does not prove that the Pill eases dysmenorrhea.

It's an observational study that looked at the relationship between women's Pill use and dysmenorrhea risk. Clinical trials - where people are randomly assigned to take a drug or a placebo - are considered the "gold standard" for proving cause-and-effect.

And a 2009 review of 10 clinical trials concluded that there was "limited evidence" that the Pill improved menstrual pain.