Pain during menstruation. Why do they happen and how to deal with them

Update: December 2018

Moderate pain during menstruation occurs in approximately 70% of girls and women childbearing age. The pain syndrome that accompanies menstruation can be of varying intensity. Mildly expressed painful sensations, only minor discomfort, especially in nulliparous women, is considered a normal physiological phenomenon.

However, if a woman experiences unbearable, severe pain every month during menstruation, accompanied by diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, vomiting and other symptoms that deprive the woman of her ability to work, obvious “ critical days“In medicine this is usually referred to as algomenorrhea. Such symptoms indicate that the young woman has various disorders in the hormonal, vascular, reproductive, nervous or other systems of the body.

If the causes of painful periods are established, then treatment of these disorders can significantly alleviate the condition and improve the tolerance of such a natural process in a woman’s body as menstruation. In this article we will tell you why girls and women experience painful periods, the causes and treatment of such a disorder.

What other symptoms can accompany painful menstruation and why is it considered a disease?

In medicine, very painful periods are considered the most frequent disorders menstrual function. Between the ages of 13 and 45, almost all women experience minor discomfort and soreness on the first day menstrual bleeding. And only 10% of them complain of very strong cramping spastic pain from uterine contractions, which are also supplemented by the following symptoms:

• 79% of women experience diarrhea
• 84% vomit
• 13% headache
• 23% dizziness
• 16% fainting

The main symptom of algomenorrhea is pain in the lower abdomen, which appears on the 1st day of menstruation or 12 hours before its onset, it gradually subsides by the 2-3rd day, it can be aching, tugging, stabbing, radiating to the rectum, in bladder, also can . Against the background of unbearable pain during menstruation, a woman’s psycho-emotional state is disturbed, irritability, drowsiness appears, depressive state, insomnia, anxiety, weakness. Painful periods poison a woman’s life, waiting for the next bleeding has an adverse effect on the psyche, emotional sphere life, leads to conflicts in the family and at work.

At mild degree algomenorrhea - short-term, moderate pain during menstruation does not lead to loss of performance and activity, such pain can be tolerated without additional painkillers, however, the causes of painful periods should be clarified, since even mild degree algomenorrhea can later become more pronounced, with more significant discomfort. Sometimes after childbirth, women stop having a mild degree of algomenorrhea and uterine contractions become less painful; its increase during pregnancy and reduction after pregnancy subsequently weakens cramping pain during menstruation.

At medium degree — nagging pain in the lower abdomen are supplemented by general weakness, nausea, chills, and frequent urination. Psycho-emotional disorders are also associated - depression, irritability, intolerance to strong smells and sounds, and performance is noticeably reduced. This degree of algomenorrhea already requires drug correction and the causes of pain syndrome.

In severe cases, very intense pain in the lower back and abdomen is accompanied by headache, general weakness, fever, heart pain, diarrhea, fainting, and vomiting. In a severe case of painful menstruation, a woman completely loses her ability to work; usually, their occurrence is associated either with infectious-inflammatory diseases or congenital pathologies genitals.

The main causes of primary painful menstruation in adolescent girls

Primary algomenorrhea appears with the first menstruation or develops within 3 years after the onset of menstruation. It mainly occurs in easily excitable, emotionally unstable girls, with an asthenic physique, in combination with. Depending on the accompanying “set” of symptoms, primary painful periods are divided into:

• Adrenergic type

In this case, the level of the hormones dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine increases, causing a malfunction of the entire hormonal system of the body. Girls experience constipation, severe headaches, body temperature rises, heart rate increases, insomnia appears, legs and arms become bluish due to spasms of small vessels, the body and face turn pale.

• Parasympathetic type

It is characterized by an increase in the level of the hormone serotonin in cerebrospinal fluid. In girls, on the contrary, the heart rate decreases, nausea with vomiting appears, body temperature decreases, gastrointestinal disorders are expressed by diarrhea, swelling of the limbs and face often appears, allergic reactions on the skin, girls gain weight.

Modern research establishes the fact that primary painful periods are not an independent disease, but a manifestation of deeper internal disorders, that is, symptoms the following diseases or deviations:

• Congenital malformations connective tissue

In gynecological practice, it has long been established that approximately 60% of girls with primary algomenorrhea are diagnosed with genetically determined connective tissue dysplasia. In addition to painful periods, this disease is expressed by flat feet, scoliosis, myopia, and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.

