open
close

What causes pain during menstruation. How to relieve period pain

Normal periods are regular bleeding lasting 3 to 5 days. At this time, women feel weakened and tired, although life goes on as usual.

Poor health worsens abdominal pain, which is sometimes so excruciating that it forces you to abandon your plans, drink pills and lie at home on the couch. Too painful menstruation, or dysmenorrhea is considered a pathology. The condition has several causes and varieties.

Functional pain during menstruation: causes and signs

Women suffer from dysmenorrhea for various reasons:

  • Heredity.
  • Excess prostaglandin.
  • Incorrect position of the uterus.
  • Emotional excitability.
  • Adhesions and scars after caesarean section and abortion.
  • Deficiency of calcium and magnesium in the body, beriberi.
  • Sedentary lifestyle.
  • Hypersensitivity of the body to monthly processes.

Primary dysmenorrhea often develops due to the use of an intrauterine device.

Severe pain as a manifestation of secondary dysmenorrhea is characteristic of endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, fibroids, polyps and cysts formed in the uterus, as well as diseases of the pelvic organs of an inflammatory nature.

The main cause of monthly pain is the compression of nerve endings and blood vessels in the lower abdomen at the time of contraction of the muscles of the uterus. Discomfort occurs a few days before menstruation and lasts for the first 24 to 48 hours.

In gynecology, dysmenorrhea is classified by type and degree:

  1. Primary / functional - occurs in adolescent girls and young nulliparous women. It is not associated with diseases.
  2. Secondary / acquired - develops after 30 years on the basis of anomalies of the genital organs and various diseases. Pain is accompanied by tachycardia, hyperhidrosis, cardiac arrhythmia, migraine.
  3. Compensated - pain during menstruation is always the same. They have been consistent over the years.
  4. Decompensated - every year the pain intensifies.

The degree of dysmenorrhea has zero, first, second and third. Zero and first degrees are characterized by minor discomfort that can be easily experienced or, in extreme cases, relieve pain during menstruation with a pill.

The second and third degrees of dysmenorrhea are more problematic. Women complain of general weakness, nausea, irritability, chills, dizziness. In special cases, vomiting opens, the temperature rises, fainting occurs. Patients lose their ability to work and need medicines.

Simple ways to relieve period pain

Moderate pain with a regular cycle and normal blood loss during menstruation can be reduced independently in the simplest ways. If the doctor has not found pathologies, at home you can do the following:

  • Take a warm shower to dilate blood vessels and relax muscles.
  • Make the lower back and abdomen, imitating the course of the hour hand.
  • Lie down on your side for a while, pulling your legs up to your stomach.
  • Do yoga or do body twists and turns.
  • Apply ice over clothing if the pain is accompanied by heavy bleeding.
  • Rub a mixture of essential oils into the skin of the abdomen (sage and yarrow - 5 drops each, St. John's wort - 50 ml).


Swimming will help relieve monthly pain. Small swims relax muscle and nervous tension and contribute to the production of endorphins - hormones of joy and happiness.

If it is not possible to visit the pool, a few days before the start of menstruation, you need to allocate more time for walking. The feasibility of exercising in the gym should be discussed with a specialist, because some women are contraindicated.

Aromatherapy is able to eliminate dysmenorrhea. How to relieve period pain in this way:

  1. Fill the tub with warm water.
  2. Arrange burning candles around the perimeter.
  3. Add some aromatic oil.

Contact with warm liquid and inhalation of enchanting vapors gives an analgesic and relaxing effect.

With dysmenorrhea, the body needs calcium. Pharmaceutical vitamins E, B6, D3 in the form of dragees and injections will help to fill the deficiency of a substance in the body.

Pills for painful periods

If the above methods worked poorly or did not work at all with painful periods, you should consult a doctor and find out. There is no single answer here, since the causes and symptoms are eradicated with the help of drugs from different groups.

Sedatives

If problem periods are associated with neurosis or increased psycho-emotional stress, sedatives from a pharmacy will come to the rescue:

  • Relanium.
  • Trioxazin.
  • Tincture or tablets with valerian extract.


Hormonal contraceptives

Primary dysmenorrhea is successfully treated with hormonal contraceptives. Patients are prescribed Dufaston, Ovidon, Triziston, Antiovin, Yarina, Diana-35.


Some women successfully use IUDs, birth control patches, hormonal injections, and vaginal rings to relieve pain in the lower abdomen. In order for the impact of these funds to be as effective as possible, you should consult a gynecologist.

Antispasmodics, NSAIDs and analgesics

Severe pain syndrome, which persists despite the use of sedatives and contraceptives, is well relieved by antispasmodics. The most common are No-shpa (analogues of Drotaverine hydrochloride and Papaverine) and Spazgan. A single dosage of No-shpy is equivalent to two tablets. The frequency of admission during the day - up to 3 times.

