Painful periods are difficult to live with. In most cases, the pain is significant enough to affect your ability to perform daily activities at home, school, or work. The advancement in modern medicine has enabled women to find more effective solution against it. However, understanding why painful periods occur is one way for you to learn how to manage it better and find ways to alleviate the pain.
Your knowledge on why painful periods occur, its causes, treatment options, and other ways to deal with the pain can help to improve your overall well being. Thus, you can start by knowing what causes painful periods and you can get more information on this in the next section.
Why Are There Painful Periods?
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There are two types of painful periods and each type has their unique triggers. Primary Dysmenorrhea, the first type of painful menstruation, happens even to healthy women. However, it only comes with the monthly menstruation and is not associated with your uterus, pelvis, or other internal organs.
Meanwhile, Secondary Dysmenorrhea is the second type of painful menstruation that is caused by an underlying disease or any abnormality building up inside or around your uterus. The most common cause of dysmenorrheal in women with this type of painful menstruation is a condition known as endometriosis. This is a condition that develops from a disease process and is difficult to diagnose.
The occurrence of painful periods is very common in girls at their 20’s or early teens. However, the incidence of dysmenorrheal declines when a woman ages. The manifestation of menstrual pain on women in their 30’s or 40’s signals the arrival of menopause. According to health statistics, 10-15% of women who suffer from menstrual pain experience a severe enough level of pain that they are unable to report to work or school, or perform regular duties at home.
Symptoms and Other Discomforts
The symptoms of painful menstruation are typically felt one or two days prior to the first day of flow. During this time, the peak of the pain is also experienced by women. However, the pain eventually subsides as the day grows on or during the duration of her menstruation.
The most common symptom described by women who go through painful periods is a dull, aching cramp on their uterus area and the lower back. According to health care providers, the pain is due to uterine contractions as stimulated by a hormone-like substance called prostaglandins.
Aside from menstrual cramping, there are also other symptoms of painful periods such as the following: constipation, diarrhea, headache, fainting, and urinary frequency.
Dealing with Menstrual Cramping
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The occurrence of menstrual cramping for girls and women suffering from menstrual pain is very common. The level of pain range from mild to very severe. It is also pointed out as the most common reason why women had to skip school or work because the pain level becomes unbearable. Some women (around 10% of those suffering from menstrual pain or cramping) even suffer from it for up to 3 days!
Thankfully, women now have access to medications designed primarily to relieve the pain of menstrual cramps. There are also medications that do not just target the cramps but any accompanying symptom of painful periods. The most common type of medication for this condition are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can either be non-prescription or available via prescription only. If the symptoms of pain and cramping begin even before the day your period begins, it is advisable to begin taking this medication then to prevent the onset of pain and menstrual cramps.
However, you can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen in low doses for mild pain. Make sure to limit the amount of intake per day and if possible only when pain strikes. In case, you experience no relief from taking the medication, try switching to a different medication but keep it at a low dose. For moderate to severe pain, you can take 200mg of ibuprofen four times in a day or until the pain has ceased. Do not take higher doses of medicine unless otherwise prescribed by your physician.
What if Medications Aren’t Enough?
Pain medications or pain relievers offer the most accessible form of treatment for women suffering from painful periods or menstrual cramps. However, there are also instances that even high doses of medications are not enough to deal with the pain. There are alternative treatment options recommended for patients to help them manage the symptoms more effectively.
Here are some options you could try and see if they work:
Hormonal Treatment – This type of treatment for painful periods is recommended for women that do not respond to the intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alone. When hormone is introduced into the body, it prevents the process of ovulation so that the release of pain-causing prostaglandins can also be prevented.
The Pill – Oral contraceptives, or better known as “the pill”, is also considered as another effective and affordable way to alleviate menstrual pain. Taking pills prevent ovulation, which also produces the same effect as the treatment suggested above. However, there are a lot of controversies surrounding the intake of oral contraceptive pills as treatment for painful periods, especially in teenage girls.
If the pain continues to exhibit itself even after the above options for treatment are used, it is important to visit your physician. You will undergo an exam to ensure that you do not exhibit the symptoms of Secondary Dysmenorrhea wherein the pain is caused by a disease process. You can also try taking natural approaches to treatment against painful periods.
Natural Remedies
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Painful periods do not require extreme medical attention. In fact, there are several natural remedies that have proven to be effective in alleviating the pain or getting rid of the symptom. This is a safer approach in treating painful menstruation as opposed to taking medicines or undergoing medical treatment. Opting to go for natural treatments also help to avoid common side effects.
Stress and anxiety are two psychological conditions that make painful periods worse. Hence, the simplest way to get rid of these symptoms and similar conditions associated with your menstruation is to manage stress and anxiety, whether at home or in the workplace. Living a healthier life free from stress is a good start to battling painful periods.
Exposing your body to some form of heat is also highly therapeutic and is recommended for women suffering from menstrual pain. You can wear a heating pad in the abdominal area or take a warm bath. Either way, you can experience instant comforting relief from the pain.
Finally, exercising is your simplest and most effective way to combat painful periods. A woman who exercises regularly is at lesser risk for having menstrual pain than a woman who does not exercise at all. In fact, doctors and health experts believe than instead of allowing yourself to be consumed by the pain of menstrual cramps that you should go on with your daily physical activities at home. Engaging in a physical activity can help relieve the pain from the cramps. Aside from exercising, you can also try doing yoga, tai chi, or meditation.
Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments to painful periods can help get rid of the cloud on this particular condition. You can therefore combat this condition in a more effective way. It is all about improving the quality of life that you can enjoy which is pain-free and filled with good health, no matter what your age is!
