What to do with very painful periods. Effective ways to eliminate discomfort and pain during menstruation. Video - Painful menstruation


When the stomach hurts during menstruation, a woman or young girl sometimes becomes completely unable to work. Every 10 woman suffers from unbearable pain during menstruation, often leading to fainting and even convulsions. It is believed that menstruation is a natural process in a woman's body, which should not be accompanied by very strong spastic pains in the lower abdomen, especially if there should be no vomiting, nausea, headache, diarrhea or constipation.

Gynecologists strongly recommend that with intense painful periods, first find out the cause of its occurrence, since this may not just be a feature of your body, but be symptoms of a serious illness or dysfunction of the nervous, reproductive, endocrine system, be a symptom of connective tissue dysplasia or an anomaly in the development of the genital organs, etc. In this article, we will talk about how to reduce pain during menstruation for a girl or woman, what should be done to relieve pain during menstruation and determine the true cause of such an abnormal state of the body.

How to relieve menstrual pain for young girls?

In gynecology, it is customary to divide painful periods into primary ones, when a girl from the very beginning of the formation of menstruation has never had painless periods and secondary ones, when severe pain during menstruation occurs in women after 30 years of age against the background of various infectious and inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, hormonal disruptions, after surgery, etc.

According to many women and doctors, primary algomenorrhea (pain during menstruation) can go away on its own after the birth of a child by a woman, then the uterus will contract less painfully during menstruation. But, if this does not happen, moreover, if a young woman cannot become pregnant and she has a whole range of symptoms both before menstruation - premenstrual syndrome, and during menstruation, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination not only by a gynecologist, but also by such specialists such as gastroenterologist, phthisiatrician-gynecologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, osteopath, psychotherapist.

Since the main ones in girls can be general systemic diseases, such as connective tissue dysplasia, which is expressed in the development of spinal curvature, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, frequent dislocations, and pelvic organs. Also, the cause of primary algomenorrhea can be, leading to anomalies in the development of the genital organs, underdevelopment of the mammary glands, uterus and uterine appendages, which is the cause of persistent infertility. Various diseases of the nervous system, mental disorders, emotional instability in girls may be the result of the same tuberculosis of the genitals or be an independent disorder with hereditary or congenital roots.

Given the above, you should first exclude these pathologies, and then, based on the establishment or exclusion of these diagnoses, decide on methods for relieving pain during menstruation.

Non-medicated ways to relieve period pain

To reduce pain during menstruation in girls with primary algomenorrhea, it may be sufficient to use non-drug methods to combat painful periods, such as:

  • Stress management

It is very easy to say, but it is quite difficult to learn how to relax, calm down, not get upset, cope with stress. In our difficult time, the abundance of negative information, the anger of people around, financial problems, failures in personal relationships expose a modern woman to constant emotional upheavals. Thought is material, if you know how to control yourself and tune in to a certain positive wave, you can cope with any problem, you just need to constantly work on yourself, control your thoughts, do not pay attention to trifles, set priorities correctly. Yoga and meditation help with this.

  • Smoking and alcohol

As trite as it sounds, breaking these habits can help reduce period pain. The female body is not able to cope with the nicotine and alcohol attack, as the male one. Smoking has a very detrimental effect on the entire female body, provoking early aging, painful periods, bringing closer, provoking the occurrence of various diseases and increasing the risk of cancer. In these times of cancer tension, when cancer affects even young women of childbearing age, if you add daily nicotine poisoning and alcohol intoxication, this burdens the immune system, which gradually ceases to destroy cancer cells and allows them to grow.

  • Bodyflex, yoga

For pain during menstruation, physical activity and sexual intercourse in the second phase of the menstrual cycle should be limited, however, in the first phase it is very useful to do yoga or Bodyflex. Why? These two types of physical exercises have a positive effect on the female genital organs, since both during yoga and Bodyflex there is a powerful massage of the internal organs, including the pelvic organs. These exercises promote the resorption of adhesions, stimulate ovulation, and generally have a beneficial effect on the respiratory, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular systems of the body.

  • Diet

Proper nutrition has a positive effect not only on relieving pain during menstruation, but also on overall health. A few days before menstruation, you should eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible, you should not overeat, especially you should limit the consumption of fatty and sweet foods, flour and refined foods, exclude fast food, sausages, meat and dairy products. You should drink more liquid, up to 2-2.5 liters per day, it is better if it is not tea and coffee, but mineral water, freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices - carrot, beetroot, apple, orange, pineapple, and hot herbal teas are also useful with chamomile, mint.

  • Avoid hypothermia

Any hypothermia, thin tights in cold weather, poor-quality autumn and winter shoes that get your feet wet in the cold and rainy season, provoke inflammatory processes in the small pelvis, causing salpingitis, adnexitis (see, and leading to painful menstruation and even infertility.