Butadion, Ketanov, Ibuprofen for menstrual pains are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.


It is better to take them in the premenstrual period. Medicines will prevent pain. However, they should not be used for stomach ulcers.

What pills are still suitable for correcting the painful cycle:

  1. Ketonal.
  2. Nise.
  3. Aspirin.
  4. Diclofenac (found in the form of tablets and suppositories).
  5. Paracetamol - works great for menstrual pain, but gives side effects on the nervous and digestive systems, like other NSAIDs.

Physiotherapy

UHF and electrophoresis are physiotherapy methods that find their use in dysmenorrhea.

The procedures are not carried out during the menstrual period, but a little earlier. A specialist applies novocaine and sodium bromide to the patient's stomach, after which heating and anesthesia take place. The effect is achieved by exposure to ultrasound or electrical impulses.


Other types of physiotherapy are also allowed - bloodletting using leeches (hirudotherapy), reflexology, acupuncture, therapy with medical cups.

In order for the critical days to pass painlessly, you should change the diet. It is useful to eat chocolate and foods fortified with magnesium and calcium. Foods that provoke bloating and large amounts of sugar are contraindicated.

Traditional medicine recipes

But here it is important to take into account contraindications to the use of phyto-raw materials, since even the most useful plant sometimes causes unpredictable reactions of the body. Cooked infusions are recommended to drink warm, slowly and in small sips.


Recipes for water infusions of medicinal herbs for dysmenorrhea:

  • Celery. 0.5 tsp seeds hold for 8 - 10 hours in a glass of boiled warm water. Take half an hour before meals. Single dosage - 1 tbsp. l. The frequency of admission is 4 times a day.
  • Mint, Valerian and Chamomile. The ratio of components is 3: 3: 4 (leaves, roots, flowers). 1 st. l. Pour a glass of boiling water over the phytocollection and drink the infusion hot several times a day.
  • Elecampane. Grind the roots and select 1 tsp. Pour a glass of water and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Next, the broth must be insisted under the cloth for 4 hours and drunk twice a day for half a glass.
  • strawberries. Mix the leaves of a forest plant with water (½ tbsp per 1 cup of cold but boiled water) and insist for 8 hours. Drain the drug through gauze and drink 1-2 times a day, 100 ml. You can make a decoction by simmering 1 tbsp. l. crushed strawberry leaves in 200 ml of water. The broth will be ready in half an hour. You can drink it three times a day with a single dosage of 2 tbsp. l.
  • Calendula. Fold in a half-liter jar 3 tbsp. l. dried flowers, pour boiling water and close the lid for a couple of hours. Use a warm douche for a course of 3 to 5 days. Do the procedures daily 2-3 times.
  • Stone berry. Mix the berries or the green part of the plant with water at the rate of 1 tsp. for 200 ml of water. After 2 hours of infusion, drain the liquid from the thick and consume 3 times a day for ½ cup.
  • Horsetail. Brew in a teapot 1 tbsp. l. herbs (use 300 ml of water). With abundant painful periods, drink herbal tea every 2 hours at a dosage of 50 to 100 ml. As you feel better, reduce the scheme to 3 tbsp. l. distributed at different times of the day.
  • Water pepper. Grind the raw materials and pour over with boiling water (1 tablespoon per glass). After an hour, strain the drink and take no more than 3 times a day, 1 tbsp. l.
  • Cucumber lashes. Boil dry crushed raw materials and water (50 g per half liter) for 5 minutes. During the day, take the drug 3 times in half a glass.
  • Melissa officinalis. Pour the crushed greens with boiled water (2 tablespoons for 2 cups). After 2 hours, start using the product. Scheme - 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals, ½ cup.

With dysmenorrhea and other disorders in the gynecological part, tampons with sea buckthorn oil can be placed in the vagina. The course of therapy is designed for 10 - 14 days.

Consider three popular ways to treat painful periods using stinging nettle:

  1. Grind nettle leaves into a pulp or squeeze juice out of them. Place the product on a swab and insert into the vagina.
  2. Nettle pharmacy extract should be taken half an hour before meals 2-3 times a day. Pre-dilute 40 ml of tincture in ¼ cup of water.
  3. Squeeze out the juice from the green part of the plant and mix with water in a ratio of 1 tsp. for 50 ml. The drug gives a hemostatic effect. It is supposed to be consumed 20 minutes before meals three times a day.

Prevention of dysmenorrhea

If you often suffer from dysmenorrhea and are constantly on the lookout for a solution to relieve your period pain, there are a few things you can do to learn and follow.

