General description of the disease
This is a pathological process in women, which is characterized by a pronounced pain syndrome during the menstrual period.[3]… Almost half of women suffer from this disease, while up to 15% of them are disabled.
Painful sensations can be of varying intensity – from mild discomfort to severe paroxysmal pain.
Usually this ailment suffers from excitable patients of asthenic constitution with vegetative dystonia.
When diagnosing dysmenorrhea, the first step is to exclude structural gynecological abnormalities and conduct a test to determine uterine or ectopic pregnancy.
Normally, women should not experience severe pain during critical days, and if this happens, then this is a serious reason to consult a gynecologist.
Dysmenorrhea classification
Primary form develops in adolescence and, depending on the severity of the pain syndrome, can be compensated and uncompensated. The primary form occurs in more than 50% of patients and disappears with the onset of sexual activity or after the birth of a child.
Secondary form is a functional disorder of the menstrual cycle caused by gynecological diseases and is usually diagnosed in women over 30 years of age. The secondary form affects approximately 25% of women.
The causes of dysmenorrhea
- 1 hormonal disruptions, especially an excess of estrogen and a lack of progesterone. This leads to an increase in the tone and spasms of the uterus, which accompany the pain syndrome of varying intensity. Often this imbalance goes away after the baby is born;
- 2 congenital anomalies development of internal genital organs which lead to difficulty in the outflow of blood during critical days. For example, with an accessory uterine horn, menstrual blood accumulates in two cavities, which leads to entrapment of nerve endings and severe pain, up to loss of consciousness;
- endometriosis can cause dysmenorrhea;
- ovarian tumors;
- uterine fibroids;
- intrauterine device;
- no history of childbirth;
- adhesions on the internal genital organs;
- venereal diseases;
- genital trauma;
- cervical stenosis;
- genetic predisposition;
- delayed sexual development in girls;
- inflammation of the fallopian tubes;
- frequent stress;
- violation of the regime of rest and work;
- varicose veins of the pelvis;
- tuberculosis of the genitourinary system.
Dysmenorrhea symptoms
This pathology is characterized by a pronounced pain syndrome of a cramping or spastic nature. The first symptoms usually appear 1 day before or on the day of the onset of menstruation. In this case, patients are often accompanied by:
- 1 headache;
- 2 bloating;
- 3 vomiting;
- 4 stomach upset;
- 5 general malaise;
- 6 lack of appetite or bulimia;
- 7 sleep disorders;
- 8 fever or chills;
- 9 numbness of limbs;
- 10 feeling of “wadded” feet;
- 11 swelling of the face;
- 12 bradycardia or tachycardia;
- 13 dizziness;
- 14 perversions of taste;
- 15 increased urge to urinate;
- 16 tearfulness.
The secondary form of pathology is accompanied by symptoms of a concomitant disease.
Complications of dysmenorrhea
Many patients do not consider dysmenorrhea to be a disease and do not attach much importance to it. But this is completely in vain, because if you do not diagnose and do not relieve pain during menstruation for a long time, then depression and psychosis can develop against their background.
With secondary dysmenorrhea, it is possible that the underlying disease will turn into a malignant form, and infertility may also develop.
Severe pain during critical days in women can lead to permanent disability.
Prevention of dysmenorrhea
Preventive measures aimed at preventing the development of this disease include:
- abortion should be avoided, as mechanical damage can lead to serious violations;
- use the IUD as a contraceptive only after the birth of a child;
- timely treat inflammation of the pelvic organs;
- visit a gynecologist regularly;
- observe the correct daily routine;
- for adult women – regular sex life;
- moderate physical activity;
- balanced diet;
- rejection of bad habits;
- full sleep;
- with excess weight, it is necessary to normalize it;
- avoidance of stress.
Treatment of dysmenorrhea in mainstream medicine
Therapy of the primary form of pathology is aimed at normalizing the menstrual cycle, there are no general recommendations, the treatment is individually selected by the gynecologist.
Vitamin therapy is an important element of treatment. For example, B vitamins normalize cortical-subcortical processes.
Good results in the treatment of this pathology are given by psychotherapy. The psychiatrist prescribes antipsychotics, psychotropic drugs that act directly on the reactive component of pain.
For the treatment of the primary form of the disease, antispasmodics such as no-shpa and drugs with magnesium are used, which reduces the excitability of neurons.
In some cases, the gynecologist prescribes hormone therapy in the form of combined hormonal contraceptives, which inhibit the hormonal functions of the ovaries, reduce the synthesis of oxytocin, which leads to a decrease in the tone of the uterus, which provokes pain syndrome.
An effective point in the treatment of this pathology is physiotherapy in the form of nitrogen and pine baths, heliotherapy, ultratonotherapy and ultrasound with painkillers to the uterine region.
Regardless of the form of the disease, the pain syndrome is relieved with the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nausea is relieved with antiemetics. Hypnosis, auto-training, breathing exercises and reflexology have a good effect.
In the secondary form of pathology, therapy should be directed primarily to the treatment of the underlying disease.
Healthy foods for dysmenorrhea
To reduce painful sensations during menstruation, it is necessary to select foods that help reduce the production of prostaglandins, which provoke painful spastic contractions of the uterus:
- 1 gammalinolenic acid regulates the production of prostaglandins, it is found in flaxseed oil and oily fish;
- 2 spinach, almonds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are rich in vitamin E, which promotes the production of beta-endorphins, which reduce pain during painful periods;
- 3 almonds, walnuts, olive and sunflower oil also stimulate the production of prostaglandins;
- 4 unsaturated fatty acids that regulate the synthesis of prostaglandins are found in trout, salmon, horse mackerel, sardines, tuna, mackerel;
- 5 magnesium effectively relaxes the muscles of the uterus; this trace element is found in cherries, oatmeal, millet, buckwheat and soy;
- 6 lemons, peaches, oranges, cocoa help the iron to be absorbed, which contributes to the volume of secretions;
- 7 Complex carbohydrates such as durum wheat pasta, bran, and whole grain crisps all contribute to serotonin production and good sleep.
Traditional medicine for dysmenorrhea
Traditional methods of treatment give good results in combination with traditional therapy. Medicinal infusions help to reduce the tone of the uterus, have a relaxing and analgesic effect:
- drink a decoction of carrot seeds for 1-2 days in small portions;
- place 35 g of chopped lovage roots in a thermos, add 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 12 hours, then drink 2 tbsp. l 4 times a day;
- drink during the day as tea a decoction of raspberry leaves;
- drink tea from lemon balm leaves;
- take on an empty stomach a decoction of oregano leaves;
- enemas with chamomile decoction have a good analgesic effect[2];
- a decoction of dried herb hare cabbage reduces the amount of secretions;
- a week before the expected start of menstruation, take tinctures based on motherwort and valerian;
- to reduce the intensity of pain, apply hot water bottles to the legs;
- make a compress on the uterus area with warm unsalted cottage cheese;
- decoction of wild strawberry leaves effectively reduces menstrual pain[1].
Dangerous and harmful foods for dysmenorrhea
For painful and heavy periods, the following foods should be avoided:
- refined sugar, sweets, cakes, chocolate increase blood glucose levels, which leads to irritability and drowsiness;
- fried foods that increase estrogen levels, which cause pain during menstruation;
- semi-finished products and canned food contain a lot of salt, which retains fluid in the body, resulting in pain in the lower abdomen;
- fast food, crackers, chips, which contain fats and lead to indigestion;
- exclude alcohol that excites the nervous system;
- butter, fatty meat and other animal products;
- to avoid edema, refuse spicy and smoked foods.
Attention!
The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!