What to do with severe pain during menstruation. Fast-acting drugs for stomach pain. Is menstrual pain normal or abnormal?

Menstruation is a physiological process that is inherent in every healthy woman. It is associated with some discomfort and the need to carry out specific hygiene procedures, but 70% of women note not only discomfort, but also real pain. Medicine classifies pain during menstruation as two of its forms.

Primary dysmenorrhea

This term refers to the pain during menstruation, which occurs in adolescence. A distinctive feature of primary dysmenorrhea is that pain does not occur immediately, but 12-24 months after the first menstrual cycle. They can be constant, "seasoned" at the same level of intensity, but they can develop and become stronger from cycle to cycle.

Causes of pain during menstruation in girls

The main cause of pain during menstruation in adolescence is considered to be a violation of the production of hormones, in particular, prostaglandin, which is responsible for the intensity of uterine contraction during menstruation. If the synthesis is disturbed, this hormone is produced in much larger quantities than necessary - hence the pain appears.

An important role in the formation of primary dysmenorrhea is played by a psycho-emotional factor - often girls mentally prepare themselves for the upcoming discomfort and the sensitivity threshold decreases: even a slight pain that cannot be classified as pathological is perceived very sharply. Gynecologists note that primary dysmenorrhea may be associated with endometriosis - a pathology associated with the growth of the uterine mucosa into other organs of the reproductive system. In this case, to join the severe pain and heavy bleeding.

note: pain during menstruation of a primary nature can be caused by various factors and causes - for example, a banal lack of magnesium in the blood. Therefore, a young woman should undergo a complete examination to establish the exact cause of the pain syndrome.

Secondary dysmenorrhea

This is how pains are differentiated during menstruation, which occur in a woman over the age of 30 due to organic changes in the organs of the reproductive system. Secondary dysmenorrhea is characterized by the appearance of pain a couple of days before bleeding and their end at the same time as menstruation. At the same time, a large amount of secreted blood is noted, the presence of clots in the secretions.

Causes of pain during menstruation in adult women

If primary dysmenorrhea occurs against the background of hormonal disorders, then by the age of 30 a woman has already passed the “test” of pregnancy and childbirth - the hormonal background is balanced. Therefore, secondary dysmenorrhea occurs for the following reasons:

• any inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system;
• the formation of a large number of adhesions - adhesive disease, which is a complication of surgery;
• pathological expansion of venous vessels located in the small pelvis;
• benign tumors / neoplasms - for example, fibroids, polyps of the cervix or cervical canal, and others;
• malignant formations;
• endometriosis.

note: the cause of pain during menstruation of a secondary nature can be an intrauterine contraceptive.

Treatment of pain during menstruation

Primary dysmenorrhea is treated only with hormonal therapy - a gynecologist and endocrinologist examine a young woman for disorders in the hormonal system and prescribe corrective treatment with specific drugs. As a rule, pain during menstruation either disappears completely or becomes less intense. Secondary dysmenorrhea is treated only with complex measures - it is not enough to prescribe only painkillers, it will be necessary to carry out a full course of treatment of the identified pathological process.

How to eliminate pain during menstruation: pills and non-drug remedies

Taking analgesics and antispasmodics will, of course, give a good effect - the pain will stop for a while, the woman will feel significant relief. But after all, the constant intake of any drugs, including those with analgesic properties, leads to the development of pathological processes in the liver, stomach and heart. In addition, addiction will develop over time, a large dose of medication will be required ...

In any case, the use of exclusively analgesics / antispasmodics is not an option. You can take some measures to alleviate the condition without medication:

1. Foot bath. Water for her should be hot, but not boiling water! The procedure can be carried out once a day, at a convenient time, the duration is no more than 10 minutes. note: it is strictly forbidden to conduct hot foot baths for those women who, in addition to pain during menstruation, have abundant discharge with blood clots.
2. Alternation of water procedures. It is necessary to carry out a series of sitz baths alternately with hot and cold water. This procedure is permissible twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, it helps to fight congestive processes in the pelvic organs. note: if a woman is diagnosed with a malignant or benign neoplasm, then sitz baths are contraindicated.
3. Diet. If you exclude fats, carbohydrates and sugar from the diet, then the likelihood of pain during menstruation decreases significantly. But keep in mind that it is necessary to adjust the diet a month before the menstrual cycle - this method is preventive.
4. Dry heat. In the area of ​​​​the anatomical location of the uterus, you need to apply dry heat - a heated dry towel, a small bag with heated sand or salt. note: this method can cause profuse bleeding, so if there is a tendency to this phenomenon, any heating procedures are contraindicated.

Knowing that there is always pain during menstruation, you can take some measures as a preventive measure. For example, go in for sports - gynecologists are well aware that overweight women are characterized by pain during menstruation. It is enough to spend a little time every day in the gym, go swimming in the pool, and even regular exercises will give excellent results. If a woman is engaged in sedentary work, then you need to either change your work activity or provide yourself with physical activity.

Treatment of pain during menstruation folk remedies

Traditional medicine recipes that are used to relieve pain during menstruation will not be able to eliminate the cause of the pathological phenomenon. But it is quite possible to significantly alleviate your condition by taking decoctions of medicinal herbs. There are several options for preparing pain relievers:

1. Potentilla goose. Take 50 grams of dry grass and boil the decoction in a water bath (300 ml of water, warming up time - 15 minutes). Then strain the finished medicine, cool and take a quarter cup twice a day for all menstruation. Apply squeezed "cake" to the stomach (just above the pubis) with an exacerbation of the pain syndrome.
2. Elecampane. Take 500 ml of water for 3 tablespoons of dry source, boil everything in a water bath for at least 10 minutes and leave to infuse for 4 hours. Then take the resulting decoction 1 tablespoon at least 3 times a day. The course of admission: a week before the start of menstruation, during them and 2 days after the end of the discharge.
3. Dioecious nettle. This recipe can only be used in spring and summer - the medicine is prepared from nettle juice, which is diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio and taken 1 tablespoon three times a day during menstruation.
4. Ordinary oregano. We prepare an alcohol tincture: take 100 ml of medical alcohol for 20 grams of dry oregano and infuse the finished mixture for 10 days. A week before menstruation and until they are completely over, take 30-40 drops of tincture once a day. note: this recipe is contraindicated in women with diagnosed diseases of the cardiovascular system.

