What Helps With Cramps
Here are a some things that can help ease cramps:
-
Over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen , naproxen , or acetaminophen . Always follow the instructions on the bottle. Talk with your doctor before taking pain medication if you have an allergy to aspirin or severe asthma.
-
Exercise.
-
Hormonal birth control .
-
Acupuncture and acupressure.
-
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation therapy that uses mild electric currents to stimulate your nerves to relieve pain.
-
Certain vitamins and herbs like vitamin B1, fish oil, fenugreek, ginger, valerian, zataria, and zinc sulfate.
Cramps are a pretty normal part of getting your period, but sometimes people have period cramps that are so painful its hard to do everyday things . If your period pain is really bad, and over-the-counter medicine doesnt help, talk with your doctor. They can help with other ways to manage the pain, or they may want to check to see if theres something more serious going on.
Cramps that are really bad may be a sign of:
-
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease an infection in your reproductive organs.
-
Endometriosis a condition where the lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterus.
-
Adenomyosis when the tissue that lines your uterus grows into the muscle wall of your uterus.
-
Uterine fibroids non-cancerous tumors that grow inside your uterus, in the walls of your uterus, or on the outside of your uterus.
Stress Diet Sleep Lifestyle Factors
These are all factors that can cause excess inflammatory cytokines and raise prostaglandin levels within your body.
Poor sleep, diets high in processed food or alcohol, lack of sleep, and high levels of stress are all risk factors for increasing your overall level of inflammatory markers in your body that in response will create more pain.
When To Get Medical Advice
-
Fever of 100.4°F or higher, or as directed by your provider
-
Pain or cramping gets worse or doesnt get better with medicine
-
Pain or cramping lasts longer than normal or occurs between periods
-
Abnormal vaginal discharge between periods
-
Bleeding becomes heavy
-
Pink or gray tissue passes from the vagina
Recommended Reading: Can You Ovulate Before Your Period
How Does Secondary Dysmenorrhea Cause Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual pain from secondary dysmenorrhea is a result of problems with the reproductive organs. Conditions that can cause cramping include:
- Endometriosis: A condition in which the tissue lining the uterus is found outside of the uterus. Because these pieces of tissue bleed during your period, they can cause swelling, scarring and pain.
- Adenomyosis: A condition where the lining of the uterus grows into the muscle of the uterus. This condition can cause the uterus to get much bigger than it should be, along with abnormal bleeding and pain.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease : An infection caused by bacteria that starts in the uterus and can spread to other reproductive organs. PID can cause pain in the stomach or pain during sex.
- Cervical stenosis: Narrowing of the cervix, or the opening to the uterus.
- Fibroids : Growths on the inside, outside or in the walls of the uterus
Period Problems You Shouldnt Ignore
As basically anyone who menstruates knows, certain period problems are just an unfortunate fact of life, like pain radiating through your midsection, a shorter fuse than usual , and bleeding more than you would like to be bleeding from your vagina.
On the flip side, some menstrual cycle problems are a clear sign that you should chat about whats going on with your doctorjust in casebecause they fall outside the bounds of what’s normally expected during menstruation. Here are some period problems that are worth discussing with a medical expert.
You May Like: What To Do For Really Bad Period Cramps
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.
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.
Don’t Miss: What Are The Signs Of Starting Your First Period
Existing Treatments And The Lack Of Research
Despite the sheer number of women who suffer from severe cramps, the existing treatments are limited. For both endometriosis and dysmenorrhea, patients can dull the symptoms by taking painkillers like ibuprofen, using the pill as contraception, which tends to reduce the flow of the period, or inserting an intrauterine system such as a Mirena.
If endometriosis is causing infertility problems, patients can have surgery to move the extra tissuethough it may well come back again. Symptoms vary hugely from patient to patient, and if less invasive treatments offer no relief, a hysterectomy is another option. Thats far too over-the-top for lots of women, says Guillebaud. But its there at the end as a last resort and some people actually have to have that done. But even a hysterectomy isnt a complete cure, and the pain can persist.