Blood loss depletes the body, and it needs to replenish vitamin and mineral reserves. Take vitamin complexes, and then menstruation will be easier.


Food - vegetable oils, vegetables, fruits, nuts will help to replenish the lost nutrients.

Coffee lovers should stop drinking large amounts of coffee and tea on critical days. Caffeine increases pain and other discomforts. Limit the drinking of tea and coffee, and even better - generally abandon them for a week, preferably a few days before the start of bleeding.

Bad habits, stress and nervous stress also interfere with the female body to perform the menstrual function normally. It is advisable to protect yourself from everything that worsens your well-being on menstrual days, and maintain physical activity. A healthy lifestyle, a positive attitude and proper nutrition are the key to the absence of dysmenorrhea.

When to see a gynecologist

Severe pain for longer than 2 days signal the development of a gynecological disease. If abdominal discomfort is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, intestinal upset, colic and headache, it is fraught with intense bleeding and anemia.

If the discharge intensifies, and no drugs affect the situation, you should immediately consult a doctor. Severe cramping pains in the lower abdomen during menstruation can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. If discomfort is accompanied by severe weight loss or other cycle disorders, this may indicate the development of a tumor. Self-medication in this case is dangerous.

Reading time: 8 minutes

Pain during menstruation is a common problem that worries up to 80% of women. Some complain of slight discomfort, others of sharp pains during menstruation, the stomach hurts below, in the center or in its entirety. Of course, this problem worries the girls, and they want to know why the stomach hurts during menstruation, and whether this means health problems.

Reasons why the stomach and lower back hurt in “these days”

The reason lies in the physiology of the occurrence of menstruation themselves.

Normally, after the first menstruation, every girl has a cycle: about once a month, one egg matures in her ovaries and enters the uterus, which is ready to be fertilized (ovulation). If fertilization does not occur, it dies, and the task of the body is to get rid of it. For this, nature has invented a special mechanism: at a certain point, the vessels of the uterus narrow and block the blood flow, rejection of the tissues of the uterus begins along with the egg - this is menstrual flow, which is why the lower abdomen hurts during menstruation.

Others are located next to the female genital organs in the pelvic cavity: the rectum, bladder, soft tissues, blood vessels and nerves, which can also cause pain. That is why during menstruation the lower back and lower abdomen hurt.

Thus, pain during menstruation is an acceptable phenomenon, but in some cases it may also be a consequence of pathology. Here is a list of diseases that can cause painful periods.

endometriosis

A disease in which cells from the uterine cavity are brought outside of it, undergoing cyclic changes.

This can be the reason why the lower back hurts during menstruation if the cells have got outside the uterus.

uterine fibroids

This is a benign tumor. It can be manifested by cramping pains in the lower abdomen during menstruation, constant pains in the lower abdomen.

genital infections

An infectious agent can get into the vagina, uterus and ovaries and cause inflammation. This group includes sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and others). These are “silent” pathogens that can go unnoticed for a long time. And sometimes this is the reason why it hurts in the pelvic area during menstruation.

Intrauterine device

Painful and profuse menstruation, a history of the introduction of the IUD. Intrauterine synechia are adhesions that solder the walls of the uterus together and cause its deformation. Manifested by painful menstruation, constant pain in the lower abdomen, a decrease in the amount of blood lost during menstruation and its duration, a history of abortion, childbirth, intrauterine manipulation.

Diseases of other pelvic organs

Pathology can affect the bladder and colon, which are located next to the genitals, which is why pain occurs.

Treatment

It is worth noting that not every case of abdominal pain during menstruation requires treatment, this is an acceptable phenomenon that you need to learn to live with. What to do with pain during menstruation, which do not cause severe discomfort and are tolerable, is to try to refrain from pills.

In the event that spasms interfere with work and lead a normal life, antispasmodics can be taken (“No-shpa”, “Drotaverin”, “Spasmalgon”, etc.). When diseases are detected, special treatment is used.

Doctor's advice

For any pathological conditions, including pain during menstruation, you should always seek the advice of a gynecologist. Any problem always has a solution, if we are talking about organic pathology, the sooner treatment begins, the higher the chance for its effectiveness

uterine fibroids a huge number of women suffer, moreover, the incidence increases with age. And in many cases, fibroids are not treated in any way, but observational tactics are used: often after menopause, they disappear on their own. In the reverse situation, hormones and surgery are used. read here.

urinary tract infections treated with appropriate antibiotics. The correct treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor, after receiving the results of the tests.

Intrauterine device- removal from the uterine cavity, synechia of the uterine cavity - hysteroscopy.

A gynecologist deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the female organs.
You can ask a gynecologist a question online and get an answer for your specific problem.

Pills for stomach pain with prices

At the moment, there is a wide range of painkillers on the market, differing in the type of action and cost, which is why it is not easy to choose the right ones among them. Below are pills for abdominal pain during menstruation, which can be used to relieve algomenorrhea.

Name of the drug

Price, rub.)

Papaverine

Diagnostics and examinations

An examination for algomenorrhea includes the following manipulations: consultation and examination by a gynecologist.
A manual examination can detect changes and volumetric formations of the abdominal organs, and with the help of mirrors, the doctor will assess the condition of the cervix.

A smear from the vagina and cervix diagnoses infections and tissue degeneration.

  • Ultrasound of the pelvic organs will detect changes in deeply located tissues.
  • Blood, urine and stool tests are ordered to assess the general condition of the body and the presence of infection.
  • CT and MRI allow you to visualize all organs in detail and find pathology.
  • To clarify the diagnosis, the following can also be prescribed: curettage of the uterine cavity, fibrocolonoscopy, laparoscopy and other methods.

Prevention

Specific prophylaxis is not carried out.

Risk factors:

  • early age of menarche;
  • long periods;
  • smoking (active, passive);
  • family history;
  • hypodynamia;
  • frequent stressful situations in the family;
  • frequent changes in life;
  • low socio-economic status.

Healthy lifestyle counseling (smoking cessation,
moderate physical activity, avoidance of stressful situations).

Most often, painful periods are primary dysmenorrhea, that is, discomfort does not arise due to illness, but by itself. If you are healthy, but you are in pain, then prostaglandins are to blame for the malaise - these are mediators that increase the sensitivity of pain receptors. They are produced in the lining of the uterus during menstruation. Because of them, the uterus contracts to quickly remove blood and endometrium.

When there are a lot of prostaglandins and the uterus contracts strongly, pain appears in the lower abdomen, which resembles convulsions.

Sometimes back pain is added to these sensations. Prostaglandins also affect the contraction of smooth muscles in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, so these substances are responsible for nausea and diarrhea during menstruation.

What other causes cause pain?

If the pain begins suddenly, then you need to examine the genitourinary system and organs that are located nearby. Perhaps the real cause of discomfort is diseases such as:

  1. Endometriosis.
  2. Inflammation of the bladder (cystitis).
  3. Myomas, fibromas and other tumors.
  4. Inflammatory diseases in the pelvic organs.
  5. Intestinal diseases.

With painful periods, any of these diseases can join the increased production of prostaglandins. Therefore, if the pain has become stronger than usual, lasts longer than three days, the cycle has broken, unusual discharge has appeared, or consult a doctor with these symptoms.

What tests to take to understand that this is not a dangerous disease?

You need an examination by a gynecologist (at the same time, the doctor can take smears, including hidden ones), as well as an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs.

This is enough to draw conclusions about health and treat either the disease or dysmenorrhea.

If, upon examination, the doctor does not find anything, and the pain during menstruation is severe, does not go away with bleeding, and the prescribed treatment does not help, then a diagnostic operation will be required to find or exclude endometriosis.

Why does it hurt me, but my friend endures menstruation without problems?

You were unlucky. No one can say for sure why some women have heavier periods than others. This is a feature of the body that needs to be dealt with.

What pills can save yourself?

First aid - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs. These are fairly safe painkillers, sold without a prescription and in a variety of combinations.

Anti-inflammatory drugs do more than just numb the pain. They reduce the production of prostaglandins, the very ones that are to blame for everything.

It makes no sense to immediately rush for funds with a complex composition. Ordinary ibuprofen may help. There are also stronger drugs - indomethacin, ketoprofen. All drugs have contraindications. Women who have stomach problems should be especially careful. To take NSAIDs in these cases, you need to consult a doctor who will select the drug.

But antispasmodics help with dysmenorrhea worse (if they help at all), because they do not affect the cause of the pain.

Will birth control pills help?

Hormonal orals create an artificial menstrual cycle with their own hormonal levels. At the same time, the endometrium becomes thinner so that a fertilized egg cannot attach to it. And since this layer is thinner, then there are fewer prostaglandins in it. Therefore, contraceptive pills are often prescribed for painful periods. Painful menstrual periods.

If the doctor advises pills, try to choose modern drugs with minimal side effects and check if you have any contraindications.

Therapy is not limited to pills: hormonal coils or perform the same tasks.

Than to be treated, except for tablets?

There are methods that help to make it easier to endure pain during menstruation. Unfortunately, it is impossible to say for sure that they will help: everyone has their own reactions. Try everything in turn, focus on your own state and listen to the sensations.

