You may have experienced painful cramps during your period. This can make you really uncomfortable. This is fairly common and most of the time when it happens you would decide to stay at home and miss school or work.
What are menstrual cramps?
Menstrual cramps are what doctors refer to as dysmenorrhea.
This is the medical term that
refers to the pain that you experience during the start of your period. It may be worse
during the first 2 days and may not always be present each time you have your period. For
some girls, it can be very bad. For others, only a mild and vague pain may be felt.
What causes dysmenorrhea?
You may begin to experience menstrual cramps around 6 to 12 months after the start of your first period. For other girls, they may experience this a little later when they are in their 20’s or 30’s. The pain of dysmenorrhea is caused by the contractions or intense movement of the muscles of the uterus. Dysmenorrhea may be primary or secondary depending on what may be causing it:
Primary Dysmenorrhea
Most girls have noted menstrual cramps at the start of their first period or shortly after that. Girls who had their period at age 12 or younger and those who have longer menstrual periods are likely to experience primary dysmenorrhea. This type of dysmenorrhea is not caused by other diseases such as abnormal growths or infections. Your doctor will not likely find anything wrong with you during examination. Causes for primary dysmenorrhea include:
Chemical Imbalance - Since balance is the magic word that sustains our health, an imbalance in certain chemicals in our bodies may cause dysmenorrhea. The main chemical that you can blame for your menstrual cramps is prostaglandin. With prostaglandin, the body becomes more sensitive to pain. Women with dysmenorrhea may produce more prostaglandins in their uterus. This makes the muscles of their uterus move stronger and more frequently during the start of their period. The strong and frequent movements of the muscles of the uterus decrease blood flow to the area. This lack of blood supply makes the nerve endings in the uterus more sensitive to pain.
Genetics - Some say that genes may also play a role here. If you experience menstrual cramps it is very likely that a sister, an aunt or your mom also experienced menstrual cramps.
Secondary Dysmenorrhea
It might be secondary dysmenorrhea if menstrual cramps began about two years or more after the first period. Some women with this type of dysmenorrhea do not improve with pain medications. This type of dysmenorrhea requires further assessment by a doctor. Secondary dysmenorrhea may be due to the following:
What is endometriosis?
Women who have endometriosis experience dysmenorrhea that can get very bad. This can happen each time during their period. Endometriosis happens when small amount of tissues that resemble that of the uterus are implanted in other structures of the body.
Why do some women have menstrual cramps and others don’t?
Some women may have the genes that make them more prone to dysmenorrhea. Certain studies have shown that genes may play a role here. Genes make us unique so it could be likely that one girl having this unique gene combination can experience a more severe form of dysmenorrhea than the other girl who doesn’t have it. Other factors such as diet and the environment may play a role as well. A fatty, low protein and low fiber diet may increase your risk for menstrual cramps. Eating lots of sweets and drinking alcohol or coffee during your period may also lead to dysmenorrhea. Women who smoke a lot can increase their chances of having dysmenorrhea than those who don’t. Lack of rest and plenty of stress at work and school can disrupt the chemical balance in your body, causing dysmenorrhea.
There are several factors that can cause dysmenorrhea. Some of these such as your genes cannot be changed but other factors such as diet may be modified. With this in mind, you can still prevent menstrual cramps or at least lessen the discomfort and pain that come with it by trying to live healthy.
I have been having dysmenorrhea since five years ago when I was 13. Should I see a doctor?
If you have been having dysmenorrhea since the start of your first period, then this is likely primary dysmenorrhea. You need not see a doctor for this. Primary dysmenorrhea may be present with:
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Painful cramps that make you may feel your lower tummy is being “churned”, “twisted”
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Headaches that can be “throbbing”
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Vomiting or the feeling that you are about to vomit
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Pain which can involve the lower back and the legs
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Loose bowel movement
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Fainting
The Pain of Dysmenorrhea: When to see the doctor
Of course, pain is never welcome. Who wants it? But with dysmenorrhea, the kind of pain that you experience can give you a clue to what may be causing it. So pay attention!
You know that you are having primary dysmenorrhea when:
- The pain has been felt since the start of your first period or 6 to 12 months after that.
- The pain has been felt since the start of your first period or 6 to 12 months after that.
