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Female physiology is very complex and unpredictable. The female body is capable of performing a real miracle – the conception, gestation and birth of a baby. However, for such happiness you have to sacrifice something. Perhaps this is how we can interpret periodic pain in women associated with the course of the menstrual cycle, which is called menstrual pain.
Some sources state that 56% of women experience moderate menstrual pain that does not interfere with their daily activities. At the same time, about 35% of women during their menstrual periods experience such severe menstrual pain that their body temperature not only changes, chills appear, but they even lose consciousness.
It is very difficult to find a woman who does not experience any pain in the female genitourinary system during her period. However, the duration of menstrual pain is insignificant, often 1-3 days, and it is characterized by profuse bleeding.
In addition to menstrual pain, the onset of menstrual periods may also herald pain in the mammary glands, their enlargement or some kind of hardening.
You shouldn’t be afraid of menstrual pain, however, if the pain is extremely severe and ordinary painkillers do not help, then you need to contact a gynecologist and consult with him about further actions aimed at overcoming the pain.
What is menstrual pain
Scientifically speaking, menstrual pain is called dysmenorrhea. This is a condition that is characterized by pain in the abdomen, pelvis, and genitourinary system in a woman’s body during menstruation or before its onset. Dysmenorrhea, in medical practice, can be divided into two types – primary and secondary.
Primary or functional dysmenorrhea is usually observed in adult women. It is characterized by pain of varying severity in the lower abdomen, which is observed for 1-3 days before or during menstruation. Over time, the severity of menstrual pain decreases, and after childbirth the pain may disappear altogether.
Symptoms of functional menstrual pain may appear within a couple of years after the onset of menstruation. However, this in no way indicates a disruption in the functioning of the body or a cessation or disruption of the functioning of the uterus and its appendages.
Doctors consider the two most common causes of menstrual pain. Doctors call sudden or prolonged contractions of the uterus the main cause of menstrual pain. At the same time, the woman’s body reduces blood flow to the uterus and releases the substance prostaglandin, which promotes the contraction of internal female muscles.
Another reason can also be the release of very large blood clots with heavy bleeding, which creates discomfort in the cervical canal.
Also, lack of mobility, smoking, obesity, stress, heredity and other factors may not be the best contributors to the formation of pain during menstruation. Additional symptoms of dysmenorrhea include diarrhea or, conversely, constipation, frequent urination, and headaches.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is more pronounced, longer lasting and is characterized by diseases of the genitourinary system. Women aged 20 to 30 years are most susceptible to secondary menstrual pain. Pain is observed not only in the lower abdomen, but also in the lower back and legs. The pain can be different – stabbing, cutting, dull, aching – and it lasts much longer than in the case of primary dysmenorrhea.
The causes of secondary menstrual pain are typical for women who have various diseases of the genital organs, including endometriosis, as well as for those who have inserted an intrauterine device. As with primary dimenorrhea, negative factors such as obesity, smoking and stress can also affect the occurrence of secondary menstrual pain.
According to severity, secondary dysmenorrhea is divided into three subtypes. The first – the easiest – is observed at the beginning of menstruation and does not linger for long; it is located in the lower abdomen. The second is a more prolonged subtype of dysmenorrhea, which is characterized by incessant pain for 2-3 days. Sometimes nausea or diarrhea and discomfort throughout the body appear. The third subtype of dysmenorrhea is the most severe, characterized by pain lasting from 2 to 7 days. Pain is observed not only in the lower abdomen, but also in the back, as well as in the legs. In addition, the functioning of the gastrointestinal system is disrupted.
Severe menstrual pain not only exhausts a woman’s body, but also temporarily changes her perception of the world, her reaction to others, to people’s behavior. A woman may become irritable, embittered, or, on the contrary, detached, and may become depressed.
Menstrual pain during pregnancy
During pregnancy, women are almost always concerned about the state of their body, and especially their tummy. Therefore, if suddenly some pain occurs in the lower abdomen, girls immediately try to see a doctor so as not to endanger their baby.
In the very early stages of pregnancy, women may experience pain similar to menstrual pain. If menstrual pain appears earlier than expected, then most likely you are pregnant. Typically, a similar phenomenon is observed 6-12 days after fertilization and is characterized by nagging pain in the lower abdomen.
Severe menstrual pain during pregnancy, especially at the beginning, may mean that the pregnancy is ectopic. If, in addition to pain, dizziness, nausea or fainting are also observed, then you should immediately go for an ultrasound. And if bleeding starts, the only thing that will help you is immediate surgical intervention – immediately call an ambulance. Such symptoms may indicate unauthorized abortion, which can only be treated in a hospital setting.
If menstrual pain during pregnancy occurs as a result of injury, excessive physical activity, or the development of some disease, then a negative consequence is possible in the form of untimely placental abruption. This phenomenon is dangerous for both the mother and the child and requires immediate intervention by the observing gynecologist and possible premature birth with subsequent treatment of the mother and child.
Pains similar to menstrual pain can also occur in the mother’s body if the digestive system reacts negatively to food – colitis may occur, gases may form, dysbiosis or a feeling of heaviness may appear. Also, disorders of the digestive system are associated not only with food, but also with the expansion of the uterus, which can put pressure on the gastrointestinal tract of a pregnant woman. This manifestation of pregnancy can be adjusted by creating the right diet and nutrition regimen.
If menstrual pain occurs during pregnancy in the last stages, it can be caused by constant tension in the abdominal muscles. To relieve pain, you should try to relax your tummy.
During pregnancy, you may also experience sensations similar to menstrual pain, which arise as a result of the development of an infectious disease in the mother’s urinary system, and exacerbations of appendicitis, inflammation of the pancreas, or other surgical diseases are also possible. They are usually accompanied by additional symptoms – dizziness, severe nausea, fever. In such cases, you should not tempt fate and should immediately seek help from your gynecologist, who will certainly eliminate the discomfort and help cope with all the causes of pain in such a way as not to harm the baby.
Treatment of menstrual pain
The primary type of menstrual pain is treated by adjusting the diet, lifestyle, stopping the use of nicotine, as well as combating constant stress. With functional dysmenorrhea, relaxation will help cope with the pain – lie down on a horizontal surface and, if possible, apply a hot heating pad. If after this the pain disappears, then you need to take an antispasmodic or painkiller.
In the case of secondary dysmenorrhea, such methods will not help – only medical intervention will help.
Get rid of menstrual pain
When menstrual pain occurs, try to get plenty of rest, do not strain your body, and also apply warm heating pads to your stomach. Try to avoid stressful situations that can increase pain. Try different relaxation techniques.
Stop smoking, drinking alcohol, and if possible, do not drink coffee, as these substances increase pain.
If you have chosen an intrauterine device as a contraceptive and, as a result of its installation, your pain during menstruation has increased, you should think about removing such a device from your body and choosing another method of contraception.
It is also worth considering leading a healthier and more active lifestyle. Watch your own weight and diet. Spend 30 minutes to 1 hour a day for physical training – running, swimming, fitness or other exercises. They will help strengthen muscles, joints, bones and improve blood circulation in your body, which, in turn, will help you endure menstrual pain more easily.
What to drink for menstrual pain
If you can’t monitor your own physical activity and diet, can’t quit smoking, or can’t become more resistant to stress, then medications will come to your aid with menstrual pain.
So what remedies for menstrual pain do modern medicine and pharmaceuticals offer? Doctors claim that many non-steroidal medications are quite effective in combating menstrual pain. Pills such as aspirin, voltaren and ibuprofen can help you get rid of period pain.
No less effective remedies for menstrual pain are antispasmodic drugs, such as no-spa, buscopan, which regulate the level of prostaglandin in your body. For the most effective effect, it is necessary to start taking the drugs a couple of days before the start of menstruation and stop taking them on the 2nd day after the start of discharge. However, continuous use of these drugs is not recommended, especially without consulting a doctor, as this can lead to inflammation of the gastric mucosa. The doctor may prescribe paracetamol or other analgesics instead of these drugs.