  1. Warmly. The best option is to get under the covers and sit with a mug of hot tea, you can even apply a heating pad to the lower abdomen, but this is not always possible. If you need to get out of the house and do business, dress warmly. Choose clothes that do not create discomfort in the abdomen: tight jeans and belts that cut into the body will wait a few days. The warm shower also works.
  2. Sport. You need to go in for sports for prevention, and when it becomes difficult, do light exercises for muscles and stretching.
  3. Acupuncture. There is no evidence that such alternative medicine works. But at least the procedures distract from the pain.
  4. Relaxing massage. It distracts from unpleasant sensations and is generally useful for the body and mind, which also needs to rest sometimes. Massage the abdomen, stroking it clockwise in the area where the pain is felt.
  5. Comfortable posture. If it is possible to lie down, then try to raise your legs higher or lie on your side with your knees bent.
  6. To give up smoking. Quit for good, not just for the days when you feel pain.
  7. Vitamins and trace elements. Also not an absolutely reliable method, but it is possible that supplements with vitamins B6, B1, E, magnesium and calcium will help you Menstrual cramps: Lifestyle and home remedies.

Is it possible to get rid of pain once and for all?

Not as long as you have your period. Although there are surgeries Patient education: Painful menstrual periods (dysmenorrhea) which destroy the nerves in the uterus. The effectiveness of such treatment is low, but there are risks.

Will the pain decrease after childbirth?

There is no guarantee that the pain will go away after childbirth, despite the fact that many doctors for some reason advise childbirth as a remedy for many gynecological problems.

Some women notice that the pain decreases with age and after childbirth, but not everyone can count on it. Perhaps the pain will remain with you until the menopause.

Many women experience discomfort during menstruation. Dysmenorrhea is a feeling of pain in the lower abdomen with bloody discharge. The disease is a deviation, since during menstruation the uterine inner layer is removed. The organ contracts and discomfort appears. If the pain is of moderate or mild severity and passes quickly, there is no cause for concern. But severe discomfort can indicate the presence of a serious illness. Therefore, it is necessary to know why the stomach hurts during menstruation.

There is often discomfort during menstruation.

Discomfort arises due to physiological characteristics. The causes of abdominal pain during menstruation, not related to pathology, are listed in the table.

NameDescription
Primary dysmenorrheaPain occurs in young girls at the onset of the first menstruation. May continue until fertilization. With age, the pain sensations weaken.
Discomfort appears due to the active contraction of the muscle tissue of the uterus with the advent of menstruation. There is a narrowing of the vessels in the genital organ and a decrease in blood flow to the tissues. Because of this, oxygen starvation and the release of biologically active substances begin. They, in turn, affect the occurrence of menstrual pain.
Feature of the location of the uterusWith a deviation, pressure is exerted on the nerve plexuses, so there is a stabbing pain that radiates to the lower back.
Physical activityPain may occur at the onset of menstruation, but it resolves within 24 hours.
Hormone levelsWith an increase in the number of prostaglandins, the uterus contracts. A woman experiences pain and nausea during menstruation.
BloatingThe uterus enlarges under the influence of progesterone. Sometimes a change in size occurs due to the presence of excess fluid in the body.
bowel disorderWith the onset of menstruation in the first 2 days, loose stools and pain appear due to an increased amount of prostaglandins, which have a relaxing effect on the intestines and uterus.
stressful situationsViolation of the nervous system is characterized by pain during menstruation.

If pain occurs due to physiology, they should be easily stopped by taking painkillers. If you experience severe pain and profuse discharge, it is recommended to make an appointment with a specialist.

You can relieve the attack by taking painkillers

What pathologies can be

In medicine, the main diseases have been identified, as a result of which there is pain during menstruation. Possible pathologies:

  • cystitis;
  • endometriosis;
  • inflammation in the organs of the reproductive system;
  • cyst.

Cystitis

There are acute and chronic forms. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the bladder. As a result, urination is difficult, pain in the lumbar region appears, the temperature rises, and general weakness of the body occurs. With cystitis, discomfort appears in the lower abdomen on the left side.

The disease can occur due to the following factors:

  • hypothermia;
  • non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;

Inflammation of the bladder often causes severe pain
  • the presence of an inflammatory process in the genitals;
  • neglect of hygiene before and after sexual contact.

The disease is treated with antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), washing with an antiseptic.

endometriosis

With this disease, large fragments depart from the uterine mucosa during menstruation, and discomfort may appear. Endometriosis is characterized by pain and nausea. As additional symptoms, there is discomfort in the lumbar region, general weakness. With endometriosis, pain can occur in the lower abdomen on the left side during menstruation.

The disease appears due to:

  • abortion abuse;
  • problems during childbirth;
  • changes in the work of hormones;
  • neoplasms;
  • violations of the vaginal microflora.

The disease is treated with surgery. The disease is prone to relapse (recurrence).


