Justified Partriarchy & Religious
Everything in Pakistan centers around the ultimate objective of getting marriage and being happy, especially for ladies, no matter how compelling. Fortunately, attitudes toward marriage have begun to shift. Girls are more career-oriented and more motivated towards developing an autonomous entity of their own. Feminism, which first appeared in the United States a century ago, has sparked a few fires here as well.
Your Thyroid Is Out Of Whack
Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. It makes thyroid hormone, which provides the spark for bodily functions like digestion, generation of body heat, detoxification and ovulation. Every single cell in your body needs thyroid hormone.
The most common thyroid problem is when the gland is underactive, which is called hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism interferes with ovulation, which means youll be making less progesterone. And remember that low progesterone promotes inflammation.
Heavy menstrual bleeding can be a symptom of an underactive thyroid. Unfortunately many women with hypothyroidism never get diagnosed because the standard screening test doesnt show the whole picture. I always recommend a complete thyroid panel that includes TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies.
Getting the right thyroid tests can be tricky. Ive had many patients tell me that their conventional doctors straight-up refuse to order a full thyroid panel for them. Its really frustrating, but thankfully you can get a thyroid panel for yourself online.
Treatment Of Painful Periods
Any treatment you need will depend on whats causing your painful periods and how severe the pain and symptoms are.
If you have primary dysmenorrhoea, you may be able to ease your symptoms with over-the-counter painkillers or with self-help techniques such as those listed in the section above. There are also treatments that your GP can prescribe for you.
If you have secondary dysmenorrhoea, your doctor will try to find out what condition is causing your symptoms and will discuss your treatment options with you.
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Why Do Period Cramps Hurt
Prostaglandins act like hormones by getting your uterus contracting and shedding its lining which, you guessed it, causes cramping.
These guys also participate in the pain responses and inflammation of it all. They hang out in the uterine lining and get released when the lining is released.
After they free-fall with the lining, they kick the contractions up a few notches, usually during the first couple days of your period.
Un-fun math equation: The higher level of prostaglandins = even sh*ttier cramping.
If the levels are super high, they may also cause diarrhea and nausea.
What To Tell Her When She Is On Her Period
8 sweet texts every girl expects from her boyfriend when she is on her period! Will be there soon to cuddle you. How are you feeling now baby? Will meet you at 8 with a CD of your favorite movie. Do you want to go shopping? What flavor ice cream do you feel like eating? Do you have sufficient pads? I love you.
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Facts About Period Pain
If you have dysmenorrhoea you are not alone. Around 80% of women experience period pain at some stage in their lifetime. You can suffer from period pain from your early teens right up to the menopause. Most women experience some discomfort during menstruation, especially on the first day. But in 5% to 10% of women the pain is severe enough to disrupt their life. If your mother suffered period pains, you are more likely to suffer too. In 40% of women, period pain is accompanied by premenstrual symptoms, such as bloating, tender breasts, swollen stomach, lack of concentration, mood swings, clumsiness and tiredness.
There are two different types of period pain:
Your Period Often Takes You By Complete Surprise
An unexpected period is a classic annoying menstrual cycle problem. Pour one out for all the times you thought youd have a period-free vacation, only for it to show up right as you hit the beach. Fun! Irregular periods could be due to a number of different things that are in your control, like stress and travel, Dr. Streicher says. But they can also happen because of various health conditions.
Take thyroid issues, for example. Hypothyroidism, which is when your thyroid gland in your neck doesnt produce enough hormones, can lead to an irregular period, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can also cause myriad other symptoms, like heavier than usual periods, fatigue, constipation, dry skin, weight gain, impaired memory, and more. Treatment typically involves taking medication that mimics the thyroid hormone.
On the flip side, hyperthyroidism, which is when your thyroid gland is overactive, can cause light or infrequent menstruation, along with issues like sudden weight loss, rapid heart rate, increased appetite, and more frequent bowel movements, according to the Mayo Clinic.
