Menstruation is a monthly occurrence for women in which the body sheds the lining of the uterus (womb), which is then passed through a small opening in the cervix and out through the vaginal canal.
Menstrual cramps, also known as dysmenorrhea or period pains, are painful sensations felt in the lower abdomen that can occur both before and during a woman’s menstrual period. Some pain, cramping, and discomfort during menstrual periods is normal.
Menstrual cramps are caused by contractions in the uterus, which is a muscle. The uterus, the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby grows, contracts throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle. If the uterus contracts too strongly, it can press against nearby blood vessels, cutting off the supply of oxygen to the muscle tissue of the uterus. Pain results when part of a muscle briefly loses its supply of oxygen.
When one is about to experience menstrual cramps, they may have the following signs and symptoms:
- Aching pain in the abdomen (Pain can be severe at times.)
- Feeling of pressure in the abdomen
- Pain in the hips, lower back, and inner thighs
- Upset stomach sometimes with vomiting
- Loose stools
However, excessive pain that causes you to regularly miss work or school is not. The pain ranges from dull and annoying to severe and extreme. Menstrual cramps tend to begin after an egg is released from the ovaries and travels down the fallopian tube (ovulation).
The medical term for painful menstruation is dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea occurs in women who experience pain just before and during menstruation, but who are otherwise healthy. Women who have had normal periods that later become painful may have secondary dysmenorrhea. This condition is usually accompanied by a problem affecting the uterus or other pelvic organs.
There may not be an identifiable cause of painful menstrual periods. Certain women are at a higher risk for having painful menstrual periods which include the following:
- being under age 20
- having a family history of painful periods
- smoking
- having heavy bleeding with periods
- having irregular periods
- never having had a baby
- having experienced early puberty, which is puberty before the age of 11
Read: Must Know Reproductive Health Concerns for Women
If menstrual pain is interfering with your ability to perform basic tasks each month, it may be time to talk to your gynecologist about your symptoms. Sudden cramping or pelvic pain could also be signs of infection. An untreated infection can cause scar tissue that damages the pelvic organs and may lead to infertility. If you have symptoms of an infection, seek prompt medical attention.
One can have some home care treatments that may be successful in relieving painful menstrual periods which include the following:
- using a heating pad on your pelvic area or back
- massaging the abdomen
- taking a warm bath
- regular physical exercise
- eating light, nutritious meals
- practicing relaxation techniques or yoga
- taking an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen several days before your expected period
- taking vitamin B-6, vitamin B-1, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and magnesium supplements while reducing your intake of salt, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar to prevent bloating
- raising your legs or lying with your knees bent
If home treatment is not successful in relieving your menstrual pain, there are a number of medical treatment options. Treatment will depend on the severity and underlying cause of your cramps. If your pain is caused by PID or STIs, these need to be treated. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection. Your doctor may prescribe a medication to help with the pain.