I wrote about Menstrual Hygiene in my previous article. I will be focusing on menstrual pain and what you need to do to help relieve you or your friends of the pain(s).
Menstruation occurs when the uterus sheds its lining once a month. The lining passes through a small opening in the cervix and out through the vaginal canal.
Some pain, cramping, and discomfort during menstrual periods is normal. Excessive pain that causes you to miss work or school is not.
Painful menstruation is also called dysmenorrhea. There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary.
Primary dysmenorrhea occurs in women who experience pain before and during menstruation. Women who have had normal periods that become painful later in life may have secondary dysmenorrhea. A condition affecting the uterus or other pelvic organs, such as endometriosis (the abnormal growth of cells similar to those that form the inside of the uterus, but in a location outside of the uterus) or uterine fibroid can cause this.
Primary dysmenorrhea occurs in women who experience pain before and during menstruation. Women who have had normal periods that become painful later in life may have secondary dysmenorrhea. A condition affecting the uterus or other pelvic organs, such as endometriosis (the abnormal growth of cells similar to those that form the inside of the uterus, but in a location outside of the uterus) or uterine fibroid can cause this.
What are the causes?
There may not be an identifiable cause of your painful menstrual periods. Some women are at a higher risk for having painful menstrual periods. These risks include: being under age 20, having a family history of painful periods, smoking, having heavy bleeding with periods, having irregular periods, never having had a baby, reaching puberty before age 11.
A hormone called prostaglandin triggers muscle contractions in your uterus that expel the lining. These contractions can cause pain, decrease blood flow and oxygen to the uterus, and inflammation. The level of prostaglandin rises right before menstruation begins.
Painful menstrual periods can also be the result of an underlying medical condition, such as:
premenstrual syndrome (PMS): a group of symptoms caused by hormonal changes in the body that occur 1 to 2 weeks before menstruation begins and go away after a woman begins to bleed. Its severe form causes a woman to feel anger, irritable, very sad or nervous. It can make her have trouble with friends and family and can cause difficulty paying attention to work or school.
endometriosis: a painful medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body, usually on the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or tissue lining the pelvis
fibroids in the uterus: non-cancerous tumors that can put pressure on the uterus or cause abnormal menstruation and pain
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries often caused by sexually transmitted bacteria that causes inflammation of the reproductive organs and pain
adenomyosis: a rare condition in which the uterine lining grows into the muscular wall of the uterus and can be painful because it causes inflammation and pressure
cervical stenosis: a rare condition in which the cervix is so small it slows menstrual flow, causing an increase of pressure inside the uterus that causes pain.
premenstrual syndrome (PMS): a group of symptoms caused by hormonal changes in the body that occur 1 to 2 weeks before menstruation begins and go away after a woman begins to bleed. Its severe form causes a woman to feel anger, irritable, very sad or nervous. It can make her have trouble with friends and family and can cause difficulty paying attention to work or school.
endometriosis: a painful medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body, usually on the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or tissue lining the pelvis
fibroids in the uterus: non-cancerous tumors that can put pressure on the uterus or cause abnormal menstruation and pain
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries often caused by sexually transmitted bacteria that causes inflammation of the reproductive organs and pain
adenomyosis: a rare condition in which the uterine lining grows into the muscular wall of the uterus and can be painful because it causes inflammation and pressure
cervical stenosis: a rare condition in which the cervix is so small it slows menstrual flow, causing an increase of pressure inside the uterus that causes pain.
Home treatment
Home care treatments may be successful in relieving painful menstrual periods and can include:
*Taking an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen several days before your expected period
*Taking vitamin B-6, vitamin B-1, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and magnesium supplements
*Applying heat to the lower abdomen with a hot water bottle or back massaging your abdomen
*Taking a warm bath
*Regular physical exercise
* Practicing relaxation techniques or yoga
*Reducing your intake of salt, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar to prevent bloating.
*Taking an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen several days before your expected period
*Taking vitamin B-6, vitamin B-1, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and magnesium supplements
*Applying heat to the lower abdomen with a hot water bottle or back massaging your abdomen
*Taking a warm bath
*Regular physical exercise
* Practicing relaxation techniques or yoga
*Reducing your intake of salt, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar to prevent bloating.
Use of hormonal birth control may improve symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea (Archer, 2006; Harel, 2006)
If pains persist or become unbearable, please visit a qualified doctor for treatment.
If pains persist or become unbearable, please visit a qualified doctor for treatment.
Keno Ekpokpobe
Public Health Researcher
Public Health Researcher
CITATION
Archer DF (November 2006). "Menstrual-cycle-related symptoms: a review of the rationale for continuous use of oral contraceptives". Contraception. 74 (5): 359–66. PMID 17046376.doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2006.06.003.
Archer DF (November 2006). "Menstrual-cycle-related symptoms: a review of the rationale for continuous use of oral contraceptives". Contraception. 74 (5): 359–66. PMID 17046376.doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2006.06.003.
Harel Z (December 2006). "Dysmenorrhea in adolescents and young adults: etiology and management". J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 19 (6): 363–71.PMID 17174824.doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2006.09.001.
Nice shot
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