PCOS and uterine polyps, which we discussed earlier, could be behind irregular bleeding, too.
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Your Life Is Disrupted
If your period pain is so bad that you need to call off work on a regular basis, you should speak to your doctor. The condition is not rare. But its not normal, either.
Depending on which study you look at, between 5% and 20% of women experience painful periods that interfere with their daily life.
Some countries offer a couple days off every month for menstruation. Dont misconstrue this for saying that menstruation should be so painful that you cant come to work. The issue is more complex than that. Its not even clear whether these laws are good or bad.
In 2013, Russian lawmaker Mikhail Degtyaryov proposed that Russia should offer days off for menstruation. He argued that sometimes the “pain for the fair sex is often so intense that it is necessary to call an ambulance. Not exactly a realistic portrayal of menstruation.
If your pain is bad enough to call an ambulance, please call one. Those aren’t period cramps. Something much more serious is going on. In a more likely scenario, if your pain is bad enough to regularly miss work or school, make an appointment to speak to your doctor.
Watch Out For These Five Symptoms
Johns Hopkins gynecologist Mindy Christianson, M.D., says there are five common signs of endometriosis. Heres what you should watch out for:
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What Are The Origins Of Menstrual Cramps
Uterus is an organ with muscular layers, and during your period it does a lot of work. Cramps are the way that uterus responds in order to control the bleeding during menstruation. If you are having a lot of menstrual blood or a blood clot, the uterus is actually cramping to expel that.
For some of you, cramps are causing only a slight discomfort. For the others, the painful period cramps can interfere with your daily activities. So, why do period cramps hurt?
Menstrual cramps can be caused by several reasons. Lets see the most severe of them.
Endometriosis is the abnormal growth of endometrial cells.
Apart from the pain, other symptoms of endometritis include:
- Cyclic pelvic pain
- Defecation pain
- Infertility.
Medicine For Period Cramps
To alleviate menstrual cramps you can go for pharmacological treatment or home remedies. Both have their pros and cons. Medicines work fast and bring relief immediately. However, drugs might negatively impact the bacterial flora of your digestive system. Home remedies, on the other hand, despite their gentler effect on your organism, usually arent enough to combat menstrual cramps.
As far as the former go, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended for severe menstrual cramps. They impede the synthesis of prostaglandins. Such medicines include:
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Paracetamol,
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Ibuprofen,
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Naproxen.
Keep in mind that NSAIDs might irritate your gastric mucosa. They shouldnt be used regularly. At length, they may cause stomach ulcers. Analgesics containing acetylsalicylic acid reduce the pain, but might intensify menstrual bleeding. There are also antispasmodics which might help with menstrual cramps.
In some cases, your doctor might prescribe monophasic hormonal birth control to reduce the symptoms of menstrual cramps. Gynaecological examination should precede such treatment. Additionally, a breast check and medical tests should be carried out.
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How Long Does It Last
Period pain varies between women, although its most common to experience period pain at the beginning of your period, rather than during the middle or towards the end of it.
Some women dont experience any period pain, while others may be in pain for the duration of their period and possibly before it starts and a few days after.
Since period pain is caused by the menstruation process, most women find that their pains are worst when their bleeding is at its heaviest.
Painful periods often ease with age, and a lot of women find period pains get better after they have given birth.
How Long Period Pain Lasts
Period pain usually starts when your bleeding begins, although some women have pain several days before the start of their period.
The pain usually lasts 48 to 72 hours, although it can last longer. It’s usually at its worst when your bleeding is heaviest.
Young girls often have period pain when they begin getting periods. Read more about starting periods.
Period pain that does not have an underlying cause tends to improve as a woman gets older. Many women also notice an improvement after they’ve had children.
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How Is The Cause Of Severe Period Pain Diagnosed
To diagnose severe period pain, your health care provider will ask you about your medical history and do a pelvic exam. You may also have an ultrasound or other imaging test. If your health care provider thinks you have secondary dysmenorrhea, you might have laparoscopy. It is a surgery that that lets your health care provider look inside your body.