If the pain during menstruation is accompanied by heavy bleeding, then it will be effective to take herbal preparations. They are all prepared according to the same scheme: 100 grams of dry collection is taken, 500 ml of water is poured and boiled over an open fire (not in a water bath) for 20 minutes. Then the decoctions are infused and taken 3 days before the onset of menstruation and throughout them. What herbs can be included in herbal preparations:

1. Potentilla erect, shepherd's purse, elecampane, oak bark, yarrow.
2. Knotweed, white mistletoe, shepherd's purse.
3. Potentilla goose, valerian root, yarrow.
4. Knotweed, field horsetail, centaury.

note: the use of any decoction from the category of "folk medicine" must be authorized by a gynecologist. In some cases, with existing serious pathological processes, it is contraindicated for a woman to take any medications without a doctor's prescription.

Pain during menstruation can be a purely physiological factor, but may indicate a pathology in the reproductive or endocrine system of the body. Therefore, self-administration of painkillers, herbal decoctions can hide the true clinical picture - the doctor will not be able to make an accurate diagnosis in a timely manner, the woman's health will inevitably deteriorate.

Tsygankova Yana Alexandrovna, medical observer, therapist of the highest qualification category.

Causes of pain (painful menstruation) during menstruation

The uterus during menstruation rhythmically contracts in order to expel everything that has served its time and is unnecessary. In some women, the pain receptors in the abdominal cavity are very sensitive, and they react with pain to any contraction. And for someone, the uterus is tilted back in its own way, and then it puts pressure on the nerve centers, which causes a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, an ache in the sacrum and lower back.

The activity of the uterus and female hyperesthesia in order depend on the hormonal background. With an increased amount of the hormone estrogen, which is more often monitored in women after 30 years, menstruation is not only painful, but also very plentiful and long. If all hormones are jumping, then you suffer both PMS and algomenorrhea at the same time.

The appearance of pain is also associated with a violation of the natural balance in the body between sex hormones (primarily progesterone) and prostaglandins, towards the predominance of the latter. Prostaglandins are specific chemicals that play a key role in most of the symptoms associated with menstrual discomfort. They are produced by the tissue of the uterus and stimulate its contraction. The higher the level of prostaglandins in the body, the greater the force of contraction of the uterine muscle and, therefore, the strength of pain. An excess of prostaglandins can create other accompanying manifestations: nausea, vomiting, headache, sweating, chills, tachycardia.

Heavy menstruation and insomnia and weight loss are sometimes observed with increased activity of the thyroid gland, which regulates the production of hormones.

Menstruation, along with pain in the abdomen, also occurs with an incorrect location of the uterus, its underdevelopment (sexual infantilism), inflammation in the genitals, endometriosis and other diseases, and increased excitability of the central nervous system.

Abdominal pain during menstruation is more common in young nulliparous women, and may be a sign of infertility. In addition, painful periods are observed with intrauterine contraception (IUD).

Gynecologists note that over the past 10 years, the number of girls whose periods are accompanied by abdominal pain has almost doubled. This is due to the deterioration of the environment, the wrong way of life, the wrong diet of girls.

Other symptoms of menstrual discomfort include:

• Pain in the lumbar back
• Pain in the legs
• Nausea
• Vomit
• Stool disorder (diarrhea)
• Weakness
• Increased irritability

Algodysmenorrhea can be primary and secondary

Painful periods caused by underdevelopment, improper position of the uterus and other anatomical features of a woman are called primary algomenorrhea. The same term refers to painful periods caused by endocrine metabolism disorders that are not associated with an organic lesion of the female genital area.

Pain during menstruation caused by inflammatory processes, cysts, fibromatous nodes, endometriosis, intrauterine device (IUD), gynecological and abdominal operations, are called secondary algomenorrhea.

You should definitely visit a gynecologist if:

• Pain during menstruation lasts longer than usual
• Pain suddenly gets worse
• There is more bleeding than usual and the woman has to use more than one sanitary pad or tampon every hour
• There are symptoms indicating the presence of an inflammatory process: fever, chills, sweating, muscle or joint pain, etc.
• There are symptoms that indicate the possibility of an infection: discomfort in the genital tract before menstruation, unprotected sex, unusual discharge, itching, odor, trouble urinating

Call an ambulance immediately if:

• passed out
• Feeling repetitively dizzy when you stand up
• Experiencing sudden, intense pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic region that forces you to bend down or sit down
• Notice pieces of tissue in your menstrual blood, which are often silvery or grayish in color
• There is a possibility that you are currently pregnant (for example, an ectopic pregnancy)

Painful periods - severe pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation - treatment:

Gynecologists do not advise these days to lean on painkillers. If the pain is too strong, then still drink painkillers. Painkillers are best chosen individually, because many of them have side effects.

There are a number of drugs that can relieve pain and restore the cycle without harm to the body in a fairly short time. For example, the Time Factor combined preparation, which combines plant extracts of phytohormonal action, vitamins and microelements, not only delicately normalizes the various phases of the menstrual cycle, but also improves mood, alleviates PMS symptoms and maintains a good mood and performance.

After taking the medicine, lie down for a while under a warm blanket. Try to relax so that the pain is distributed throughout the body, then the stomach will hurt less.

And most importantly - always keep your feet warm, head cold (as in the famous saying)

In addition, papaverine hydrochloride (and analogues of No-Shpa, Papazol, etc.) can be used to relieve pain during menstruation.

