Pharmacist Suggests Early Intervention for Unresolved Menstrual Pain

In recent years, the conversation around women’s health—particularly menstrual health—has gained long-overdue momentum. Despite affecting half the population, menstrual pain and its management have often been overlooked or dismissed, leaving many women to navigate discomfort and disruption with little guidance. Yet, as awareness grows, so does the recognition of pharmacists and health care providers as crucial allies in empowering women to take control of their menstrual well-being. Michelle Palmer, PharmD, FASCP, a medication therapy management pharmacist at Consana Health, shares practical, evidence-based strategies for managing menstrual pain. Palmer’s expertise is rooted in both clinical guidelines and real-world experience, offering a holistic approach that blends pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. She emphasizes the importance of heat therapy, gentle exercise, adequate sleep, and relaxation techniques such as yoga, which are increasingly supported by scientific research.

Palmer also highlights the value of combining these approaches with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to maximize relief, and she advocates for a personalized, cycle-by-cycle assessment to ensure each patient’s needs are met. Palmer’s insights come at a time when pharmacists are stepping into more prominent roles in patient care, often serving as the first point of contact for women seeking self-care solutions. In some states, pharmacists can even prescribe oral contraceptives, expanding access to continuous hormonal contraception—a method Palmer emphasizes for its effectiveness in reducing severe menstrual pain and cramping.

Beyond medication, Palmer encourages the use of period tracker apps, empowering patients to monitor their symptoms, identify patterns, and facilitate more informed conversations with health care providers. As the landscape of women’s health evolves, Palmer’s approach exemplifies the blend of compassion, expertise, and innovation needed to support women in managing their menstrual health safely and effectively.

"I want them to be empowered to talk to you or their health care provider if the pain is impacting their life," Palmer said. "Our role as pharmacists is to support our patients and help them take control of their menstrual health and help them come up with safe and effective management."

READ MORE: Diabetes Resource Center

Ready to impress your pharmacy colleagues with the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter.