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Painful periods: when is it the norm, and when is it time to see a doctor?
We understand the complex processes of the female body.
There are a lot of stereotypes about menstruation in the world. Like, a woman is sure to lie under a blanket with a bucket of ice cream, watch melodramas and shed tears, and menstruation also turns us into real monsters. And there are reasons for that! For many women, periods are painful.
If you are one of this number, you should be wary: of course, pain during menstruation can be both the norm and a wake-up call.
Does your period make you fall out of your life for a few days because you can only think about pain? Then you should seek help from a specialist.
Explains how to identify concerns.
Why are periods painful?
Cramping occurs when the muscular wall of the uterus contracts vigorously to reject the lining of the uterus.)
When the muscle wall of the uterus contracts, the blood vessels can constrict, the uterus receives less blood and oxygen, and the tissues release chemicals that cause pain. The woman’s body produces prostaglandins, which cause the muscles of the uterus to contract even more.
Menstrual cramps are divided into two groups:
Some spasms do not have a specific cause. Usually, primary dysmenorrhea first occurs in adolescence, but over the years or after pregnancy, the situation can worsen.
Other pains occur against a background of disorders.
When is painful periods the norm?
If you experience pain during menstruation, it is worth contacting a specialist in any case. The doctor did not find any pathologies? Then this is a variant of the norm and a feature of your body.
Painful periods have several reasons:
lack of physical activity and muscle inelasticity,
heredity,
hormonal imbalance
increased pain sensitivity.
Some experts argue that poor nutrition also affects your well-being – it is better to exclude sweet and fatty foods from the diet a week before your period. If you have not yet gone to the doctor, and painkillers do not help you, make an urgent appointment for a consultation.
When should you go to the doctor?
As we said earlier, pain does not need to be endured in principle, although many perceive it as an inevitable phenomenon. If with each menstrual cycle, the discomfort only intensifies, it’s time to sound the alarm. The pain can hide a serious medical condition.
Endometriosis
One of the most common causes of painful periods. The disease suffers every tenth woman in the world: with endometriosis, tissue similar to the endometrium grows on other organs. Inflammation and scarring appear, and during menstruation, the lesions bleed, causing pain.
According to Patient, on average, it takes about 7,5 years from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis. It’s all because of the inattentive approach of the fair half: women believe that this is “just pain”, in which there is nothing serious. But you need to worry – endometriosis leads to infertility, bowel and bladder problems.
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis Is another common cause of pain. The endometrium grows into the wall of the uterus, causing painful, profuse and irregular periods. Unbearable sensations happen not only during menstruation, but also during sex. Sometimes, due to the disease, problems with the intestines occur.
Hysteromyoma
Hysteromyoma Is a benign mass of muscle cells that grows on or in the uterus. In a third of patients, the disease is asymptomatic, but many complain of heavy and painful menstruation, which is accompanied by heaviness in the lower abdomen.
Inflammation of the pelvic organs
Inflammation of the pelvic organs can also be accompanied by painful periods, discomfort during sex, pain when urinating and in the lower abdomen. Most of the inflammation occurs due to sexually transmitted bacteria.
Our expert, obstetrician-gynecologist Alena Otkhoroziya will tell us about the norm and pathology of the course of menstruation.
When pain during menstruation is the norm
Unpleasant menstruation can really be a variant of the norm, and it has its own characteristics: you suffer from painful periods from the very first menstruation, the pain ends with bleeding, and sometimes in the first days.
Discomfort can increase and decrease, give to the back, accompanied by weakness, nausea and dizziness. Warming the abdomen (for example, a warm shower), pain relievers, playing sports help to get rid of pain – they improve blood circulation in the small pelvis.
You should be on your guard if …
However, in some cases, painful periods are a symptom of a number of diseases.
Your pain is not a normal option if it does not stop over time, but amplified… Also a warning sign if pain continues. longerthan the periods themselves. If to 25 years you have never had a stomach ache, but now the discomfort is constantly tormenting, this is another reason to be wary.
What to do in such a situation? Go to the doctor urgently. If the pain is acute and unbearable, fainting occurs, or bleeding occurs outside of menstruation, an ambulance must be called immediately.