As endometriosis can impair fertility, there is more research on this than on primary dysmenorrhea . For both conditions, doctors are unclear about the triggers, best possible treatments, and why it affects some women but not others.
Legros experience is instructive. Thanks to a previous grant, he and his fellow researchers found that sildenafil can be used to treat dysmenorrhea. We published our results in a high-impact OB-GYN journal and we feel we made a major contribution to treatment that everyday practitioners could use, he says.
Period Pain And Fertility
Period pain that’s part of your normal menstrual cycle will not affect your fertility. However, if the cause is a medical condition, this may affect your fertility.
For example, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease can cause scarring and a build-up of tissue in your fallopian tubes, making it harder for sperm to reach and fertilise an egg.
Also Check: What Can You Take For Period Cramps
The Normal Causes Of Period Pain
During your menstrual cycle, the lining of your uterus builds up with blood and tissue in preparation for pregnancy. If you dont get pregnant, your estrogen and progesterone levels drop, triggering your period and shedding of the lining of your uterus.
During your period, the muscles in your uterus tighten to help shed the blood and tissue. When your uterus contracts, it cuts off blood supply and oxygen to your uterus. When deprived of oxygen, your uterus releases chemicals that trigger the pain sensation.
Your body also releases hormones called prostaglandins that increase uterine contractions and may worsen your pain. This type of period pain usually occurs during the first two days of your period.
Your Period Causes Days Of Pain So Bad Its Hard To Leave Your Bed
Unbearable pain also falls into the category of menstrual cycle problems that absolutely warrant a chat with your medical provider. Dr. Streichers rule of thumb is that if youre experiencing even an iota of period pain beyond what youre fine with, its too much.
The first step in dealing with period pain is typically to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, since they block hormone-like chemicals known as prostaglandins that cause uterine cramping. If that knocks out your cramps, awesome. If youre still curled up in the fetal position after a few hours, thats a sign that talking to a doctor makes sense for you, Dr. Streicher says. Youre likely dealing with severe dysmenorrhea , and doctors can help. Dysmenorrhea is the most commonly reported period problem, with more than half of women who get their periods experiencing it for one to two days each month, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is pain thats due to natural pain-causing chemicals associated with your period. Secondary dysmenorrhea is the result of a disorder in the reproductive system.
Don’t Miss: Usaa New Car Insurance Grace Period
Why Do I Poop So Much On My Period
These chemicals stimulate the smooth muscles in your uterus to help it contract and shed its lining each month. If your body produces more prostaglandins than it needs, theyll enter your bloodstream and have a similar effect on other smooth muscles in your body, like in your bowels. The result is more poop.
Causes Of Painful Periods + How Stop Period Pain Naturally
Is your period is so painful that your life practically stops when you have it? Having extremely painful periods is a sign of an underlying imbalance that can have far-reaching implications for your overall health, not just your reproductive health. Keep reading to find out what causes period pain and what you can do to stop it.
Also Check: I Got My Period 2 Weeks Early
When Does Dysmenorrhoea Cause Your Period To Hurt
If you have a change in your usual pattern of pain. For example, if your periods become more painful than they used to be, or the pain lasts longer than it used to. In some women with secondary dysmenorrhoea the pain starts several days before the period begins, and lasts all the way through the period.
You Have Other Symptoms
Maybe youre really not sure whether your cramps are normal or not, but you also experience other related symptoms. Other worrisome symptoms may include:
- Cramps accompanied by nausea or diarrhea
- Pelvic pain at times beside your period
- Spotting between cycles
To evaluate what may be wrong, your healthcare provider may suggest:
- Blood work
- Exploratory laparoscopy
- Pelvic exam with sexually transmitted infection testing
- Pelvic ultrasound
Its important to know that endometriosis can only be diagnosed with exploratory laparoscopy. It cant be ruled with ultrasound or a pelvic exam. However, laparoscopy is an invasive, surgical procedure, so your doctor may not recommend having it unless your symptoms are especially bad.
