September 08, 2008

Menstrual Pain. Menstrual cramps. Dysmenorrhea.

Painful menstruation is when menstrual periods are accompanied by either sharp, intermittent pain or dull, aching pain, usually in the pelvis or lower abdomen. Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for menstrual cramps, that dull or throbbing pain in the lower abdomen many women experience just before and during their menstrual periods.

Painful menstruation affects many women. For some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, it can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities for a few days every month. Painful menstruation is the leading cause of lost time from school and work among women in their teens and 20's. The pain may begin several days before or just at the start of your period. Although some pain during menstruation is normal, excessive pain is not. Dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain severe enough to limit normal activities or require medication.

Menstrual Pain Causes

To create a nourishing environment for a fertilized egg, the female sex hormone estrogen causes your uterine lining (endometrium) to thicken every month. Soon after, a follicle ruptures and releases its egg (ovulation). If the egg becomes fertilized by contact with a sperm on its way to your uterus, the egg implants in the lining of the uterus. However, most often the unfertilized egg passes through your uterus and out of your body. Shortly thereafter, your uterus releases the lining, and your menstrual flow begins. To help expel its lining, your uterus contracts. Prostaglandins, hormone-like substances involved in pain and inflammation, trigger the uterine muscle contractions. Many experts believe that prostaglandins cause menstrual cramps. Other causes:

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Stress and anxiety
Endometriosis
Pelvic inflammatory diseas
Fibroids
Ovarian cysts
Intrauterine Device (IUD)

Signs and symptoms

Most women experience menstrual cramps at some time in their lives. If you have primary dysmenorrhea, cramps most likely began within three years after you started menstruating. They may persist through your 20s or until you deliver a child and, for unknown reasons, they're likely to decrease in intensity or go away entirely. Signs and symptoms:

Dull or throbbing pain in your lower abdomen
Pain that radiates to your lower back and thighs
Nausea and vomiting
Loose stools
Sweating

Care & Relief

Self-care measures to reduce or prevent cramps:

Apply a heating pad or hot water bottle to your lower abdomen (below your navel). Be careful NOT to fall asleep with it on.
Drink warm beverages.
Do light circular massage with your fingertips around your lower abdomen.
Walk or exercise regularly, including pelvic rocking exercises. Exercise may help relieve cramps by reducing stress. Exercise results in an increased release of endorphins, your body's natural painkillers.
Get adequate rest. Your body may be less vulnerable to pain when you're well rested.
Follow a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, but low in salt, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.
Try vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium supplements, especially if your pain is from PMS.
Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.

If these self-care measures do not work, your doctor may prescribe medications. Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen are common medications that can help relieve menstrual cramps.

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