Painful menstruation is a problem for many women. The stomach pain during menstruation can be excruciating. Only one in four young women has painless menstruation. For the rest of us, suffering takes away the will to live for a few days. Where do painful periods come from?

Painful menstruationis a real nightmare for many women.Abdominal painis a signal thatbleeding. During the first daymenstruationreaches its apogee, and during the next 2 days it decreases. Sometimes it even takes several days. It will not help to hope that his attacks will lessen with age and after the first pregnancy. The pain radiates to the back, groin, thighs, moves to the lower back, attacks the head. It can be dull and continuous, or it can come back at regular intervals.

Painful periods: not only stomach ache

Menstrual suffering works like a domino: it causes more ailments. The long list includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, the need to urinate frequently, fatigue or irritability that progresses to tantrums and tears, fits of breathlessness, increased heart rate, and decreased concentration and slower reactions. During these critical days, immunity decreases, hair and nails become brittle. There are even fainting, and the whole thing is described as a full-blown painful menstrual syndrome. Sometimes the pain worsens due to the use of an intrauterine coil contraceptive.

Painful primary or hormonal periods

- Painful menstruation is divided into primary and secondary - says Dr. Marek Marcyniak from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University in Warsaw. Primary usually occurs 2-3 years after the first bleeding, after regular monthly ovulation has stabilized. So it is characteristic of girls 15-20 years old. Painful menstruation is most severe for women aged 23-27. It can be considered that it is then a common phenomenon, because the problem affects as much as 75% of people. teenagers and young women - this is the result of a study by the SMG / KRC Institute from 2 years ago.

- Pain is caused by the effects of a hormonal storm, the overproduction of prostaglandins, i.e. substances formed in the uterus by progesterone. Their excess causes exfoliation of the uterine mucosa and its intense, painful contractions - says Dr. Marcyniak. In addition, highProstaglandin levels mean increased pain sensitivity. An important cause of pain is also the imbalance in the proportions between the various types of prostaglandins, as well as metabolic disorders.

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Painful secondary or organic periods

Painful menstruation can be caused by diseases, not only within the uterus. We are talking then about the so-called secondary dysmenorrhea. It is often the result of inflammation (especially chronic inflammation) that causes abnormal adhesions between organs in the small pelvis.

The cause of pain may also be endometriosis - when the mucosa (from Latin endometrium) of the uterus is outside it, inside the abdominal cavity. It responds to hormones in the same way as the lining of the uterus, so it flakes and bleeds during your period. Myomas may also be to blame. The presence of these benign nodules changes the contractility of individual parts of the uterus, which can cause pain.

- Developmental anomalies of the uterus should also be mentioned - retroflexion, excessive ante-flexion or underdevelopment of the uterus, when the shaft is smaller than the cervix - says Dr. Marcyniak. Such secondary problems are experienced by every fourth woman complaining of painful periods.

Painful menstruation can also be a sign of hypothyroidism, as low thyroid activity can cause menstrual irregularities, disorders and pain. In the case of a deficiency of thyroid hormones, the pituitary gland increases its activity on the basis of feedback. Its more intensive work, in turn, is associated with greater production of estrogens.

If a woman has painful, irregular periods after the age of 45, it may be a signal of impending menopause.

Important

Go to the gynecologist when:

  • menstruation occurs more often than every 21 days;
  • there is a sudden pain in the lower abdomen, not related to menstruation;
  • the bleeding is accompanied by diarrhea, rash or nausea;
  • pain occurs 5-7 days before the menstrual period and does not go away after its completion;
  • there is a wave of bleeding lasting several hours (approx. 6 hours) (in fact, it may mean changing the maxi type pads every hour);
  • your period lasts longer than 10 days;
  • pain causes you to give up your normal lifestyle;
  • pain comes on suddenly, after an earlier, almost painless period.

Painful periods - proven ways to survive

There are many methods of relieving prostaglandin-induced spasms. - Fortunately, the available painkillers help as much as 70 percent. cases. They can be used prophylactically, already a few days before the expected menstruation, so as to reduce the intensity of uterine contractions - says Dr. Marcyniak. The onset of pain is the last moment to take such a drug, because at its peak, relieving drugs are less effective. In the case of women with gastric and duodenal ulcers, paracetamol is recommended as it is the least irritating to the mucosa.

During menstruation, you can additionally use herbal sedatives and relaxants - valerian root extract, mixtures containing lemon balm, St. John's wort, bearberry root, chamomile, hops.

Sometimes the pain is relieved by local compresses (warming or cooling), a gentle massage of the lower abdomen (with the use of lavender oil, which has a relaxing effect). You can try not too intense physical exercise (e.g. gentle belly dancing), because it strengthens and tones the muscles of the uterine fundus. You need to eliminate coffee and cola from your diet because caffeine increases uterine contractions. Dishes that are hard to digest, s alty and spicy are not recommended, because the flatulence will additionally burden the sore stomach. Sauna, sunbathing and solarium are forbidden, because high temperature can lead to hemorrhage.

The gynecologist may also suggest the use of low-hormonal contraceptives. Under the influence of hormones, the synthesis of prostaglandins in the uterus, and thus the strength of its contractions, decreases, so the pain subsides or is very mild.

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Category:

Female diseases