This is very serious illness, which occurs more often in girls with elongated limbs, flexible joints, cartilaginous tissues, most often during the child’s growth a magnesium deficiency is detected, which can be established by taking biochemical analysis blood.

• Diseases nervous system, neurological disorders

In girls with signs of decreased pain threshold, with emotional instability, with various psychoses, neuroses and other neurological disorders exacerbate the perception of pain, so pain during menstruation in such patients is pronounced.

• Bends of the uterus anteriorly and posteriorly, underdevelopment of the uterus, malformations of its development - bicornuate, two-cavity uterus

The occurrence of very painful periods due to abnormalities in the development of the uterus is caused by problematic, difficult outflow of blood during menstruation from the uterine cavity. This provokes additional uterine contractions, causing pain during menstruation.

Causes of secondary algomenorrhea in women

If pain during menstruation occurs in a woman who already has children, or she is over 30 years old, then this is considered as secondary algomenorrhea. Today, it occurs in every third woman, most often in a moderate to severe form, since it reduces performance and is aggravated by accompanying symptoms, and is also accompanied by heavy menstruation. In addition to pain in the lower abdomen, painful periods occur with other symptoms, which are usually divided into several characteristic groups:

• Autonomic symptoms - bloating, vomiting, nausea, hiccups
• Vegetative-vascular symptoms - dizziness, leglessness, fainting, rapid heartbeat, headaches during menstruation
• Psycho-emotional manifestations - disturbance of taste, perception of smells, increased irritability, anorexia, depression
• Endocrine-metabolic symptoms - increased unmotivated weakness, joint pain, itching of the skin, vomiting

The intensity of pain during menstruation depends on the general health of the woman, age and concomitant diseases. If the patient has metabolic disorders (and other disorders endocrine system), then to additional symptoms during menstruation, endocrine-metabolic manifestations are added; in case of disturbances of cardio-vascular system, vegetative-vascular symptoms may be more pronounced; as premenopause approaches in women (see), the likelihood of psycho-emotional instability and depressive symptoms increases.

Often women with secondary algomenorrhea experience problems that definitely cannot be ignored and this is an urgent reason to contact a gynecologist for examination and treatment. If primary painful periods, the causes of which are associated with congenital anomalies and pathologies, are very difficult to treat, then the occurrence of secondary algomenorrhea is mainly associated with acquired diseases of the female genital organs, the treatment of which should be carried out in mandatory, This:

• infectious and inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs and the accompanying adhesive process in the pelvis
• malignant and benign (polyps) tumors of the uterus and appendages
• varicose veins in abdominal cavity, in the pelvic organs
• pelvic neuritis

Also, in women over 30 years of age, the appearance of very severe pain during menstruation can be caused for the following reasons, provoking factors:

• intrauterine contraception
• , other intrauterine interventions, due to cicatricial narrowing of the cervix
• surgical operations on the uterine appendages, birth complications or complications after cesarean section
• mental and physical fatigue, constant stress, violation of rest and work schedules

Why should painful periods be treated?

Considering the above, it should be understood that natural physiological function- menstruation should not cause significant general malaise in a woman, depriving her of her ability to work. In order to reduce the pain of menstruation, treatment should not consist of pain relief, but of eliminating the cause of this phenomenon. Of course, you can hope that this will change, for example, with the birth of a child, but if this does not happen, especially if a woman experiences painful periods after giving birth to children, she should consult a gynecologist to find out the cause of pain during menstruation.

• Enduring pain is not only physically difficult, but also very harmful to the nervous system, and regular use of NSAIDs and analgesics does not eliminate the cause of painful periods; moreover, the body gets used to them and painkillers have a number of side effects.
• The appearance of very painful periods is an indicator that some kind of malfunction or disease is occurring in the body, this is a signal that you should definitely find the reason for the body’s inadequate response to a natural process.

Painful periods can and should be treated. Read more about this in our next article. To determine the cause of primary algomenorrhea, a gynecologist is examined, tests are taken for hormonal status, an ultrasound of the pelvic organs, and the girl should also be additionally examined by a neurologist, osteopath, or psychotherapist. For secondary algomenorrhea, hormonal examination, ultrasound, diagnostic laparoscopy, and diagnostic curettage are also performed.

A woman or girl with painful periods should keep an observation diary, a menstruation calendar, in which they describe in detail the sensations, the amount of discharge, the duration of the cycle and the duration of bleeding, all the symptoms that appear during menstruation, in order to then help the doctor in determining the cause and choosing a method of therapy.

Content

Many women regularly experience painful periods. You cannot get used to this problem, despite the fact that it is periodic and goes away after a few days. Read on in the article to find out what causes painful periods in women, as well as what to do in this condition.

Why are periods painful?

Painful periods are called algomenorrhea. They occur in women every month. Not every menstruation is accompanied by unpleasant sensations.

It is very important to respond in a timely manner to too painful periods, since they often signal a developing gynecological disease.

As a rule, the first day of your period is very painful. It may be accompanied by aching, cramping and stabbing sensations that go away on their own after a couple of days or after taking analgesics.

Additional symptoms that accompany algomenorrhea are:

• headache;
• nausea;
• indigestion;
• weakness;
• irritability;
• loss of appetite;
• tachycardia;
• vomit.

Only a gynecologist can make an accurate diagnosis for painful periods. Most often, the root causes of this pathology are:

1. Hereditary predisposition to painful algomenorrhea.
2. Acute deficiency of vitamins and nutrients. Pain is especially common when there is a lack of calcium and magnesium in a woman’s body.
3. Developing gynecological diseases. These may be: uterine fibroids, pathologies of organ development reproductive system, ovarian cyst, cancer formation, infectious lesion, etc.
4. Hormonal disbalance.
5. Weakness of the pelvic muscles and ligaments in general. This condition is associated with the lack physical activity, which leads to muscle weakness and increased sensitivity to cramps in the abdominal area.
6. Installation of an intrauterine device.
7. Vegetovascular dystonia.
8. Previous abortion.
9. Poor nutrition.
10. Usage hormonal contraceptives.

Moreover, curvature of the spine, varicose veins, micro-stroke and neuralgia increase the risk of painful menstruation.

Primary algomenorrhea

Acute pain during menstruation, which is typical for girls aged 16-25 years, is observed with primary algomenorrhea. The cause of the discomfort is an increase in the contractile activity of the myometrium.

This provokes the appearance of the following symptoms:

• vascular spasms;
• stool disorders;
• nausea;
• migraine.

Despite the rather pronounced symptoms, pathological disorders in the pelvic organs during primary algomenorrhea does not occur. Very painful periods in this state disappear after the first birth.

Secondary algomenorrhea

Secondary algomenorrhea is diagnosed when developing pathologies pelvic organs. Pain in this case is a consequence of changes in the uterus.

Most often, manifestations of secondary algomenorrhea are observed in the following cases:

• approaching menopause;
• uterine polyps;
• pelvic neuritis;
• anorexia;
• depression;
• consequences of frequent abortions;
• birth injuries.

What do painful periods mean?

If menstruation provokes quite tolerable discomfort in the lower abdomen, and it can be easily relieved with antispasmodics, then there is no need to worry.

If every period is accompanied by pronounced unpleasant sensations (chills, hot flashes and even loss of consciousness), the cycle is regarded as pathological.

Important! You should not endure such periods, so as not to worsen your condition further.

Painful periods in a teenager

Teenage girls often experience painful menstruation, which becomes a real problem for them. provoke discomfort In this case, the following reasons may exist:

• weakness of the vaginal muscles;
• hormonal imbalance, which is often observed in adolescents;
• excessive contraction of the uterus;
• poor blood clotting;
• low pain threshold;
• stress and depression;
• a bend in the uterus that impedes the flow of blood.

Severe pain during menstruation on the first day

Severe pain during menstruation, which occurs on the first day, may be a variant of the norm or indicate pathological process. In the latter case, the following problems are most often observed:

• inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs;
• infection in the ovaries or uterus;
• addition of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases).

It is possible to distinguish pathological pain from physiological pain. In the first case, the unpleasant sensations will be constant, and not periodic (in the form of spasms). It is very difficult to relieve them with conventional analgesics.

Warning! If you have such pain, it is recommended to consult a doctor as soon as possible and get a diagnosis.

Cramping pain during menstruation

Discomfort during menstruation and cramping pain can be observed with developing gynecological diseases. In most cases, such symptoms provoke inflammatory processes in the pelvis and also cause endometriosis.

This disease causes the inner layer of the uterine wall to spread to the ovaries or fallopian tubes. Treatment of endometriosis involves taking hormonal medications.

Attention! Endometriosis is a fairly common disease, diagnosed in 10% of women.