There are cases when, in case of very severe pain during menstruation, birth control pills are prescribed. These drugs regulate the production of eggs in the female body by increasing the amount of hormones estrogen and progesterone. They also reduce the amount of blood flowing to the uterus during menstruation. This leads to a decrease in the amount of bleeding and, consequently, to a decrease in pain. Your doctor may prescribe you contraceptives for menstrual pain – danazol, progestrogen, or other gonadotropin-releasing agents, but the latter can have many negative side effects.
How to relieve menstrual pain
If you don’t want to see a doctor and the pain recurs month after month in its strength and nature of manifestation, then you should know the main names of pills that help get rid of unpleasant sensations, as well as remedies that help cope with temporary female ailments.
First of all, take care of your own diet – some foods can increase pain during menstruation, so you should avoid eating them before and during menstruation. Most often, foods that contain arachidonic acid have a negative effect on the body during menstruation – these are animal products and saturated fats. Instead, it is better to increase the consumption of fish products that help relax muscles and relieve spasms – tuna, salmon, mackerel and others. Also increase your intake of nuts, seeds, fresh vegetables and fruits, and foods containing calcium. Calcium helps normalize muscle tone and reduce the intensity and number of spasms. Products containing magnesium – beans, dried fruits, cereals, yoghurts, as well as green vegetables – have a similar effect.
As for physical activity, do not strain your muscles too much, as this can increase the abundance of discharge and increase blood flow. However, lying down all the time is also not recommended. It is recommended to perform exercises that help strengthen and stretch muscles – walking or light running, aerobic exercise, cardio exercise, yoga.
Hot compresses and warm baths will help relieve pain, helping to relax muscles and relieve pain in the lower abdomen.
Drink plenty of fluids – juices, water, herbal teas – they will help avoid dehydration and speed up blood circulation in the body. For example, warm milk mixed with half a teaspoon of cinnamon has a special effect – it removes spasms and has anti-inflammatory properties.
So how can you relieve menstrual pain and what remedies can you take to get rid of menstrual pain without harming your own body?
Analgin for menstrual pain
Analgin has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects. It is prescribed, among other things, for menstrual pain. Taken orally after meals, 0,25-0,5 g twice or thrice a day. The maximum daily dose is 3 g of the drug.
Side effects include a decrease in the number of granulocytes or platelets in the peripheral blood, vascular leakage (hemorrhage), low blood pressure, intercystal inflammation of the kidneys, and allergic rashes.
No-shpa with menstrual pains
No-spa is an antispasmodic drug that is taken in the form of tablets or capsules during menstruation. Used to treat spasms of smooth muscles of internal organs.
The dosage of the drug for adults is 40-80 mg three times a day. In this case, the maximum daily dose of the drug per day is 200 mg.
Known side effects include dizziness, rapid heartbeat, increased sweating and body temperature, and possible allergic reactions. In unreasonably large doses, it can cause disruption of the conduction of the atria and ventricles of the heart, reduces the response of the heart muscles and can cause cardiac arrest and paralysis of the respiratory system.
Tablets for menstrual pain
A lot of remedies have already been invented to combat menstrual pain. Each woman selects a drug based on the strength and duration of the pain experienced.
So, no-spa helps some, but some are not soothed even by the strongest painkillers.
Most often now, women, as studies of women’s forums show, use such painkillers for menstrual pain as Nurofen, Novigan, Spasmalgon, Baralgin, Ketanov and Tamipul.
Nurofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Blocks the production of proglandins. Absorbed quickly – within 30-60 minutes. Adults can take 0,2-0,8 g 3-4 times a day. It is recommended to take the drug after meals with plenty of liquid. Has a number of side effects.
Novigan is a combination drug that has antispasmodic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The drug is prescribed 1-2 tablets up to 4 times a day. Long-term use of the drug is not recommended. The product has an impressive list of side effects.
Spasmalgon – has a combined analgesic and antispasmodic effect. It is well absorbed, the greatest effect is observed after 30-120 minutes. In tablet form, the drug is taken up to 3 times a day, 1-2 tablets. It is not recommended to take the drug for more than 3 days in a row. If the expected effect is not present, stop using it. Has a number of side effects.