Endometriosis can also cause pain.

Inflammatory process in the appendages

Adnexitis is a lesion of the fallopian tubes and ovaries. When the disease occurs pain in the lower abdomen at the beginning or end of menstruation. The disease is also characterized by the following symptoms:

  • abundant cycle;
  • in the intervals between menstruation, a viscous mass with pus is released from the vagina;
  • during sexual contact pain appears (chronic stage);
  • decreased libido (acute adnexitis);
  • body temperature rises to a high value;
  • dizziness;
  • weakness.

In the chronic form, there is a high probability of pregnancy outside the uterus. This is due to the adhesion of the fallopian tube. A fertilized egg cannot fully migrate to the uterus. It remains in the tube and an ectopic pregnancy develops. In this case, menstruation can go on and the woman is unaware of the state of her health. In this case, the source of pain is inflammation in the appendages. Due to the fact that the tube is stretched under the action of the fetus, it may be ruptured. A characteristic symptom is a sharp pain in the abdomen.

The disease is treated with antibiotics, hormones, NSAIDs. An ectopic pregnancy is removed with medications or surgical intervention is performed.


Inflammation of the appendages is also a common cause of pain.

Cyst

This is a benign tumor in the ovaries. Very rarely, a cyst is malignant. The disease occurs as a result of an abortion or an irregular sexual life. Increases the likelihood of pathology inflammatory process in the genitals. In the presence of a cyst, pain with contractions may occur.

With a disease, on the first day of menstruation, a woman's life is disturbed, and she is forced to observe bed rest. Due to physical activity, there may be a rupture of the cyst and urgent medical attention will be needed.

The tumor is removed by surgery. Very rarely, the treatment is another way.

When to See a Doctor

Pain during menstruation may be a sign of a serious pathology or associated with physiological causes. In any case, it is better to sign up for a consultation with a gynecologist to find out the reasons.


For any suspicious symptoms, contact your varch

There are cases when a specialist needs to be visited urgently:

  • possible pregnancy;
  • the duration of pain and menstruation for more than a week;
  • the appearance of pain for the first time;
  • the pain is severe and unbearable;
  • the woman's body temperature has risen to a high value;
  • along with discomfort appeared copious discharge.

How drug therapy works

Most often, women use antispasmodics or NSAIDs to eliminate unpleasant symptoms. It is not advisable to use only them, since they do not treat the cause, but relieve pain, therefore it is necessary to use complex therapy.

To get rid of pain in the abdomen during menstruation, the following groups of drugs are most often used:

  • Contraceptives for oral use. Contraceptives help to reduce the manifestation of discomfort. After a few months of use, the pain that occurs during menstruation disappears.

It is recommended to take a sedative, for example, Novo-Passit
  • Sedatives. If a woman is often nervous, she may have pain during menstruation. The condition is treated with the use of sedatives, for example, tincture of valerian or motherwort, Novo-Passit, Afobazole, Tenoten.
  • Painkillers or antispasmodics. You can use pills to eliminate pain during menstruation. Ibuprofen (Nurofen), Indomethacin, Diclofenac are suitable as NSAIDs. Spasmalgon can be attributed to antispasmodics.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that strong drugs (Ketanov) must be discarded, as they irritate the mucous membrane of the internal organs and this can lead to additional diseases.

How to relieve pain at home

In addition to medications, other therapies can be used. The following procedures are suitable for the home:

  1. Applying a warm heating pad. If it hurts in the lower abdomen during menstruation, you can use a plastic bottle. In heat, the uterus contracts less intensively and it relaxes.
  2. Warm bath. An effective method of eliminating pain during menstruation. The bath provides muscle relaxation and soothing. For these purposes, you can use a warm shower.
  3. Physical exercise. If a woman is in a sitting position for a long time, blood stagnates in the pelvic area and pain appears. Therefore, it is necessary to devote time to physical activity. But you should not be zealous with sports.
  4. Yoga classes. During exercise, the organs of the genitourinary system are toned. If a woman engages constantly, there is the possibility of resorption of adhesions, stimulating ovulation. In addition, yoga helps to reduce muscle tension during the onset of menstruation.

You can alleviate the condition with a heating pad

In addition to procedures, you must adhere to the rules of nutrition. Avoid junk, fried, salty, smoked foods. It is better to add more vegetables and fruits to your diet. 2 - 3 days before the expected menstruation, harmful foods should be replaced with broths, cereals, juices.

Hypothermia should also be avoided. This means that you can not walk in the winter in a short skirt. Temperature fluctuations can affect the appearance of abdominal pain during menstruation.