Stitching pain during menstruation

Torsion of the pedicle of an ovarian cyst can cause stabbing pains. In this case, the patient will suffer from severe, almost unbearable pain.

Reveal this state possible only after an ultrasound examination. Its treatment is usually surgical.

Possible complications

Heavy, painful menstruation is considered the most dangerous. In this condition, there is a risk of the following complications:

• anemia that occurs due to large blood loss;
• inflammation of the uterus;
• indigestion;
• miscarriage, which may require curettage of the uterine lining;
• dysfunction of the reproductive system.

Important! Severe pain before menstruation often occurs due to the influence of hormones, which can increase nervous sensations and uterine contractions.

What to take for period pain

For pain relief during menstruation, the following medications are allowed:

1. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - Diclofenac, Nimesil.
2. Progesterone derivatives that will reduce the activity of the uterus.
3. Non-hormonal painkillers - "Analgin".
4. Oral contraceptives. They will suppress the ovulation process and reduce the tone of the uterus.

It is also allowed to take herbal remedies (infusion of horsetail, decoction of chamomile, mint and yarrow).

How to treat painful periods

At physiological reasons algomenorrhea, you can alleviate your condition with the help of:

• nutrition correction;
• eliminating bad habits;
• lower back massage.

Also, on critical days, it is advisable to perform special exercises that will improve the elasticity and tone of the pelvic muscles.

Prevention

The following recommendations will help reduce the risk of developing painful periods:

1. Complete nutrition. The diet should be well balanced and rich in nutrients.
2. Taking vitamins every season. The doctor should select them depending on the individual needs of the body.
3. Sports activities. This can be either professional training or simple physical exercise performed at home. Also, regular running and exercise will help strengthen the ligamentous apparatus.
4. Maintaining an optimal rest and work schedule.
5. Avoiding stress and nervous tension.
6. Protection against hypothermia.
7. Suitable oral contraceptives.
8. Timely treatment of any gynecological diseases, inflammatory processes, infectious infections.
9. Regular (once every six months) preventive examinations with a gynecologist and tests.

Advice! In order not to worsen your condition, you should not take aspirin or strong narcotic drugs during menstrual pain.

Conclusion

Painful periods can be so severe that a woman is unable to work, sleep, or go about her business. In such a state, you need to look for the cause of the problem and eliminate it before the disease becomes advanced.

Menstruation is a natural process that occurs every month in women. The onset of menstruation confirms that the woman has puberty. This process is completely natural, and every woman should accept and get used to it. But it's not that simple. It happens that a woman awaits these days with horror because she has painful periods.

In general, menstruation should not cause great inconvenience to a woman. However, pain during menstruation is a kind of signal that female body something is wrong. Every woman who has reached childbearing age should know the causes of painful periods.

Causes of painful periods

What causes algomenorrhea (painful periods)? The discharge of menstrual blood and endometrium occurs due to intense contractions of the uterus. When something interferes with this process, pain occurs during menstruation. A woman usually experiences the most severe pain on the first or second day of menstruation.

The most common reason why periods are painful is that the uterus is not positioned correctly. It compresses the nerve endings, which contributes to pain in the sacrum, lower back and lower abdomen. This condition can be either congenital or acquired as a result of various inflammatory processes in the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes Oh.

Also, the intensity of uterine contractions and a woman’s susceptibility to pain is influenced by the level of hormones in the body. Women over 30 often experience very painful periods, which are a consequence of increased levels of the female sex hormone, estrogen.

Special cells are responsible for the rhythmic contractions of the uterus during menstruation. chemical substances– prostaglandins. The higher their level, the more often and stronger uterine contractions occur. This is why painful periods often occur when elevated level prostaglandins. Often pain is also accompanied by diarrhea, nausea, headache and general poor health of the woman.

Why do painful periods still occur? This often happens due to dysfunction of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland. But in these cases, the woman suffers not only from pain during menstruation, but also from premenstrual syndrome.

If young women who have not yet given birth complain of very painful periods, this may indicate infertility.

Painful periods can also be caused by a woman using an intrauterine device as a preventive measure against unwanted pregnancy. Since the intrauterine device is foreign body, the body often tries to “get rid” of it. In addition, the spiral promotes increased production of prostaglandins by the uterine mucosa.

Pain during menstruation is often a symptom of chronic inflammatory diseases female genital area: inflammation of the ovaries, endometriosis, colpitis, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, etc.

It happens that algodismenorrhea is caused by a genetic factor, when many women in the family suffered from this disease.

Symptoms of painful periods

Algodismenorrhea is the most common gynecological disease. According to statistics, every second woman experienced pain during menstruation. Moreover, often painful periods manifest themselves not only in pain in the abdomen, lower back, sacrum, but are also accompanied by other body disorders: nausea and vomiting, headaches, irritability, fainting states, leg pain, etc.

If a woman regularly has painful periods, then often all these symptoms are a consequence of the fact that the woman whole month spends tensely waiting for the next period and perceives it as a catastrophe that cannot be avoided. That is, the psychological factor also plays an important role.

What symptoms require consultation with a gynecologist?

• During menstruation, the pain increases sharply and is accompanied by very heavy bleeding.
• Less severe pain during menstruation than usual.
• Menstruation is accompanied by increased body temperature, chills, and sweating, which may indicate an inflammatory process.
• The discharge is unusual, has a pungent odor and unusual color. During urination, a woman feels pain and burning. These symptoms may indicate an infection in the body.

When should you call an ambulance?

• Severe dizziness, loss of consciousness.
• Sharp, severe pain in the lower abdomen that prevents you from getting out of bed.
• The appearance of pieces of grayish or silvery tissue in menstrual blood.
• If you have your period during pregnancy.

Diagnosis of painful periods

To diagnose algodismenorrhea, a woman must answer a number of questions to the gynecologist:

• What is the nature of the pain, how is it related to menstruation and when does it start?
• Does the woman have an active sex life and how often does she achieve orgasm?
• Does she have a regular menstrual cycle?
• Does a woman feel pain during intercourse?
• What methods does a woman use to protect herself from unwanted pregnancy?
• Does the woman currently have inflammatory gynecological diseases and did she have them in the past?
• Does the woman suffer from infertility?

Every woman should understand that painful periods are not only an unpleasant sensation, but also evidence that some disturbances are occurring in the body. Therefore, in case of algodismenorrhea, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will help identify its cause and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Every woman knows about the most “terrible” monthly days in her life - critical ones. Severe pain in the lower abdomen, bad mood is fraught nervous breakdowns, nothing is going well at work or school, you don’t want anything and it seems that everything in life is sad.

Every lady experiences similar manifestations. However, the pain is so severe that it is simply impossible to endure. You should know that this is the first signal of a serious problem in the body. Therefore, you should not hesitate and reschedule your appointment with the doctor.

Why does my stomach hurt so much during menstruation?

Doctors relate menstruation to a mechanical process. Indeed, during this period, the woman’s body frees itself from unnecessary waste products.

During menstruation, the muscles of the uterus contract rapidly in order to remove from the body all the elements that have “served their purpose.” In many women, the abdominal cavity is very sensitive, so the receptors perceive this process very acutely.

And in others, the uterus may be tilted, putting pressure on the nerve center. Therefore, there is a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, aching in the lower back.

Minor pain during menstruation is considered normal. However, if the pain is strong and the general feeling of malaise lasts for a long time, then this is the first warning sign for you.

Gynecologists call acute pain during menstruation “dysmenorrhea.” Acute pain indicates a serious malfunction in a woman’s body and certain gynecological diseases.

The most common causes of abdominal pain:

• hypodynamia (a disease that is accompanied by congestion in the pelvic organs and poor circulation in the genitals);
• increased stress and severe fatigue(the body during stressful situations weakens and gets tired, so sensitivity to pain increases);
• no balance in diet.

Causes of severe chest pain before menstruation

Besides acute pain In the lower abdomen, many women feel discomfort in the chest. The nature of chest pain can be different: both constant and intermittent. Pain may appear in the following cases:

1. The body's normal "response" to normal menstruation. Doctors call this pain “mastodynia.” This normal phenomenon, caused by a slight increase in the glandular tissue of the mammary glands. This process is facilitated by the release of a mature egg from the follicle (on the 12-14th day of menstruation), estrogen hormones begin to be sharply produced, affecting the mammary glands.
2. The restructuring of the body at the hormonal level is associated with the process of preparation for possible pregnancy. Breasts may become enlarged or swollen as breast tissue grows rapidly. If there is no pregnancy, then breast reduction occurs after the completion of the critical days.

Severe pain during menstruation: what to do?