- The pain starts a few hours before or shortly after the start of your period.
- It is most painful during the first two days of menses.
- The pain may be gone after 2 to 3 days from the start of your period.
- The pain may involve the thighs and legs as well as the lower back.
If the pain starts several days before the start of your period and lasts more than 3 days, if with your dysmenorrhea you also note some lumps in your abdomen, frequent vomiting, and some changes in your menstrual flow, then a consultation with your doctor is advisable. If you are sexually active and you experience pain during sexual intercourse, then you may need to have your doctor examine you.
Will I have menstrual cramps forever?
It is always best to know if what you have is primary or secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea happens only in women who have ovaries that release an egg each month. These women have normal menstrual cycles and are likely to have their period every month. In some girls, they stop experiencing primary dysmenorrhea as they grow older and start having children. When you are older and your body stops producing enough hormones like estrogen and progesterone, you will stop having your period. During this time, primary dysmenorrhea will stop too. Definitely, you won’t be suffering forever!
When it is found that your dysmenorrhea is caused by infections or abnormal growths such as cysts or polyps, then these should be treated first by your doctor. Once the underlying cause of secondary dysmenorrhea is treated, the pain is likely to lessen or disappear.
Can we prevent dysmenorrhea?
In the case of primary dysmenorrhea, your doctor may give you medications such as oral contraceptives and pain relievers. You may lessen the pain or its frequency by trying to live healthy. So here are some points that may guide you:
- Improve your diet. Don’t try to lose weight fast! Eat foods containing lots of protein and those high in fiber. Eat plenty of vegetables, nuts, salmon, sardines, and parsley. Decrease red meat such as beef in your diet.
- Keep the salt low.
- Change your beverage of choice. Drink lots of fresh fruit juices. They taste a lot better and are healthier than your ice cream shakes or sodas. Avoid tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks a few days before your period.
- Take Vitamin Supplements. Take Vitamins B and E. Also you can add some magnesium or calcium supplements in your diet. Inform your doctor before taking any of these vitamins. Some vitamins can interact with your other medications and may also have side effects when taken too much!
- How about some good fat? Yes! Eat lots of salmon and tuna. They are high in omega-3 fatty acids which can help lessen the pain of dysmenorrhea.
- Stay active. You can definitely continue to move about and stay active even when you have your period. Jogging and brisk walking can help. You can spare at least an hour each day to exercise. Exercise has been shown to likely decrease the pain of dysmenorrhea although this needs to be further studied.
- Stop smoking.
- Relax your mind. Learn how to meditate. Maybe you can listen to soothing music or spend time with family friends watching some funny movie. A good laugh and some quality time can help soothe your nerves.
I eat well and exercise but the pain never goes away. What should I do?
The pain that comes with dysmenorrhea can be very painful. You may feel like just lying down in your bed when this happens. You may not feel like doing something when you are having dysmenorrhea but it is wise that you do not allow the pain to build up. Here are some things you can do to help yourself:
- Do something! Don’t wait for the pain to get worse. Take some pain relievers to lessen the pain. Most of these pain relievers can be bought over the counter and are very effective. You can ask the help of your mother or older sister to get you some of these. Take one on the first signs of dysmenorrhea. Be sure to have eaten something before you take the pain reliever. Don’t suffer silently during bouts of dysmenorrhea.
- Apply a warm or hot compress over your abdomen. You can get a towel and soak this in warm water. Get rid of the excess water and apply the warm towel over the painful area. Do this until the pain lessens.
- Take deep breaths. Lie down and relax yourself. If you also get headaches, put off the lights in your room and keep the noise down. The pain should subside after you have taken the pain relievers.
Do I need to miss school or work when I have menstrual cramps?
I know dysmenorrhea can be very painful. The pain can be really bad and most girls need to stay home and lie in bed just to get better. This is understandable. When this happens and you don’t really feel well, just make sure you inform your teacher or someone at work about your condition. Just be responsible to make up for anything that you have missed. Take pain relievers as soon as you begin to feel the pain. One tablet or capsule is usually enough. Ask an adult or your family doctor to help you with this. The pain should subside and should not last for several hours. If the pain continues and becomes really bad even if you have taken pain relievers, then ask someone to help you get a consultation with your doctor.