You can use diclofenac anti-inflammatory suppositories, one suppository is enough for severe pain during menstruation.

menstrual pain- These are cyclic painful sensations of varying intensity that accompany menstruation. Not very pleasant subjective sensations accompany menstrual bleeding in almost every woman, but not all of them are classified as pathological. These include menstrual pain in the lower abdomen.

In the majority (80%) of women, the period of active uterine bleeding is accompanied by moderate pain, when pulling or aching sensations appear in the lower abdomen. They do not distort the usual rhythm of life, do not require medical correction, do not last very long (usually 2-3 days) and disappear on their own. In addition, in healthy women, moderately painful menstruation does not repeat from cycle to cycle, but is temporary, episodic, and occurs without accompanying pathological symptoms.

Feelings of pain and discomfort during menstruation are explained by the contraction of the uterine muscles. When blood and fragments of exfoliated endometrium accumulate in the uterus, it becomes necessary to quickly free the uterine cavity from them. The uterine wall begins to intensively rhythmically contract, and its contents are evacuated, while unpleasant subjective sensations may appear in the projection of the uterus. The stronger the contraction of the muscles of the uterus, the higher the likelihood of pain.

There is an opinion that menstrual pain is a consequence of an increase in the concentration of prostaglandins in the endometrium and blood plasma. Prostaglandins are complex chemical compounds that have a pronounced biological activity and affect energy metabolism. They stimulate and enhance the contractile function of the myometrium during childbirth. At high concentrations of prostaglandins, the uterus contracts too intensively during menstruation, provoking a violation of the blood supply to certain sections of the myometrium and, as a result, severe menstrual pain.

Before discussing changes in menstrual parameters, it is first necessary to determine which menstruation is “normal”. For most women, the concept of "norm" is consistent with regular menstrual bleeding at intervals of 25-35 days, which last no longer than seven and no less than two days. Physiological menstruation should not be too scanty (less than 40 ml) or excessively abundant (more than 150 ml). Blood loss, as a rule, is distributed unevenly during menstruation: the first 2-3 days are the most "abundant", and then the amount of blood lost gradually decreases. It is the “abundant days” that often pass with menstrual pain, much less often women feel pain throughout their menstrual bleeding.

For convenience, patients are encouraged to measure menstrual blood loss by the number of sanitary pads changed per day. With physiological blood loss, a woman uses no more than 4 pads daily.

Normal menstruation allows moderate menstrual pain in the lower abdomen, which does not prevent a woman from leading a normal life. Severe menstrual pain always signal trouble and require a detailed clinical examination. However, it should be noted that the perception of pain in women is unequal and depends on the individual pain threshold. Therefore, complaints about cannot serve as a basis for a reliable diagnosis without an additional detailed search for their causes.

If menstrual pain does not always signal a pathology, then which of them should be paid special attention to:

- Menstrual pain should certainly be alarmed in case of menstrual irregularities, which include dysfunctional uterine bleeding, (heavy periods with a clear frequency), (irregular bleeding without established time intervals), polymenorrhea (frequent menstruation), intermenstrual bleeding and others.

- If menstruation is accompanied, in addition to pain, severe fever, deterioration in general well-being, the appearance of a large number of dark clots in the menstrual blood, the cause of painful periods is often an acute inflammatory process in the pelvic cavity. As a rule, the intensity of pain against the background of inflammation tends to increase, the pain continues throughout the menstrual period, and sometimes does not stop after it ends.

- The appearance of severe menstrual pain against the background of a delay often makes you think about a possible interrupted pregnancy (including an ectopic one).

- The pathological cause of pain during menstruation is indicated by its appearance before the onset of menstrual bleeding.

- The seriousness of the causes of painful periods is indicated by their constant nature, when the menstrual pains that have arisen (as it seems, without obvious serious reasons) begin to recur every month.

Diagnosis of the causes of menstrual pain begins with the study of complaints and gynecological examination. Sometimes the cause of the pain is established already at the initial stage of the examination, when the patient clearly indicates a provoking situation: exacerbation of chronic inflammation, severe stress, excessive physical activity on the eve or during menstrual bleeding, and others.

Laboratory diagnostics helps to exclude the infectious nature of menstrual pain, determine the state of the hormonal background, and instrumental examination methods (ultrasound, MRI, CT, hysteroscopy, and the like) are required for a more in-depth search.

It should be noted that pain during menstruation is not always associated with pathological processes in the genitals. If the examination of the organic pathology of the genitals is not diagnosed, painful periods are correlated with the physiological process, based on the disruption of the neuroendocrine, metabolic and psycho-emotional systems.

Treatment of menstrual cramps should always be consistent with their cause. The removal of menstrual pain does not mean its cure, therefore, not only painkillers for menstrual pain are used in therapy. It is necessary to influence the cause of the disease and prevent its aggravation.

Causes of menstrual pain

Sometimes painful periods happen due to completely harmless reasons. So, for example, menstrual pain can appear as a result of an improperly organized lifestyle during menstruation, when patients overstress themselves physically: lift weights, go in for sports, and also do work that involves significant physical activity. Hypothermia and colds, stress and significant psycho-emotional stress can increase pain during menstruation. As a rule, painful periods that have arisen for the indicated reasons occur only once, respond well to self-used remedies for menstrual pain and do not recur.

An important diagnostic criterion is the time of onset of painful menstruation. Conventionally, all menstrual pains are classified according to the moment of appearance into primary and secondary.

Primary menstrual pains appear very early - during the establishment of the first menstruation (menarche) or no later than one and a half years later. When examining girls with primary menstrual pain, pathological abnormalities from the genital organs are not detected, but a large number of so-called “systemic” symptoms are always diagnosed, associated with functional disorders in the work of other (non-sexual) systems of the body - nervous, endocrine, psycho-emotional, and so on. .