  • If severe pain occurs, you can press your legs to your chest and put a heating pad on your stomach

How to relieve pain during menstruation? Apply to your stomach and lie down with your legs pressed to your chest, this helps to increase blood flow and reduces painful spasms, you should keep the heating pad for no more than 15-20 minutes, otherwise it may increase bleeding.

  • Fresh air

Sometimes being in a stuffy room aggravates the condition, increases the pain during menstruation, if you go out into the fresh air, take a walk in the park, or just ventilate the room well - this can alleviate the condition, reduce headaches, and pain in the lower abdomen.

  • It is very important to maintain the first pregnancy in primary algomenorrhea.

The first drug) in a woman with painful menstruation, can provoke the development of further infertility and aggravate pain during menstruation. After pregnancy, in most cases, pain during menstruation decreases.

  • Physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture

A fairly effective method of physiotherapy treatment is on the solar plexus area with novocaine, the doctor can prescribe 6-8 sessions with the expectation that the treatment is completed by the beginning of menstruation. It is also possible to carry out various options for reflexology, acupuncture - general, acupressure, cupping therapy, bloodletting with the help of hirudotherapy also have a beneficial effect on the entire body and on the genitals, including, however, it is better to trust such treatment methods to professionals. If it is not possible to conduct a therapeutic massage before menstruation, during menstruation, you can independently do a passive massage using the Kuznetsov applicator, attach it to the lower back and lie on your back, lie down for 10-15 minutes.

  • Keep a record of the methods performed and a calendar of menstruation

Girls and women with painful periods should keep a calendar of the nature and symptoms of menstruation. It should indicate the duration of menstruation, the duration of the menstrual cycle, the intensity of bleeding, or (), as well as the nature, localization of pain, and other symptoms that accompany menstruation. Women who are trying to get pregnant can also take into account the basal temperature in the calendar, which helps in determining ovulation. In the diary of menstruation, it is worth recording the options for pain relief therapy, this will help in the future to determine the effectiveness of a particular pain reliever or method, and will also help you remember and describe your symptoms when visiting a gynecologist.

  • Compliance with sleep, rest, work

A full 8-10 hours of sleep, adherence to the daily routine and nutrition, the habit of going to bed at exactly the same time, and avoiding overwork are simple tips, but very effective. Compliance with the regime in everything - calms the nervous system, makes life measured and calm, helps to cope with stress.

Medications to reduce pain during menstruation

  • Sedatives

If menstruation in girls is accompanied by significant neuropsychic symptoms, such as a change in the perception of odors, taste disturbance, unmotivated weakness, hysteria, irritability, depressive mood, anorexia, then sedatives should be used - valerian tincture or tablets, Relanium, Trioxazin and other sedatives medicines prescribed by a doctor.

  • Analgesics, antispasmodics, NSAIDs

If all of the listed non-drug remedies do not provide relief, antispasmodics such as Spazgan and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Ketanov, Butadion, Nise are shown to reduce pain during menstruation. The safest among these funds is No-shpa or the domestic analogue of Drotaverine hydrochloride, they are approved for use even during pregnancy, you can use 2 tablets at once up to 3 times a day. NSAIDs, of course, have a more pronounced analgesic effect, however, they have a number of side effects, negatively affecting all systems and organs, especially the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system.

  • Hormonal oral contraceptives

On the recommendation of a gynecologist for primary algomenorrhea, in order to get rid of pain during menstruation, hormonal contraceptives are prescribed, such as Ovidon, Antiovin, Triziston, Diane-35, Yarina (see), as well as the use of drugs from natural progestins, for example, Duphaston.

  • Vitamins and minerals

It is desirable to receive all vitamins with food, fruits and vegetables, but if you pass a biochemical blood test and establish a deficiency of specific vitamins or minerals, you can make up for the deficiency with the help of vitamin complexes or individual vitamins in injections. Most often, women experience - you can take Calcium D3, B vitamins, vitamin E, magne B6.

Treatment of secondary algomenorrhea

When a woman who already has children begins to experience pain during menstruation, accompanied by additional sets of symptoms - nausea, headache, depression, fainting, tachycardia, joint pain, itching of the skin - this is due to the development of various diseases of the endocrine, nervous, vegetative-vascular system , or caused by various pathologies and diseases of the female genital organs.

Most often, secondary algomenorrhea appears with endometriosis, polyps in the uterus, adhesive process with infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genital organs - salpingitis, oophoritis, salpingo-oophoritis, as well as with uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, varicose veins in the abdominal cavity and lower extremities, with pelvic neuritis, with cicatricial narrowing of the cervix from frequent medical abortions, intrauterine interventions, diagnostic curettage and other surgical operations.