What Is Period Poop
If youre having period poops, it means youre experiencing diarrhea, constipation, or foul-smelling poop around the time of your period. Period poops are pretty normal. Many women experience this monthly change in their toilet habits, especially if theyre prone to emotional changes during their cycle.
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When Does It Start
Primary dysmenorrhoea usually starts within the first three years after the first period and tends to get less severe with age.
Some women with endometriosis have pain that starts with or soon after their first period, while some women with endoemtriosis have relatively normal periods and their pain gets much worse after 18.
When Do I Need To Speak To My Doctor
If you have any of the following, its worth getting in touch with your doctor:
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regular non-cyclical pelvic pain, pain during sex, or pain related to your bladder or bowel motions
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period pain that doesnt respond well to ibuprofen or the pill, and youre still in enough pain to prevent you from going to work or school
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sudden onset of severe period pain, or a significant worsening, after the age of 18
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changes in your cycle, such as bleeding more than normal or at unusual times
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symptoms that interfere with your ability to do normal things like go to school or work
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pain or other symptoms, plus a mum or sister who has endometriosis .
Or, if you just feel like there is something wrong, go and speak to your GP or gynaecologist. They will be able to discuss options for further investigations and treatment.
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How To Reduce Period Pain At Home
Its also advisable to try home remedies. Theyre less invasive than analgesics and might alleviate the symptoms experienced during the menstrual cycle. We highly recommend:
Pain comes and goes. Menstrual cramps might not always affect you. All menstruating women know that during menstruation mood can change kaleidoscopically. Sometimes its difficult to read your own body. However, pain is the symptom we shouldnt underestimate.
Talking about menstrual pain, Im thinking about menstrual cramps. They sometimes radiate to your reins. Severe and stitching pains might come from other sources though. So, once again for the back row: visit your doctor to make sure your ailments are a natural consequence of rampant hormones and not a developing disease.
Why They Smell So Bad
The smell. Oh, the smell.
There are a few reasons why period farts smell have such a unique scent. The main reason being that your gut bacteria change during your period, which can make flatulence extra fragrant.
The food you eat also contributes to the smell. But its not all your fault that you want to and maybe do eat all the junk when on your period.
Period cravings are very real. Theres evidence that high progesterone levels related to your period trigger compulsive eating and dissatisfaction with your body. Together, these can make it hard to muster the energy to care about what youre eating.
Reaching for dairy, starchy carbs, and sweets change the smell of your farts for the worse and can cause constipation.
Speaking of constipation, the buildup of poop can cause bacteria and odor to develop, too, making for some even smellier toots.
Farting is a biological process that we cant really get away from. Even smelly farts are pretty normal. This doesnt mean youre destined to clear a room for three to eight days every month until menopause, though.
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You Bleed Through A Pad Or Tampon In An Hour Or Less Your Period Lasts Longer Than Seven Days Or Both
The medical term for an exceedingly heavy or long period is menorrhagia. Menorrhagia affects more than 10 million American women each year, or about one in five, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
These are basically periods that would fit right into a scary movie, but some people dont even realize this kind of bleeding isnt normal. One of the biggest problems is someone being so used to heavy bleeding that she underplays the amount, Lauren Streicher, M.D., an associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, tells SELF. Shell come in and say her periods arent too bad, then say she has to change her tampon every hour.
One huge sign you may be dealing with menorrhagia: Passing period clots larger than a quarter, according to the CDC. While thats technically a good sign that your bodys clotting mechanism is trying to prevent you from losing too much blood, it also indicates that youre still passing much more blood than you should, as SELF previously reported. Even if your clots arent that big, soaking through a tampon or pad in an hour or less is a tip-off that your bleeding is too heavy and intense. Bleeding for more than seven days is another period problem that points at menorrhagia, the CDC notes.