The most common causes of primary menstrual pain are:

- Endocrine disruptions leading to hormonal dysfunction and distortion of the correct secretion of prostaglandins.

- Mechanical obstacles for the timely evacuation of the contents of the uterine cavity during menstrual bleeding. These, first of all, include congenital malformations of the genitals: incorrect position of the uterus or its abnormal structure, partial or complete infection (atresia) of the cervical cavity.

- Constitutional features, namely sexual infantilism, due to which the muscles of the uterus remain in an underdeveloped state and are not able to properly empty the uterus during menstruation.

- Psycho-emotional. Pronounced stress, prolonged emotional experiences and can change the proper functioning of the brain, including the centers of regulation of the menstrual cycle. Also, stress can change the perception of pain by changing its threshold.

Sometimes the source of primary menstrual pain remains unclear. If the examination of a patient with primary menstrual pain does not reveal any organic or functional pathology, menstrual pain is considered an individual norm and correlated with a low pain threshold.

Thus, primary menstrual pain, according to the cause of occurrence, can be classified into psychogenic (excessive lability of the nervous system and / or astheno-vegetative syndrome), spasmogenic (impaired ability of the myometrium to contract properly) and essential (individual variant of the norm).

Menstrual pains of secondary origin appear against the background of gynecological diseases, which are their cause. Painful periods can accompany infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genital area, fibroids and uterine polyps, adhesions and other ailments associated with organic changes in the organs of the pelvic cavity. Sometimes secondary menstrual pain is provoked by an intrauterine device.

Symptoms and signs of menstrual pain

Primary menstrual pains manifest themselves from the first menstruation or appear in the first one and a half years after their onset. More often they appear in girls and women of asthenic physique, having a small body weight and a labile psyche.

Painful menstruation of secondary origin appears in women 30-40 years old with gynecological pathology, having a history of abortion, prolonged, chronic infectious diseases and surgical interventions.

Among the complaints of patients, pain syndrome is more often mentioned. Usually, pain appears 12 hours before the start of the next menstruation and gradually increases towards the onset of menstrual bleeding, but its duration is not always the same. As a rule, primary menstrual pain is most pronounced in the first 2 to 42 hours of menstrual bleeding, and then becomes insignificant or disappears altogether. The intensity of the pain is also not the same. The pain can be aching, bursting, pressing, or it can acquire more vivid features - it becomes cramping, sharp, radiating to adjacent zones and organs.

It is customary to distinguish several degrees of manifestation of pain syndrome:

- The first, the easiest, degree is characterized by minor pain without concomitant negative systemic symptoms. Usually there are slight pulling, aching or pressing mild sensations for a short time, equal to the period of heavy menstrual bleeding. The patient feels well and continues to lead an active life without taking pills for menstrual pain, however, over time, the pain syndrome may worsen.

- The second, moderate, severity of menstrual pain is characterized by a brighter clinic. Pain is repeated every menstruation and is accompanied by other, systemic, pathological symptoms, and in the case of secondary pain, the patient has signs of the underlying disease. This degree of severity of pain during menstruation can no longer be ignored, as it worsens the state of health and does not allow you to lead a normal life. The patient always has to take painkillers for second-degree menstrual cramps. An important diagnostic criterion that allows differentiating this degree of pain syndrome from others is the rapid removal of menstrual pain with medications.

- The third degree of menstrual pain can be called very severe. The pelvic pains are so severe that they make it impossible for the patient to get out of bed. Systemic symptoms are more intense. No self-administered remedies for menstrual pain of the third degree of severity alleviate the patient's condition.

The cause of menstrual pain is not always obvious, often a large list of diagnostic measures is required to find it. They are carried out until the sources of pain are found.

The examination begins with the study of complaints, general and gynecological examination. More often, patients with menstrual pain are young (under 30 years old), have a specific constitution, emotional lability, and a “exhausted” appearance.

In adolescents, primary menstrual pains are in the lead among complaints in case of menstrual irregularities in combination with.

Systemic disorders accompanying menstrual pain of any origin are conditionally classified into:

- Vegetative: migraine-type headaches, heart rhythm disturbances, heart pain, alternating chills and increased sweating, digestive tract dysfunction, vomiting, swelling of the face and limbs, weight gain on the eve of menstruation, fluctuations in blood pressure, fainting and many others.

- Psycho-emotional: shortness of breath or suffocation, "lump in the throat", frequent unmotivated mood swings, poor sleep, apathy, anxiety and decreased appetite.

Secondary menstrual pains are always combined with the symptoms of the gynecological disease that caused them. The most common secondary causes of painful menstruation are:

— Endometriosis. This complex hormone-dependent pathology provokes the appearance of pain several (5-7) days before the onset of menstruation. As a rule, in addition to pain, smearing dark discharge also appears. Pain with endometriosis continues after the end of menstrual bleeding. Often they subside only towards the middle of the cycle.

- . Formed in the thickness of the uterine wall, they disrupt the contractility of the myometrium, provoking cramping menstrual pain.

— Inflammatory diseases and their main complication is adhesions. Adhesions change the position and mobility of the pelvic organs. With the adhesive process, the pain syndrome is not limited only to the period of menstruation, the pains are permanent, and during menstrual bleeding they only intensify.

When examining a patient's complaints, it is important to find out what medications she takes for menstrual pain and how effective they are.

Laboratory diagnosis is of the greatest importance for secondary menstrual pain. If they were caused by an infectious process, the results of a study of the microbial composition of the vaginal discharge and cervical canal (smear, culture, and others) help determine the "culprit" of inflammation.

Also, as part of a laboratory study, the level of major hormones (LH, FSH, estrogen, progesterone, and others) is determined.

All patients with menstrual pain undergo an ultrasound scan of the pelvic cavity. It allows you to determine the condition of the uterus and appendages, detect pathological formations (cyst, myoma, polyp, foci of endometriosis, and others) and study the condition of the endometrium.