Are there any preventive measures

In order to reduce the likelihood of dysmenorrhea, it is recommended to follow preventive measures:

  • give up alcoholic beverages on the days of menstruation;
  • avoid stressful situations and hypothermia;
  • do yoga and move more;
  • follow the rules of personal hygiene.

You need to reduce your intake of sugar and foods that increase bloating. Food containing chocolate (stimulates the production of endorphins), calcium, and magnesium will be useful.

After watching this video, you will learn about the causes and methods of treating menstrual pain:

Pain during menstruation can occur due to physiological characteristics or be a symptom of a serious illness. In any case, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist for advice. You should not self-diagnose. The specialist will carry out the necessary procedures to understand what causes discomfort, and also prescribe medications to reduce abdominal pain during menstruation.

Normal periods come regularly and last 3-5 days. These days, a woman quickly gets tired, feels unwell. However, this does not cause too much discomfort, does not interfere with the usual way of life. However, some feel severe pain in the abdomen. Sometimes it is so painful that a woman is forced to abandon all business, stay at home, drink painkillers. Such pain during menstruation is a sign of pathology. The cause may be diseases and hormonal disorders. It is impossible to endure and hope that the malaise will pass by itself. You have to go to the doctor.

Content:

When pain during menstruation is considered a pathology

The mucous membrane of the uterus (endometrium) is regularly updated, resulting in menstruation. The removal of dead epithelium from the uterus is carried out by contracting its muscles. In this case, compression of the nerve endings and compression of the vessels occurs, which causes pain in the lower abdomen. Pain radiates to the sacrum and lower back. Usually they appear on the eve of menstruation and in the first 2 days after their arrival.

Painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea) is a pathology. In addition to pain in the lower abdomen and back, there are associated ailments of varying severity. If a woman’s cycle is regular, the nature of menstruation is normal, then unpleasant symptoms quickly pass without causing her any particular torment. In severe cases, serious treatment is required.

Types of dysmenorrhea

There are two types of dysmenorrhea:

  1. Primary (functional), not associated with any diseases. Usually, menstruation becomes painful 1.5-2 years after the onset of puberty, when the cycle normalizes, ovulation occurs regularly. Often, pain during menstruation is significantly weakened after the first birth.
  2. Secondary (acquired), associated with pathological changes in the genital organs and various diseases. It occurs most often in women over 30 years of age. Usually accompanied by vegetative-vascular disorders (dizziness, excessive sweating and others), as well as tachycardia and cardiac arrhythmia.

If over the years the intensity of pain during menstruation remains constant, then such dysmenorrhea is called compensated. If the pain during menstruation becomes stronger every year, then it is called decompensated.

Degrees of dysmenorrhea

There are 4 degrees of dysmenorrhea, differing in the intensity of pain.

0 degree. Pain in the abdomen is mild, pain medication is not required.

1 degree. Pain is moderate, quite tolerable. Natural accompanying symptoms are mild depression, headache, indigestion. The discomfort can be completely eliminated by taking an anesthetic drug.

2 degree. Pain during menstruation is severe, accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, chills, general weakness, migraine, irritability. The duration of the illness increases. Painkillers and sedatives help make you feel better.

3 degree. Severe abdominal pain appears in a woman 2-3 days before the onset of menstruation, continues until it ends. At the same time, the temperature rises, the head hurts a lot (up to vomiting), tachycardia and pain in the heart occur. There may be fainting. The woman is completely incapacitated. It is not possible to improve the condition by conventional means.

Addition: Pain during menstruation may differ in nature (cramping, pulling, aching, stabbing), give to the lower back, hips.

Causes of painful menstruation

Functional pain during menstruation can occur as a result of the pathological location of the uterus, the formation of adhesions and scarring after an abortion, the increased sensitivity of the woman's body to the changes taking place in it, and emotional excitability. An important role is played by heredity. The occurrence of pain can provoke vitamin deficiency and a lack of magnesium and calcium in the body. A sedentary lifestyle is also a cause of progressive dysmenorrhea. Contributes to the occurrence of pain during menstruation and a factor such as hormonal disorders in the body. An excess of the hormone prostaglandin causes an increase in uterine contractions, narrowing of blood vessels.

The appearance of primary dysmenorrhea is facilitated by the use of an intrauterine device. Secondary dysmenorrhea can occur as a result of pathologies such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, ectopic pregnancy, inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs. Severe pain during menstruation appears due to the formation of polyps and cysts in the uterus.

Video: What are the causes of painful periods

How to relieve period pain

If the pain is moderate, the cycle is regular, menstruation is normal in volume and duration, then with the help of some techniques, you can ease the pain.

Recommendation: With severe pain, it is recommended to visit a doctor and make sure that there are no diseases that are asymptomatic. In some cases, chronic inflammatory diseases and even tumors may not manifest themselves. A pain symptom may be the only signal of trouble.