Our grandmothers argued that pain must be endured. However, today you can reduce severe pain in fairly simple ways:

Traditional medicine

Treatment of severe pain during menstruation at home can be done using the following folk remedies:

• crushed horsetail herb - 1 tbsp. l.
• chopped St. John's wort herb - 1 tbsp. l.
• motherwort tincture (valerian will do)
• crushed oak bark - 1 tbsp. l.
• 0.8 liters of boiling water.

Mix the herbs and put them in a glass bowl, then pour boiling water over them. Wrap in a towel and let cool. It should be taken three times a day instead of tea, adding a few drops of motherwort or 4 drops of valerian.

In what cases should you consult a gynecologist?

There is such severe pain during menstrual cycle that going to the doctor is simply necessary. Emergency cases are manifested by the following symptoms:

The above signs are confirmation that an inflammatory process is occurring in the body. If you see a doctor in time, he will be able to give you an appropriate diagnosis and prescribe necessary treatment, which will help you alleviate your condition and prevent complications.

Also, women who have recently given birth should not delay visiting a gynecologist. If after eight weeks your menstruation has not returned to normal, consult a specialist immediately.

Doctors say that you should go for an appointment after the end of menstruation for 1-4 days. It is on these days that analyzes are more informative.

Prevention

Of course, it is impossible to completely prevent pain during the menstrual cycle, but with the help of preventive methods it can be reduced. If you do not have pathologies, then prevention to eliminate pain can be carried out calmly. So you should adhere to these recommendations:

Be healthy!

And in addition to the article - a useful video on the topic.

Menstruation is a natural process for all women of reproductive age. Their arrival signals that women's reproductive system fully matured and ready to bear offspring. In most cases, it causes only mild discomfort, but there are exceptions when painful periods completely disrupt the lifestyle and affect the performance of the fair sex.

Every woman of childbearing age should know exactly what to do during very painful periods, and in what cases it is necessary to immediately contact a specialist. This article will discuss symptoms, causes and treatment. painful menstruation.

Causes

Mild ones provoke uterine contractions, which contribute to the release of menstrual blood and the mucous layer of the uterus. If the excretion process is disrupted due to any factors, a woman becomes excruciatingly painful during her period. Too painful periods scientific name" " or " ". In nulliparous women common cause painful periods is due to the incorrect location of the uterus, which compresses the nerve endings, causing pain not only in the lower abdomen, but also in the lower back and sacrum. This condition can be caused by congenital anomalies development of female genital organs.

Painful menstruation occurs in women who suffer from the following diseases:

• infectious pathologies (trichomoniasis, syphilis, genital herpes, gonorrhea). Most often they are transmitted during sexual contact, contributing to the occurrence of purulent and inflammatory diseases of the appendages and uterus, which disrupts the cycle and worsens painful symptoms. Both partners need to be treated for the disease. There are a number infectious pathologies, which can be infected at home, these include candidiasis;
• inflammatory processes. They can be provoked by non-compliance with personal hygiene rules, which contributes to the growth of opportunistic microflora - streptococci, staphylococcal infection, coli. Also, pathological reproduction of these microorganisms can be caused by hypothermia, vitamin deficiency, changes in the composition of microflora in other organs, etc. Cervicitis, endometritis or salpingitis can cause severe pain during regulation. These diseases must be treated, since inflammation can lead to bending, disruption of the blood vessels, the appearance of cysts, polyps, and even provoke cancer;
• benign and malignant neoplasms. In the case of cancer, painful periods sometimes become the only symptom of this pathology. As the tumor grows, it presses on blood vessels and nerves in the uterus and nearby organs. Due to the neoplasm, the shape of the uterus may change, period blood stagnates, causing unbearable pain. As the tumor grows, it intensifies and painful sensations;
• endometriosis. With this disease, the cells of the inner layer of the uterus grow into other organs, and the regularity of the cycle is lost, and menstruation becomes longer and more painful, and begins hormonal disorders caused by endometrioid cysts;
• dysplasia, cervical erosion and other diseases associated with damage to the epithelial layer in the cervix;
• hormonal dysfunction. It can be triggered by taking hormonal medications, sudden cancellation of prescribed hormonal contraceptives, disruption of the ovaries, thyroid or pituitary gland. Due to hormonal changes, metabolic disturbances occur, which provoke the development diabetes mellitus or sharp jumps weight, both in the direction of increase and excessive decrease;
• consequences of childbirth and surgery. During childbirth or abortion, the ligaments that fix the uterus can be damaged, so its normal location is disrupted, which causes severe pain during regulation. Bends may occur in which blood stagnates and inflammatory processes occur.