To diagnose the cause of primary menstrual pain, the help of related specialists is often required: endocrinologists, neurologists, therapists, and others.

If the pain during menstruation does not change, they are considered compensated, and if they progress from cycle to cycle, become more pronounced and prolonged, they speak of decompensated menstrual pain.

It should be emphasized once again that if menstrual pain was limited to only one menstruation, and the subsequent menstruation followed it as usual, the situation is physiological and does not require a detailed examination and treatment.

Treatment of menstrual pain

Secondary menstrual pain is never treated in isolation from the underlying disease, because painful periods disappear only after adequate treatment of the ailment that caused them. Any pain reliever for menstrual pain is integrated into the therapeutic scheme, and the main therapeutic measures are aimed at their cause.

It is not easy to treat primary menstrual pains, since they do not have an organic basis, but are associated with systemic disorders. Therapeutic tactics depend on the severity of menstrual pain. The first, mild, degree without concomitant serious systemic failures can be cured without the participation of medications. Mild menstrual pains go away on their own after lifestyle changes, nutrition and reducing the load on the nervous system. To prevent the development of autonomic and metabolic disorders, it is sometimes recommended to take antioxidants, in particular vitamin E.

Since excessive synthesis of prostaglandins plays a significant role in the development of pain syndrome, it is necessary to eliminate it in order to stop attacks of menstrual pain. A group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs successfully copes with this task: Aspirin, Nimesulide, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen and the like. They can be used in different dosage forms - suppositories or tablets.

Medicinal suppositories for menstrual pain are very popular with patients because of their ease of use and quick healing effect. They may contain antibacterial, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory components that enhance the analgesic effect.

When choosing a method of treating menstrual pain, the state of the hormonal function of the body is always taken into account. Often, patients with menstrual pain are diagnosed with hormonal dysfunction, and hormonal drugs are used to eliminate it. Hormonal pills for menstrual pain are selected based on the level of estrogen.

Self-medication of this condition is unacceptable. Randomly selected pills or suppositories for menstrual cramps may relieve pain for a short time, but are unable to eliminate their cause.

Menstrual flow in medical terminology is the process of removing the old mucosa and endometrium from the uterine cavity through bleeding. The beginning of the menstrual period is the first women's day.

At this time, conception is out of the question, since the smooth muscles of the uterus produce strong contractions and, as it were, help the rejection of the spent endometrium. In addition, this process is accompanied by spasm of veins and capillaries and, accordingly, sufficient amounts of oxygen and nutrients are not supplied to all tissues and organs.

Therefore, there is intense pain on critical days. The basis for this course of events are hormones - prostaglandins. If we consider in more detail, then in the course of 25-30 days, the uterus, preparing for fertilization, is saturated inside with many capillaries, the main function of which during fertilization of the uterus is to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.

If fertilization does not occur, there is no need for the presence of this tissue layer in the uterine cavity, and its removal is carried out by the synthesis of prostaglandins. This is a kind of "mini-birth": the genital organ contracts and seeks to free itself from the unnecessary endometrium, somewhat opening the cervix.

How to get rid of female disease? Irina Kravtsova shared her story of curing thrush in 14 days. In her blog, she told what drugs she took, whether traditional medicine is effective, what helped and what did not.

Pain from this physiological process may be present, but if it increases significantly, then you should check with a gynecologist. You can endure such pain, but it is best to eliminate the cause of the increase in pain.

Pain during menstruation

Pain syndrome during critical days is expressed in different ways:

According to medical statistics, the vast majority of women are prone to pain on the first day of menstruation.

The nature of the pain during menstruation

Menstruation- This is a natural process by which a woman's body gets rid of the old one.

Since the process of tissue removal itself is controlled by the nervous system, discomfort and some painful feeling are not excluded, but if this feeling is more pronounced, then there are some disruptions in the general health of the woman.

Normally, mild painful discomfort can begin some time before the start of bleeding, and lasts for two days.

According to the descriptions, pain manifestations are similar to contractions, sharp, aching with a return to the lower abdomen and lumbar.

Degrees of dysmenorrhea

In terms of intensity, sensations are distributed into 4 degrees:

Stories from our readers!
“The gynecologist advised me to take natural remedies. We opted for one drug - which helped to cope with hot flashes. It’s such a nightmare that sometimes you don’t even want to leave the house for work, but you have to ... As soon as I started taking it, it became much easier, you even feel that some kind of internal energy appeared. And I even wanted to have sexual relations with my husband again, otherwise everything was without much desire. "

Causes of painful periods

Why does pain occur? Pain during menstruation may appear due to the incorrect position of the reproductive organs, vulnerability to the slightest changes in the body, strong emotionality, due to blockage of the excretory tract by adhesions and abortion scars.

Also affects heredity, calcium and magnesium deficiency, beriberi and physical inactivity (lack of physical activity).

All of the above can be attributed to interruptions in the synthesis of hormones, with an increase in prostaglandins, impulsive uterine tension increases, and the lumen in the vessels narrows accordingly.

The use of contraceptives, such as a spiral, can also provoke the onset of primary dysmenorrhea. Endometriosis, myoma of the reproductive organ, pregnancy in the appendages, inflammatory, infectious diseases of the genitourinary organs provoke secondary dysmenorrhea. Unbearable pain on critical days is due to the appearance of cysts and polyps in the uterine cavity.

Diagnostics

For any woman, strong pain manifestations turn into a constant oppressed expectation of critical days.

This problem requires a rigorous solution by visiting the gynecological office, passing the appropriate tests for the amount of female hormones, and conducting ultrasound diagnostics.

Also, a specialist may ask to do a scraping of the intrauterine cavity, laparoscopy, dopplerography of the veins and capillaries, visits to other doctors (neurologist, surgeon, psychiatrist).

In addition, the patient is required to continuously keep a diary and calendar of the menstrual cycle.

