I received this product to try out from Comforté themselves. The instructions are a bit vague and if not followed correctly will not do much for pain relief. They suggest that you apply this 1-3 days before your menstrual cycle to start relieving PMS cramps and aid relief during your cycle. However, I find that the pain relieving "power" of the ointment comes from the massaging. It does NOT direct you to simply apply the ointment but to massage it into the area, circular motions work best for me, failure to massage will significantly reduce the efficacy of the product. I find that the product works well to relieve PMS cramps but not so well during my cycle which I'd prefer to take a pain relief tablet. This is great for those who are looking for natural pain relief during PMS and those with slight pain during your cycle.