Menstrual Cramps
During the menstrual cycle, many women experience lower abdominal pain, generally in the form of cramps of varying intensity, which can extend to the back. This condition is called primary dysmenorrhea and it is estimated that about 80% of the female population suffers from it.
Why do we experience these pains?
It appears that prostaglandins, pro-inflammatory substances present in all our tissues, play a key role in women who suffer from dysmenorrhea, as they are involved in uterine and blood vessel contractions, and contribute to making the nerve endings in the uterus more sensitive to pain.
How to reduce the pain?
In most cases, it is possible to treat menstrual pain with various products, from magnesium supplements to vitamin B supplements, to heated patches that can be applied to the lower abdomen to ease uterine cramps. Physical exercise can help reduce menstrual cycle-related pain.
Finally, there are NSAIDs, anti-inflammatory and pain relief medications.
How do they work?
These medications inhibit the activity of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase – COX for short – thus blocking the formation of the aforementioned prostaglandins, responsible for the painful sensation. Among the most commonly used are ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen.
Less frequently, menstrual pain can be incredibly severe, accompanied by strong migraines and nausea, making the menstrual period extremely debilitating.
In these cases, it’s called secondary dysmenorrhea, and often, but not always, this phenomenon is connected to conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or ovarian cysts. Sometimes you may experience bleeding between periods, irregular cycles, pain during sexual intercourse, chronic vaginal discharge, or a feeling of abdominal tension.
Talk to your gynecologist if you experience one or more of these symptoms or if you have any concerns about this topic.
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