It is necessary to record the symptoms, duration, and even volumes of discharge. These records will help the gynecologist determine the stage and complexity of the disease. According to the results of the examination, “algomenorrhea” is often diagnosed. Therapeutic measures are associated with the complexity of the diagnosis.

My personal history

With premenstrual pain and unpleasant discharge, it's over!

Our reader Egorova M.A. shared experience:

It is scary when women do not know the true cause of their illnesses, because problems with the menstrual cycle can be harbingers of serious gynecological diseases!

The norm is a cycle lasting 21-35 days (usually 28 days), accompanied by menstruation lasting 3-7 days with moderate blood loss without clots. Alas, the state of gynecological health of our women is simply catastrophic, every second woman has some kind of problem.

Today we will talk about a new natural remedy that kills pathogenic bacteria and infections, restores immunity, which simply restarts the body and includes the regeneration of damaged cells and eliminates the cause of diseases...

What to do with pain on the first day of menstruation?

Here are some ways to eliminate soreness on the initial and subsequent days, provided that the ailment is mild:

• drinking more fluids;
• make active movements (physical activity relieves spasms);
• water procedures with warm water;
• taking quality pain relievers.

But when there is a pronounced soreness at the beginning of menstruation, there is simply no strength to get out of bed, you should immediately contact a specialist. Such conditions indicate significant problems in the reproductive sphere.

Be that as it may, with uncomfortable critical days, it is best to visit a gynecologist.

How to reduce pain during menstruation?

To minimize pain before, during and after menstruation contribute to:

1. Foods rich in potassium and calcium. Deficiency of these substances provokes tension and pain;
2. Surgery or gynecological treatment of reproductive organs;
3. Medicines;
4. Alternative medicine and physical activity

When is it necessary to see a doctor?

Without exception, all women should be aware of situations where self-treatment of severe pain manifestations in the lower abdomen is dangerous:

A similar picture of symptoms speaks of serious diseases in the genitourinary and reproductive areas, these include: tumors, polyps, infectious and pathological development, as well as oncology of the uterus.

Consequences of painful periods

According to natural physiology, the endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus, every month it is replaced by a new mucosa. Getting rid of obsolete tissue is carried out through uterine contractions, and as a result, compression of sensitive nerve fibers and narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels appear.

This is what causes pain during menstruation. Pain involves the lumbar and sacrum. The manifestation of dysmenorrhea in time is characterized by the beginning and the first couple of days of critical days.

Painful periods are not normal. The above ailments are sometimes aggravated by a high degree of manifestation. In the case when the cycle is not broken, there are no prominent signs, discomfort is short-lived. If the pain does not leave, appropriate treatment is necessary.

Treatment

The most acceptable way is to use any medicine with an analgesic effect. However, aspirin and all aspirin-containing tablets should not be taken.

Antispasmodics

Almost all doctors prescribe antispasmodics to eliminate menstrual manifestations, with the following name:

• "Analgin",
• "No-Shpa",
• Spazmalgon,
• "Baralgin",
• "Ketanov" ("Ketorol"),
• "Nimesil",
• "Ibuprofen".

suppositories

Today, suppositories for rectal and vaginal use are also widely used. Candles do not have age restrictions, and if uncomfortable manifestations occur, they are used during menstruation.

Paracetamol in suppositories is the main active substance. By imitating the properties of analgin and due to the anti-inflammatory action, this method qualitatively removes all the unpleasant symptoms of menstruation.

DID YOU KNOW?

The disadvantage of most drugs are side effects. Often, drugs cause severe intoxication, subsequently causing complications in the functioning of the kidneys and liver. To prevent the side effects of such drugs, we want to pay attention to special phytotampons.

Many gynecologists prescribe the following topical suppositories:

• "Efferalgan",
• "Ibuprofen"
• "Diclofenac",
• "Paracetamol".

Since each medicine has contraindications, before using suppositories, it is not superfluous to consult a doctor.

other methods

To eliminate pain during menstruation, you can take:

For the purpose of drug treatment, the gynecologist recommends radically changing your own habits, including eating, resting and starting sports, for further painless critical days.

Non-drug treatment

healthy diet

The manifestation of the painful syndrome is affected by food during women's days.

It works well to include the following foods in your diet:

• sea ​​fish meat,
• sunflower oil and seeds
• peanuts, as well as walnuts, almonds,
• fatty and semi-fatty fish.

All of these foods contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help to reduce muscle contractions.

The additional intake of calcium and magnesium works in a similar way. The daily intake of these elements is 800 and 300 mg, respectively.

Green vegetables, dairy products, dried fruits, legumes and cereals contain a lot of magnesium.

There are also products that stimulate the occurrence of pain during menstruation, by spasmodizing the smooth muscle tissue of the reproductive organ:

• Peppered sauces
• fried foods
• Caffeine
• Alcohol

Physical activity

Minor physical activity is very beneficial during menstruation. Motor loads form a normal metabolism, which in turn has a positive effect on the pain background.

Quite significantly reduce ailments - walking, walking in the fresh air, simple cardio training.

Relaxation Techniques

Nervousness and bad mood at times increase the degree of pain.

In such cases, several ways to relax can help.

It is only necessary to abstract a little from current problems, settle down in your favorite pastime or business, allow yourself a little relaxation and unloading.

Yoga classes can help with this.

Gestagens

Gestagens are essentially a group of hormones synthesized in the human body.

These enzymes stimulate the growth of new endometrial cells in the uterine cavity, relieve tension from the smooth muscle corset of the reproductive organ, and create all the optimal conditions for the synthesis of estrogen.

In addition, they are directly related to the process of fertilization and their insufficiency can result in the inability to have offspring, interruptions in the cycle of critical days, spontaneous childbirth (miscarriage).

In order to prevent initial dysmenorrhea, hormones with active progesterone are applicable, similar to natural enzymes. In such drugs, the main task is to reduce the presence of prostaglandin in the blood, and normalize the cycle of critical days.

