Understanding Severe Menstrual Cramps; Symptoms, Causes & Treatement

This article was first published on The Perspective blog.

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I am always doing constant research about menstrual cramps because of what I put up with every month. I have not been able to find the cure yet but just ways of controlling the pain. 

What has worked for me so far is, using the hot water bottle, feeding light, avoiding sugary stuff and exercise.

Menstrual pain can also be referred to as dysmenorrhoea. It is described as a mild pain that goes away easily, or severe. In the latter case, the patient has to seek medical treatment. The condition affects about 15 per cent of young women worldwide. Now I know that I am not alone.

There are two types of Dysmenorrhoea:

• Primary dysmenorrhoea: This is menstrual pain that is not caused by a specific condition. It is most common in the first few years after the onset of menstruation. It can affect up to 9/10 women. For most women, the symptoms reduce as they grow older, or after they have children.
• Secondary dysmenorrhoea: This is pain caused by a specific condition such as endometriosis or fibroids. It usually affects women aged between 30 and 45.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms are cramps or pain in your lower abdomen which can either occur before or during the first few days of your period. You may also have pain in your back or thighs. How about those of us who have experienced a combination of all of them?

Other symptoms include: Tiredness, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Backache, Headache/migraine, Bloating and mood changes.

I hope you now understand yourself better and for the men your questions are being answered.

Also read: What Nobody Tells You About Menstrual Health (#NomoreLimits)

Causes

This is something I have always wanted to know but it seems like there is no clear cause for primary dysmenorrhoea. The main cause is thought to be an increase in the amount of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are chemicals that cause uterine muscles to contract. Strong muscles contractions can temporarily stop the blood supply to the uterus, and it can be painful.

Secondary dysmenorrhoea can be caused by:

• Endometriosis: Where cells like the ones found in the womb lining grow on organs outside the womb and go through the same monthly changes.
• Fibroids: Non-cancerous growths in the womb.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease: An infection of the female reproductive organs usually transmitted sexually.
• Adenomyosis: Thickening of the walls of the uterus.

Treatment

This is the part most of you have been waiting for. Medical treatment mainly focuses on alleviating the pain and taking away the symptoms.

• Non –steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs: They are used to block the production of prostaglandins which helps reduce menstrual pains.
• Hormonal treatment: If so bad, a hormonal treatment such as the combined contraceptive pill may help reduce some of the symptoms.
• Acupuncture: This alternative medical approach that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of needles in the body can help manage cramps.
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Machine: The machine may help to relieve the symptoms. It uses two electrodes, which are placed on the back. Electrical impulses are sent through the electrodes. This stimulates the nerve fibres and blocks the pain signals to the brain.

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