Baralgin – has a combined analgesic and antispasmodic effect. Prescribed for spasms of smooth muscles of internal organs. Prescribed use is 1-2 tablets 2-3 times a day whole, washed down with a small amount of liquid. There are many side effects prescribed.
Ketanov is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and pain reliever. The concentration of the drug in the blood is achieved after 45-50 minutes. The drug is prescribed to be taken 1 tablet every 4-6 hours. Treatment should not last longer than 7 days. The instructions recommend reducing the dose of the drug for patients lighter than 50 kg, people over 65 years of age, as well as patients with impaired renal function. Quite a strong drug. Today it is sold in pharmacies only with a doctor’s prescription. Pharmacology provides customers with analogues of this drug.
Tamipul is an analgesic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, antipyretic drug. Contains ibuprofen, paracetamol and caffeine. Taken orally. To relieve menstrual pain, take 1-2 capsules up to 4 times a day, depending on the intensity of the pain. The maximum amount of the drug per day is 6 pieces. The interval between doses of the drug should be at least 4 hours. Has a number of side effects.
Menstrual pain patch
Modern pharmaceuticals invite women to refuse or partially replace medications with a warming thermal plaster, which is used for menstrual pain. Within 20 minutes, the temperature of the patch reaches 50 degrees, which helps to actively influence areas of pain, improves blood circulation in soft tissues, and removes muscle spasms.
It is recommended to use this remedy in the first days of menstruation, when the pain is most severe.
Action time – up to 6 hours.
You need to use it carefully, as there is a risk of getting burned. Do not use the patch for more than 12 hours a day.
Do not apply the patch to the affected areas of the body, and remove it immediately if you feel excessive heat.
Do not tear the patch and avoid contact of the contents with mucous membranes and eyes. In case of contact, immediately rinse the affected area with water.
Folk remedies for menstrual pain
Our ancestors, just like us, struggled with pain during menstruation. But they didn’t have a whole army of pharmacists and researchers at hand to come up with the necessary medical remedies, so they had to fight their periodic illnesses with folk remedies.
Acupressure will help relieve pain. It is worth massaging a point on the inside of your leg, which is located between the knee and ankle.
They also say that on such days, ichthyol ointment mixed with Vaseline, which should be applied to the lower abdomen, will help cope with the illness. In the evening you should drink a strong infusion of ginger with sugar.
An infusion of water pepper, according to traditional medicine, will help get rid of pain and reduce the amount of discharge. To prepare the infusion, add boiling water (1 cup) to a tablespoon of chopped herbs and leave to infuse. Take 1 tablespoon three times a day.
Mature burdock seeds, brewed in a glass of boiling water, need to be mashed and allowed to brew a little more. Strain, add sugar to improve the taste and drink the entire glass of infusion at once. This remedy will help get rid of very severe pain.
A decoction of raspberry leaves will also help relieve spasms of the smooth muscles of the uterus. Boil them for 15 minutes and take the strained broth a glass a day.
Half a teaspoon of crushed linden blossom, a pinch of St. John’s wort, a teaspoon of chamomile, pour 0,5 liters of boiling water. The cooled infusion should be consumed a couple of days before the start of menstruation. Duration of treatment – 4 days. Drink like tea.
Pour a tablespoon of chopped horsetail, St. John’s wort and oak bark into 0,8 liters of boiling water. Let it brew, consume 3-4 times a day with the addition of a few drops of velerian or motherwort tincture.
Pour half a liter of boiling water over a tablespoon of crushed daisy flowers, St. John’s wort and calendula flowers. Infuse and drink 3-4 times a day with the addition of a few drops of motherwort.
Pour 0,8 liters of boiling water over a teaspoon of crushed elecampane root and chamomile, plus a tablespoon of St. John’s wort and oak bark. Infuse and drink 3-4 times a day as tea.
All prescriptions require the start of treatment 1-2 days before the start of menstruation and a duration of 4 days.
Menstrual pain bothers almost all women of childbearing age. Remember that pain is not worth tolerating. If you are experiencing menstrual pain, consult your gynecologist and find the best solution for you to relieve the symptoms of period pain. Be careful when using both medications and traditional medicine.
Be healthy!