The current gestagenic medicines differ significantly from their counterparts of the late twentieth century, now they are more effective and safe, and have practically no contraindications.

Oral contraceptives (COCs)

Hormonal contraceptives are very common for initial dysmenorrhea, especially in women of sexually active age.

Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are considered the most effective in this sense, they contain an imitation of the hormone estrogen.

The principle of their activity is aimed at inhibiting the ovulation process, because of this, a decrease in the amount of prostaglandins occurs, and the painful syndrome disappears.

In addition, there is a decrease in pressure inside the uterine cavity and the frequency and strength of the contractile tension of smooth muscles slows down, which provides pain relief.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

With the existing contraindications and simply unwillingness to take hormone-based contraceptives, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be completely dispensed with. NSAIDs are characterized by pain-eliminating qualities; they are prescribed for use precisely when painful ailments appear.

These drugs work by analogy with the above, NSAIDs minimize the presence in the blood of the root causes of pain, prostaglandins. Medicines of this group are instantly absorbed in the digestive tract, and have an effect for 5.6 hours.

The most common names for the NVPS group are:

• Aspirin,
• ibuprofen
• Ketoprofen,
• proxicam,
• Diclofenac.

Numerous trials conducted in order to eliminate initial dysmenorrhea through NVPP proved that naproxen, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid and aspirin show great results in the fight against initial dysmenorrhea, but ibuprofen among them, it ranks first in terms of the minimum degree of side effects.

Folk remedies for pain during menstruation

In this context, various recipes from herbs and roots are very relevant.

Prevention

Preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of manifestations of dysmenorrhea are difficult to overestimate, but most of the fair sex simply does not use them.

Every woman must visit a specialist once a year.

The initial examination by a gynecologist should be carried out immediately after the established date of the menstrual cycle, but no later than 16 years of age and with the absence of any negative evidence from the girl.

Inflammations of various etiologies that inhibit normal processes in the genitourinary system must be cured in order to avoid complications in the future. This behavior eliminates the possibility of difficulties in the critical days of dysmenorrhea.

Still nulliparous girls, it is strictly forbidden to use spirals for the purpose of contraception. Most gynecologists do not recommend that women use this method of protection and contraception, since it contributes to painful manifestations during menstruation, in addition, it leads to the prospect of the formation of inflammatory pathologies of the genitourinary and reproductive spheres.

Since abortion often leads to mechanical disruption of the uterine mucosa and has a negative effect on a woman's hormonal parameters and her menstrual function, it is best to use high-quality medicines to prevent fertilization.

It is also very important to carry out preventive measures for painful women's days to exclude such severe pathologies as the impossibility of conception, the appearance of neurosis and psychosis due to systematic pain.

When a woman's menstrual period is complicated by pronounced pains, self-medication becomes irrelevant. Seeking a specialist in such a circumstance is very necessary. Through even simple blood tests or a smear, an ultrasound examination, a gynecologist identifies the root causes and determines the method of therapy.

Every woman is familiar with the symptoms associated with menstruation: depressed mood, irritability, discomfort in the chest, cramps and pain in the abdomen. Sometimes the pain in the lower abdomen is so pronounced that it disturbs the usual way of life. Doctors call this condition dysmenorrhea.

Many women have come to terms with pain during menstruation. But such an attitude to such a delicate problem is erroneous, since pain can not only be a natural ailment, but also indicate the presence of a serious illness. Severe pain on critical days should not be ignored.

Menstruation is a process by which the female body is freed from unnecessary waste products.

It is regulated by nerve impulses, so mild discomfort and pain cannot be a pathology. Very severe pain indicates a malfunction in the female reproductive system.

Usually the pain begins to be felt a few hours before the onset of menstruation, and lasts up to two days. By nature, it can be cramping, stabbing, aching and reveal itself not only in the lower abdomen, but in the sacrum and lower back.

Specialists classify menstrual pain according to the following criteria:

1. The pain is slightly expressed, there is no discomfort. Mild malaise, drowsiness and fatigue are possible. 40% of women suffer from this form of dysmenorrhea from the very first menstrual cycle. In 25% of women, this condition manifests itself during life. Doctors do not recommend doing anything with these pains, if they do not grow and do not disrupt the usual way of life.
2. The average form of dysmenorrhea - algomenorrhea, is accompanied by chills, severe abdominal pain, darkening of the eyes, tinnitus, and sometimes fainting before the onset of menstrual bleeding. The activity of a woman at this time is markedly reduced. Many resort to the help of strong painkillers and antispasmodics already on the first day of menstruation, but the pills only drown out the pain, but do not solve the problem. It is recommended to consult a gynecologist and find out the causes of this condition.
3. The third form of dysmenorrhea is very severe. The symptoms of algomenorrhea described above are supplemented by arrhythmia, heart pain, vomiting, and a general disturbance of well-being. Analgesics do not always give the desired result. You need to see a doctor urgently.

Very severe pain before and during menstruation can occur against the background of hormonal disorders, gynecological pathologies, genital injuries, cause a mental disorder, depressive syndrome, and even infertility.

The reasons

Severe menstrual pain can be caused by the following reasons:

• inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs;
• polyps in the uterus;
• endometriosis;
• adhesive process;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• benign neoplasm - fibroma;
• spontaneous miscarriage during menstruation;
• hormonal disorders, increased activity of the thyroid gland;
• the presence of an intrauterine device;
• atypical location of the reproductive organ;
• genital infections;
• increased excitability of the nervous system;
• genetic predisposition;
• lack of magnesium and calcium in the body;
• recent induced abortion or childbirth;
• passive lifestyle;
• improper nutrition.

If the menstrual pain is short-lived, and the pain is not so severe as to disrupt the usual way of life, then everything is within the normal range, nothing needs to be done.

Diagnostics

Examination for painful periods should be comprehensive. The doctor examines the patient on the gynecological chair and palpates the mammary glands.