Algomenorrhea can be inherited, so if a grandmother or mother had too painful periods, then with a high degree of probability this pathology will be passed on to her daughter.

Associated symptoms

With painful periods, it is important to pay attention not only to the nature of the pain, but also to associated symptoms. Algomenorrhea may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• nausea up to vomiting, diarrhea;
• severe headache;
• increased sweating, hot flashes, dizziness and fainting;
• sharp, jumping pulse or increased heart rate;
• weakness, muscle and joint pain.

The duration of the monthly discharge itself may be disrupted and increased, they or, conversely,. Between menstruation sometimes occurs in the form of spotting. Pain due to dysmenorrhea may not appear on the first day of menstruation, but 1-2 days before its onset. They have a pulling, cutting, aching or cramp-like nature and pass only after the end of menstruation. In cases of severe secondary dysmenorrhea, pain may be felt throughout the entire menstrual cycle.

Degrees of pain

Painful menstruation has 3 degrees of severity:

1. The mild stage is accompanied by short and tolerable pain.
2. The average degree of algomenorrhea is characterized by pain in the lower abdomen and back, chills and psycho-emotional disorders (irritability, depression, photophobia, intolerance to strong aromas and loud sounds).
3. In the severe stage of dysmenorrhea, in addition to severe pain, the functioning of the heart muscle is disrupted, the temperature rises, vomiting, diarrhea, general weakness appear, and the woman may lose consciousness.

Primary form

Primary dysmenorrhea is not caused by diseases or damage to the organs of the reproductive system, but occurs during puberty for three years after the arrival of the first menstruation. Painful periods in a teenager cause sudden hormonal changes that occur in the body at this time.

During puberty, the concentration of various hormones may change, depending on which of them increases, one of 2 types of primary dysmenorrhea occurs in adolescents:

1. Adrenergic. It is diagnosed when there is an increase in adrenaline in the blood. Characteristic symptoms for this pathology of the reproductive system is elevated temperature, increased heart rate, headaches, pale skin, hiccups, feeling of a full stomach, constipation.
2. Parasympathetic. Diagnosed with increased levels of serotonin in spinal cord. At the same time, the pulse slows down, body temperature may be lowered, the face and limbs swell, and body weight increases.

Kinds

Depending on the cause that causes pain in a girl, there are several types of primary dysmenorrhea:

• spasmogenic. The cause of its occurrence is spasms of the uterine muscles;
• psychogenic. Pain in the lower abdomen causes fear of symptoms experienced once and leaving difficult memories for the teenager;
• essential. The cause of the disease in this case is a decrease in the pain threshold caused by disturbances in the functioning of individual centers in the brain. In this case, even minimal irritation of the nerve roots causes severe pain.

Why does it occur

The following factors can trigger the development of primary algomenorrhea:

• a congenital disorder of connective tissue growth that is caused by magnesium deficiency. This disease has a dangerous complication in the form of a violation of the composition of cartilage tissue, which leads to improper formation of joints, elongation of limbs, flat feet and scoliosis. Myopia may occur, problems with digestive system and varicose veins;
• genital tuberculosis;
• nervous and mental disorder;
• congenital uterine anomalies (bicornus, malposition or underdevelopment).

If the curvature of the uterus arose during puberty due to improper development or excessive stress, then there is a high probability that painful periods will no longer bother the girl after childbirth. If the pathology is congenital, then childbirth will not correct the situation; only a qualified specialist should treat the disease.

Secondary form

The secondary form of dysmenorrhea is caused by acquired pathologies: scars, adhesions in the uterus after surgical interventions and abortions, hormonal imbalance, infections and inflammatory processes. Too painful regula can bother women of any age, but most often the regula becomes very painful at the age of 25-30.

Most often, secondary algomenorrhea is caused by varicose veins in the pelvic and abdominal organs, as well as inflammatory processes affecting nerve endings in the pelvic area.

Secondary dysmenorrhea often occurs in women who sit on strict diets, due to which anorexia or bulimia develops. In patients suffering from painful periods due to severe weight loss, the structure of the uterine tissue is disrupted, scars and adhesions occur. Also the cause of acquired algomenorrhea are infectious and inflammatory diseases, oncology, endometriosis, hormonal disorders and diseases associated with damage to the epithelial cells of the cervix.

