What Is Menstrual Pain? Root Causes & Remedies To Get Relief
Periods is a common term that every girl starts experiencing at the age of 10 to 15. It is the natural cycle of reproduction. Every month, a woman’s body prepares to produce an embryo to give birth to a new life. Periods occur as a result of no pregnancy.
Menstrual pain, also known as dysmenorrhea, has a significant impact on daily life. It happens to every girl for a day or two. According to the survey, 84.1% of women reported menstrual pain, in which 43.1% experienced pain during every period, and 41% said they do not experience menstrual cramps every month.
The Root Causes Of Menstrual Pain
This part has been classified into two sections; primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea for better understanding. Cramp’s intensity and symptoms are quite different in every woman.
Around 60% of girls report that they feel slight pain in their menstrual cycle. The pain is caused by the release of special chemicals that make stomach muscles tight. The contractions can lead to cramps, pain, or sometimes nausea.
Few women have underlying health conditions. For example, they might have tissues that should grow inside their uterus, but they start growing somewhere else in the body. Another reason for this is a small bump in their uterus that makes their period cycle painful.
Only 5 to 15 percent of women around the world have this serious condition. Plus, it is a curable problem.
General Menses Symptoms
It is a rough process in women’s lives that they experience once a month. Every individual's symptoms and feelings about them vary. We collected a few common menstrual symptoms:
- Cramping
- Bleeding
- Fatigue
- Mood swing
- Breast tenderness
- Headaches or migraines
- Backaches
- Leg stiffness
- Food cravings
Treatment Options
Dealing with pain and other symptoms with daily chores can be frustrating. Many treatments, including natural remedies, can provide relief. Make sure home remedies are effective in mild to moderate period pains.
However, in serious conditions, drugs are a good source to treat menses pain. Consult your doctor and choose which method will suit you best.
Medical Treatment To Get Relief
Menstrual cramps intensity varies in every cycle. Few girls do not bother it as it is bearable for them. On the other hand, it is vice versa. They seek some medical assistance to know how they can get relief from periods of pain.
Here, we gathered a few effective methods for you:
Pain Relieving Tablets
The doctor prescribes different medicines to cure the pain according to the intensity of the pain or the patient's prior medical history. Ibuprofen, Advil, and Panadol are safe options for getting relief in seconds from the worst cramps.
Furthermore, they may upset your stomach, but it is temporary. You are also not allowed to take medicine on a regular basis or take an extra dose for further results.
Birth Control Pills
They suggest having when the couples do not want to have an unplanned pregnancy. It is also safe to have those who are suffering from serious menses pain. They regulate hormones to reduce the amount of uterine lining in your body that builds up each month.
As a result, patients see visible differences in period cramps and bleeding.
Intrauterine Devices
Small T-shape devices called IUDs are also used in the treatment. They are placed in the patient’s uterus to help her deal with pain and bleeding. Moreover, it is usually recommended for women who have heavy bleeding with extreme pain issues.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are generally used to treat bacterial infections. They can be effective in certain conditions, including pelvic inflammatory disease, to avoid period pain. These conditions need to be treated for menstrual pain cure.
Moreover, consult with the health care provider to suspect any condition that can be cured with antibiotics and determine which would be appropriate.
Home Remedies
Few home remedies can also improve women's quality of life during their menstrual cycle. Various remedies have been used over the years to alleviate discomfort and improve overall well-being.
Heat Therapy
It is a simple yet effective method of relieving pain. Apply heat to your abdomen to relax your muscles, improve blood flow, and reduce inflammation. With this practice, discomfort and cramp intensity will automatically decrease.
Methods of heat therapy
Heating Pad: Place the heating pad on your lower abdomen for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. You can change the duration to your comfort.
Hot Water Bottle: This method has a significant impact, and everyone must use it once in their life. Fill a water bottle with hot water and place it on your abdomen.
Warm Bath: Just take a warm bath for instant relief.
Exercise To Relieve Menstrual Cramps
Physical activity is important to maintain overall health, including menstrual pain. Exercise contributes to managing stress, which leads to a healthy menstrual cycle. Cramps occur due to a lack of blood flow. A 30-minute walk, gentle cycling, or yoga increases blood flow to naturally treat the problem.
In addition, the increase in blood flow automatically improves the mood and reduces the feeling of anxiety or depression, as both things can happen during the cycle.
Focus on Diet
A diet full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is a barrier that causes inflammation in the body and mind. Here is a list of foods that you need to take and do not take at this time of month.
Key nutrients you need
- Take dark leafy greens, vegetables, nuts, and seeds to fulfill magnesium needs.
- Red meat, cereals, poultry, and fish will provide you with iron.
- Get vitamin D from fatty fish and sunlight exposure.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are available in fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts.
Foods Need to Limit
- Excessive use of caffeine makes you anxious and worse menstrual symptoms.
- Alcohol is also prohibited to keep your body hydrated.
- Try to avoid giving your body unhealthy fats, which are present in processed foods.
Rest and Relax
Try to give your body maximum rest as stress or hectic routine can trigger pain. 7:00 to 9:00 hours of quality sleep is required. You can also take short breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. Try different techniques in short breaks like meditation or deep breathing to reduce stress and tension.
Plus, surround yourself with positive gatherings, sounds, and smells.
Stay Hydrated
Your body needs an adequate amount of water, even on normal days. Fatigue, headaches, and muscle cramps are the common symptoms of menstruation, and dehydration can also generate such effects. It is also effective in the following regards:
- Replaces fluids
- Reduce bloating
- Supports digestion
Try Massage Therapy
Massage is a body therapy in which a massager cracks the specific points of the body to release stress and depression and increase the functionality of different parts. Massage around the abdomen, side, and back increases blood flow and releases pain.
Make sure that you massage it with some essential oils: rose, final, lavender, and peppermint, which can be diluted with normal oil.