The most important prehistory of complaints, with which you can identify the possible causes of dysmenorrhea.

After questioning and examining the patient, the specialist may suggest the following diagnostic tests, depending on the suspected cause of the disease:

• Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs;
• determination of hormonal status;
• cytological analysis for STDs;
• hysteroscopy to exclude intrauterine abnormalities;
• laparoscopy to assess the condition of the abdominal organs;
• consultation of narrow specialists: endocrinologist, surgeon, psychiatrist.

Treatment

When choosing an adequate conservative therapy, the specialist takes into account the form of dysmenorrhea (mild, moderate or severe), the nature of the pain syndrome, its causes and the individual characteristics of the patient. Surgical intervention is indicated only in case of severe dysmenorrhea, which is accompanied by pathologies of the reproductive system (tumors, adhesions, etc.).

• giving up bad habits: alcohol, smoking, caffeine;
• normalization of working and rest conditions;
• exclusion of stress factors;
• full sleep;
• a healthy diet that excludes fatty, fried and indigestible foods;
• normalization of weight (it has been proven that obese women are more likely to suffer from painful periods);
• moderate sports, water procedures.

Non-drug therapy is aimed at reducing the intensity of pain during menstruation and reducing the body's need for painkillers. Depending on the pathogenesis of dysmenorrhea, it includes the following methods of exposure:

• acupuncture;
• electrophoresis;
• manual therapy;
• breathing exercises;
• psychological help;
• autotraining.

Drug treatment of dysmenorrhea is based on the use of several groups of drugs that differ in their mechanism of action:

• gestagens;
• oral contraceptives (COC);
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Gestagens have an effect on secretory changes in the endometrium, but do not affect the ovulatory function of the ovaries. Progesterone and its derivatives, as well as testosterone, are actively used. They qualitatively reduce the contractile activity of the uterus, suppressing the production of prostaglandins. They also reduce the excitability of nerve fibers located in the muscular layer of the uterus.

Oral contraceptives have a positive effect on the hormonal background of a woman and normalize the menstrual cycle. They reduce blood loss during menstruation by suppressing the process of ovulation. Also, birth control pills reduce nervous excitability and contractile activity of the uterus, which is why the pain preceding taking COCs is significantly reduced.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to patients who, for whatever reason, do not want to use oral contraception. The effectiveness of NSAIDs is due to their analgesic characteristics, which are associated with a decrease in the production of prostaglandins.

The main disadvantage of these drugs is their short effect - from 2 to 6 hours. The advantage lies in the episodic, and not the constant use of medications, as is the case with COCs and gestagens. It is enough to use NSAIDs with tension before the onset of menstruation and on its first day, that is, only at the time when it is really necessary. The drugs of this group are Ketoprofen, Diclofenac, Nimesil, Mig.

The groups of drugs listed above, at the discretion of a specialist, can be supplemented with such drugs as antispasmodics, tranquilizers, antioxidants, as well as vitamin complexes, herbal remedies and homeopathic remedies.

Traditional medicine for painful periods

You do not need to rely on serious painkillers every time if the pain during menstruation is tolerable. Folk recipes will help soothe even very severe ailments on the first day of menstruation.

Folk recipes:

1. Herbal decoctions based on horsetail and bear's ears have a diuretic effect and successfully relieve pulling pains in the abdomen before menstruation.
2. Tea with chamomile, raspberry, mint and catnip is recommended to drink before and during menstruation. These drinks, known for their sedative properties, help to relax the muscles of the uterus.
3. An infusion of oregano relieves pain during menstruation and spasms in the intestines, which often occur in a woman on the first day of bleeding. To prepare the infusion, you need to pour a tablespoon of herbs with a glass of boiling water. After the remedy is infused, it is drunk before meals three times a day.
4. A decoction of the bark of viburnum also makes life easier during menstruation. To prepare a decoction, four teaspoons of the bark are poured into a glass of water, the decoction is boiled for 30 minutes and filtered. Drink the drug should be before eating a tablespoon.
5. If on the first day of menstruation a woman suffers from a headache, you can prepare an infusion of raspberry leaves. Three teaspoons of the leaves are poured into a glass of boiling water, insisted and drunk during the day before meals in small sips.
6. A simple remedy for pain relief is cold. An ice pack can be placed on the lower abdomen for a short time before and during menstruation. Pain and spasms will go away, as under the influence of low temperature the vessels will narrow. But you need to be careful not to chill the pelvic organs.
7. Heat can also help to cope with pain on critical days. A warm heating pad is applied to the abdomen for a short time several times a day. But we must not forget that this method can increase bleeding, so it is important not to overdo it.

Prevention

Preventive measures to prevent the symptoms of dysmenorrhea should not be underestimated, but for some reason, many women do not attach due importance to this.

A woman should regularly visit the gynecologist's office, at least once a year. The first visit should occur after the established menstruation, but not later than 16 years of age and provided that there are no complaints from the patient.

Any inflammatory processes that occur in the genital area should be treated in a timely manner to exclude possible complications. This tactic will avoid menstrual irregularities and painful periods.

Women who have not given birth are not recommended to use an intrauterine device as a means of contraception. Some experts discourage their patients from using it in the future in order to exclude the possibility of developing inflammatory phenomena in the small pelvis and avoid painful periods, since the spiral has precisely this side property.

Use reliable contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Since abortion leads to mechanical trauma to the uterine mucosa and negatively affects the hormonal background of a woman and her menstrual cycle.

It is also important to prevent painful menstruation in order to avoid such serious complications as infertility, the development of neurosis and psychosis against the background of regular pain.

If the critical days of a woman are accompanied by severe pain, you should not self-medicate. As soon as possible, you need to contact a gynecologist. With the help of a simple examination, the specialist will find out the causes of pain and prescribe adequate treatment.

Useful video about pain during menstruation

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