It’s that time of the month again, ladies. Now, you may dread it or you may feel relief, but the havoc that the monthly menstrual cycle plays on your body remains the same. And honestly, all those wise old ladies telling you that this cramp is nothing compared with labor pains? We don’t give two hoots about labor pains right now! We’ll cross the bridge when we get to it. For now, all we want is some relief from this unbearable pain. Essentially, it is the hormone prostaglandin that is responsible for the severe pain and cramps. That and the uterine walls contracting and expanding to release the monthly uterine lining (see the comparison with labor pain here?). But fear not, for given below are the top ten easy ways to reduce or get rid of this all-consuming pain!
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for the painful cramps that may occur immediately before or during the menstrual period. There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea.
Primary dysmenorrhea is another name for common menstrual cramps. Cramps usually begin one or two years after a woman starts getting her periods. The pain is usually felt in the lower abdomen and back. These common cramps can start shortly before the onset of the period and continue for one or three days. These cramps become less painful as the age increases and it may stop completely after a woman has her first baby.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is a pain caused by a disorder in the woman’s reproductive organs. These cramps usually last longer than common menstrual cycle. If a woman has a problem in her reproductive organs, cramps will occur. If a woman suffers from endometriosis, when the tissue lining the uterus is found outside the uterus, cramps become severe. Also pelvic inflammatory disease cause menstrual cramps. It is an infection caused by bacteria that starts in the uterus and it can spread to other reproductive organs. Stenosis or narrowing of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus also cause severe pain during menstruation. Tumors also known as fibroids or growths on the inner wall of the uterus lead to severe menstrual cramps.
Menstrual cramps are caused by contractions in the uterus. The uterus is a hollow pear shaped organ where a baby grows. The muscular walls of the uterus contract throughout the menstrual cycle. If the uterus contracts too strongly, it can press against nearby blood vessels, cutting off oxygen supply to the muscle tissue of the uterus. Pain occurs when part of a muscle loses its supply of oxygen. Another reason for the menstrual cramp is the chemical called prostaglandins. This chemical is made from fat stored in cell membranes, and this causes inflammation. Prostaglandins also cause muscle contractions, blood vessel constriction, blood clotting and pain. Just before the periods begin, the endometrial cells that form the lining of the uterus make large amounts of prostaglandins. When the endometrial cells break down during menstruation, the prostaglandins are released. The prostaglandins constrict the blood vessels in the uterus and makes it contract. This causes painful cramps. Some prostaglandins enter the blood stream; this causes headache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The amount of prostaglandins produced by the endometrial cells is higher in women with menstrual pain.
Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can decrease the menstrual flow, thus reducing menstrual pain. However these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may have side effects on the body, so it is better to treat the pain naturally then depending on painkillers.You can consult a doctor before taking any pain killers during the menstrual cycle.Oral contraceptives lower the production of prostaglandins by inhibiting the growth of the endometrial cell layer. As a result, 90 percent of women who take oral contraceptives experience reduced menstrual pain.
In every monthly menstrual cycle, the amount of estrogens in a woman’s body rises and falls. Estrogens are female sex hormones that make cells in the body grow. It also thickens the lining of the uterus in anticipation of pregnancy. The estrogen level rise to a peak and then falls quickly at the time of ovulation. The level of estrogen rises again on the second half of the month and falls just before the next menstrual cycle. The uterus sheds its lining during a menstrual flow, accompanied by severe cramps.
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