Sometimes it happens that you see your doctor and are told everything is fine. If your cramps arent interfering with your daily life, this may be reassuring and an acceptable answer. However, if your cramps are making it difficult to work and live, dont accept Youre fine as an answer. Seek out another doctor.
Severe abdominal or pelvic pain may indicate something more serious than your period, like an ectopic pregnancy, toxic shock syndrome, acute PID, or appendicitis.
You May Like: What Does Global Period Mean In Medical Billing
Your Cramps Don’t Feel Normal
If youre worried your period cramps arent normal, then you should take that concern seriously. Worrying isnt a sign that something is wrong, but it could suggest things might be wrong. Many people are afraid to talk to their doctors about symptoms that cant easily be quantified.
If you have a fever, your doc can confirm that by taking your temperature. If youre experiencing pain, your doctor has to take your word for it. This keeps a lot of people from seeking help.
Additionally, complaints about pain are sadly sometimes dismissed by those in the medical profession. If you brought up your pain to a doctor in the past, and they brushed it off as not serious, you may be remiss to bring it up again. But you should bring it up again. Especially if youre concerned about it.
Some of the possible causes for painful crampslike endometriosisare diseases that take years to get properly diagnosed. Keep asking for help until someone hears you
Endometriosis: A Common Cause Of Severe Period Pain
Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which endometrium-like tissue is found outside the uterus on other structures throughout the pelvis, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, pelvic floor, and in more severe cases, the bowel, diaphragm, liver, lungs, and even the brain.
According to Ken R. Sinervo, MD, the medical director of the Center for Endometriosis Care in Atlanta, We dont really know why endometriosis causes menstrual pain may have to do with where is located and how it presents.
Untreated endometriosis can lead to adhesions, chronic inflammation, chocolate cysts , and internal bleeding all of which can prompt excruciating pelvic pain. Endometriosis pain isnt limited to period pain that goes on 24/7, says Dr. Sinvero. Many women also experience backache and other bowel symptoms, not to be confused with IBS, he added.
You May Like: How Often Should Your Period Come
Copper Iud: Period Pain After Insertion Vs Cramps Later On
A copper IUD is a nonpermanent, nonhormonal form of birth control that can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years. The device, which is placed in the uterus by a licensed healthcare provider, works by continuously releasing copper, which immobilizes sperm and prevents egg implantation.
A copper IUD, as opposed to a progestin IUD, can make menses heavier and more painful, particularly in the first few cycles after insertion, says Streicher. But be aware if you have had your copper IUD for years and suddenly develop severe period pain, look for another reason. Your IUD is unlikely to be the culprit.
Menstrual Cramps Are Very Common In Fact About 10 In 9 Women Experience Unbearable Cramps Just Before Or During Their Period Cycle
Do you suffer from excruciating pain in the back, abdomen, back, or thigh around the time of your period? Menstrual cramps are very common, in fact, about 10 in 9 women experience unbearable cramps just before or during their period cycle. The pain brings our everyday life to a standstill.Also Read – Ayurveda To Boost Immunity: Suffering From A Weak Immune System? Try These Ayurvedic Health Tips
According to gynecological experts, extremely painful periods are called dysmenorrhea but more than 90 percent of women experience pain, cramping, and discomfort around the abdomen region due to uterine cramping.The uterus releases the hormone prostaglandin during menstruation to kick start the process of uterine muscular contraction, informs Dr. Sandeep Chadha, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital. Also Read – Azoospermia Leads To Infertility In Men, Know All About The Condition
Contractions happen at an immense rate and our body expels clots from the uterus during this time. However, if the pain is unbearable then major issues like fibroids and endometriosis could be to blame, he adds. Also Read – Navratri 2021: Top 5 Tips to Follow During Navratri Fasting To Lose Weight | Watch Video
What are the causes of pain?
Some people are just at a higher risk of having painful periods. These risks include:
Being under age 20
Having a family history of painful periods
Smoking
Having heavy bleeding with periods
Having irregular periods
Recommended Reading: Why Have I Had My Period For 3 Weeks