Statistics

70% of women of reproductive age face the problem of painful periods, but only 10% of them complain of unbearable cramp-like pain during their menstrual periods. Statistics say that pain syndrome is complemented by other symptoms:

• 17% of women experience fainting due to pain;
• 23% of the fair sex suffer from dizziness and another 13% from headaches;
• in 84% of cases vomiting occurs;
• 79% of women complain of diarrhea.

Diagnostics

To assign effective treatment, the cause of pain during menstruation should be correctly determined. Diagnostics may include the following research methods:

• examination on a gynecological chair;
• general blood and urine tests;
• microflora smears;
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• laparoscopic examination;
• Dopplerography of blood vessels for suspected varicose veins.

In some cases, you may need to consult a psychologist, endocrinologist and other specialists.

Treatment methods

If painful periods are caused by primary algomenorrhea, therapy most often involves eliminating stress factors, increasing physical activity and getting rid of bad habits. In the second half of the cycle, doctors recommend refraining from active sexual intercourse and heavy lifting. Often, after pregnancy and childbirth, pain due to primary algomenorrhea completely disappears, so it is recommended not to terminate the first pregnancy for women with a similar diagnosis.

Depending on the reasons that caused the development of algomenorrhea, treatment with or without medications may be prescribed, and the doctor may also recommend. Let's look at each type of treatment in more detail.

Medicines

Treatment of painful periods is aimed not only at eliminating symptoms, but also at eradicating the cause of the disease, so it must be comprehensive. Prescription of medications and selection of dosage is carried out exclusively by the attending physician. The following types of medications may be prescribed:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Tamipul, Naproxen, etc.);
• antispasmodics – No-shpa, Spazmalgon;
• combined contraception or drugs containing gestagens (Diane-35, Yarina, Duphaston);
• You should definitely take vitamins, in particular vitamin E;
• if painful regulations are provoked by the proliferation of moderately pathogenic microflora, then they can be prescribed antifungal suppositories and suppositories;
• sedatives, tranquilizers (Relanium);
• homeopathic medicines (Remens, Menalgin).

If algomenorrhea is caused adhesive processes or neoplasms in the genital organs, surgical intervention may be indicated.

Non-drug methods

In the case of primary algomenorrhea in girls in adolescence effective assistance provide psychotherapeutic sessions. To get rid of painful regulations, it is enough to master a special technique of relaxation and distraction.

Physiotherapeutic procedures also give good results:

• acupuncture, thanks to its effect on certain points, not only reduces pain, but also eliminates inflammatory processes;
• amplipulse therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• treatment with dynamic currents;
• electrosleep, ultraviolet irradiation;
• UHF procedures;
• balneotherapy;
• electrophoresis.

Acupressure and general massage, as well as physical exercise, swimming or yoga, will help you cope with painful periods. There is a whole range of specially designed gymnastic exercises which can be done at home.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies and homeopathy also help to reduce pain during menstruation, but they should be used only after consulting a doctor, so as not to aggravate the situation and not waste the time necessary to treat the pathology.

The most famous homeopathic remedy prescribed for algomenorrhea is Remens. Its main active substance are herbal extracts (cohosh, pilocarpus and Sanguinaria canadensis), cuttlefish gland secretion and surukuku snake venom.

Traditional herbalists recommend using an infusion of horsetail or horsetail for painful periods. Other herbs, for example, infused in cold water strawberry leaves or a decoction of mint leaves, chamomile flowers and valerian root. From healing roots in the fight against menstrual pain they use lovage or fragrant celery.

Prevention

To prevent the development of dysmenorrhea, experts recommend adhering to the following rules:

• develop correct mode a day in which there is time for work, sleep and rest;
• choose a balanced diet, during menstruation eat easily digestible foods that are rich in vitamins;
• you need to control your body weight, prevent obesity, but also not deplete yourself with strict diets;
• you need to take vitamins regularly;
• Do not indulge in tea or caffeine-containing drinks;
• avoid stressful situations;
• walk outdoors more often;
• give Special attention motor activity, be sure to do exercises and select sports hobbies in accordance with age and general condition health;
• exclude bad habits that negatively affect a woman’s health.

If preventive actions did not help, and the woman began to experience painful regula, you should definitely consult a doctor to find out the cause of the illness and to prescribe proper treatment. It is strictly prohibited without identifying the cause of painful menstruation. long time also use antispasmodics.