If, after a gynecological examination, a woman does not have any diseases, then at home, the condition can be alleviated in the following ways:

  1. Massage the abdominal muscles in a clockwise direction, which will help relieve tension in them and relieve spasms. It is also good to massage the lower back.
  2. Take a warm shower to help relax muscles and dilate blood vessels.
  3. Lie on your side with your legs tucked up to your stomach (fetal position).
  4. Take no-shpu to eliminate spasm in the uterus, ketonal or ibuprofen (have a strong analgesic effect), valerian (as a sedative).
  5. Do light physical exercises (tilts, rotation of the body). Good for pain relief during menstruation yoga.
  6. Apply during menstruation compresses with sea salt on the lower abdomen. Before and after menstruation, it is useful to take relaxing short (15-20 minutes) baths with the addition of such salt.
  7. Drink soothing chamomile and mint tea (add 1-2 teaspoons of honey to 1 cup of tea). It is useful to take an infusion of parsley, strawberries.
  8. If there is no allergy, essential oil can be rubbed into the skin in the area of ​​the sacrum and lower abdomen. The procedure is carried out 2 times a day 2 days before menstruation and in the first 2-3 days after they start. It helps to relieve severe pain during menstruation with a mixture containing 50 ml of St. John's wort oil, 5 drops of yarrow and sage oil.
  9. In case of pain and heavy bleeding, ice should be applied to the lower abdomen for 15 minutes (over clothing, put in a bag).

Swimming is recommended. During swimming, the muscles relax, nervous tension is relieved. Endorphins (the so-called joy hormones, analgesic substances) are intensively produced in the body.

Video: Exercises for pain during menstruation

When to See a Doctor

Obvious signs of serious pathologies are most often severe pain that lasts a long time (more than 2 days). Moreover, the pain is so strong that the woman is forced to put aside all her affairs and stay at home. Abdominal pain is accompanied by diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Dizziness, headache, stabbing pain in the abdomen can be signs of excessive blood loss and anemia.

Severe cramping pain in the abdomen occurs with an ectopic pregnancy. The woman needs urgent surgery.

When painkillers and no-shpa do not help, the pain and volume of discharge increase, a doctor's consultation is simply necessary. If severe pain appeared during menstruation suddenly against the background of a cycle disorder, weight loss, this may be a sign of a tumor. You need to see a gynecologist urgently.

Drugs prescribed for dysmenorrhea

Menstrual pain affects 90% of women aged 18 to 35 years. Such pains are often intense, so the timely intake of an effective analgesic helps patients restore the rhythm of life and completely eliminate menstrual pain.

Dialrapid is a fast-acting analgesic that eliminates pain of any intensity. Potassium bicarbonate acts as a pH buffer, providing the drug with complete dissolution in water, and subsequently creating a microenvironment around the active substance - diclofenac potassium. It is this microenvironment that promotes accelerated absorption and helps the drug to be completely absorbed by the body. The pronounced effect of Dialrapid shows in the first 5 minutes after application. The powder is absorbed by the body almost as quickly as an injection, and unlike its tablet counterparts, it has a high peak plasma concentration 1 .

To eliminate pathological pain during menstruation, the doctor prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs along with antispasmodic drugs. They are able to suppress the production of prostaglandins, thereby reducing uterine contractility.

For the treatment of dysmenorrhea, oral contraceptives are widely used - hormonal low-dose drugs that prevent the formation of excess prostaglandins. Herbal preparations based on phytoestrogens, which improve hormonal levels, as well as homeopathic remedies of non-hormonal action (menalgin), are also used. Gradually accumulating in the body, they help regulate the menstrual cycle, reduce pain and improve the condition of the nervous system.

Complex preparations containing vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, as well as plant extracts (for example, time factor) are prescribed. It is recommended to start taking medications in advance, before the onset of menstruation. Then, by the time they occur, the required dose accumulates in the body, the drug acts more efficiently.

Physiotherapy methods - UHF and electrophoresis help to reduce pain during menstruation. In this case, the procedure is carried out in advance. Before the onset of menstruation, special solutions (novocaine, sodium bromide) are applied to the stomach and exposure to ultrasound or electrical impulses is performed. There is warming and anesthesia.

Prevention of dysmenorrhea

In order for menstruation to be less painful, it is recommended to stop drinking alcohol on critical days, avoid stress, not catch a cold, move more, do yoga. It is necessary to limit the use of sugar these days, foods that cause bloating. It is useful to eat chocolate, which stimulates the production of endorphins, as well as foods containing calcium and magnesium.

Video: Yoga classes during menstruation

1. There are contraindications. It is necessary to read the instructions or consult with a specialist.