Therefore, in order to relieve pain during menstruation with secondary algomenorrhea, treatment should be directed to eliminating the cause, treating the disease that caused such a violation. Sometimes incorrectly installed intrauterine contraceptives contribute to the development of pain during menstruation, in which case they should be removed. In case of adhesive processes, endometriosis or tumor lesions of the genital organs, appropriate therapy or surgical operations are recommended, after which a rehabilitation course, physiotherapy procedures and spa treatment are prescribed.

How to get rid of pain during menstruation? With secondary algomenorrhea, as well as with primary, you can try to relieve pain during menstruation by non-drug methods. In the absence of an effect from them, drug methods are indicated, symptomatic therapy based on reducing pain during menstruation through antispasmodic and NSAIDs, sedatives to relieve psycho-emotional symptoms.

Folk remedies - how to get rid of pain during menstruation

Folk remedies to reduce pain during menstruation are based on the use of various collections of medicinal herbs. However, it should be remembered that any medicinal plant or herbal collection is the same medicine as tablets, with possible contraindications and allergic reactions. If a woman has a tendency to allergic manifestations, then herbal preparations should be used very carefully, checking the body's reaction to each remedy. Herbal infusions are recommended to be taken warm and drunk slowly.

  • Elecampane root - 1 teaspoon pour a glass of boiling water, insist 1 hour, take 1 tablespoon 3 r / day.
  • Horsetail - to prepare the infusion, you need 1 tbsp. pour 300 ml of boiling water over a spoon, leave for one hour, use 50 mg every hour, increase the interval of taking as the pain subsides.
  • Collection - goose cinquefoil, centaury, horsetail, knotweed grass, in a ratio of 5: 3: 1: 5, pour one tablespoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, take 1 sip during the entire first day of menstruation.
  • fragrant celery root - 2 tbsp. spoons should be poured with a glass of clean cold water, insist 2 hours, strain, take a third of a glass 3 r / day.
  • Wild strawberry leaves - 1 tbsp. a spoon is poured with 1 glass of cold water, infused for 6-8 hours, half a glass should be drunk a day.
  • Collection - valerian root, peppermint leaves, chamomile flowers in a ratio of 1: 1: 2, pour 1 tbsp with boiling water. a spoonful of the mixture, leave for half an hour, take 3 r / day, 2 tbsp. spoons.
  • Raspberry leaves - pour 3 teaspoons of leaves with 1 cup of boiling water, insist for 15 minutes, take in small sips throughout the day.

Pain in the abdomen during menstruation in just a couple of hours brings some women to complete incapacity. However, a comprehensive view of the problem today can help most of them.

How to get rid of pain during menstruation? This question worries more than 40% of all women of childbearing age. One - enough to drink a few glasses of delicious juice. Others have to take a long and hard time to heal. But what can we really do?

Menstrual pain symptoms

Unpleasant sensations in the peritoneum can begin as early as 5-8 days before the start of the exit of the inner lining of the uterus. Initially, there is an infrequent weak “sipping” in the area of ​​​​the ovaries, to which, over time, sharp jerking pains are added along the entire height of the uterus.

Directly menstrual pain symptoms:

  • cramping and twisting uterine spasms
  • feeling of a foreign body in the abdomen
  • drawing, squeezing pain in the uterus, passing to the intestines and in the lower back, intestinal spasms
  • shooting pains in the ovaries, kidneys, along the entire length of the spine, in the head

Cause of pain during menstruation

The main "culprit" of pain during menstruation is the hormone-like substances prostaglandins. They irritate the nerve endings of the tissues in which they have developed, which causes uterine contractions and the release of the endometrium with secrets and blood.

Another common cause of menstrual pain- endometriosis. The very endometrial cells of the uterus that should come out during menstruation grow into the surrounding peritoneal tissues or rise into the ovaries. Active synthesis of prostaglandins causes them to exfoliate, swell and break down at the same time as everyone else.

Some teenage girls physiologically do not have time to fully form before the onset of the first menstruation. This applies both directly to the structure of the body, and the balance of hormones responsible for the cycle.

Why severe pain during menstruation in adolescents?

Yes, just an underdeveloped or improperly located uterus does not allow a free exit of menstrual blood. As it contracts, it literally puts pressure on the surrounding organs and irritates trillions of highly sensitive pain receptors. Teenage estrogen-progesterone background "adds fuel to the fire."

Most often, discomfort in the lumbar region during menstruation is caused by swelling and excessive strain, as well as radiating (radiating) pain.

The processes of the vertebrae dig into the swollen muscles of the back and injure them. And the reflex mechanisms of the spread of nerve impulses make you feel menstrual pain literally throughout the body.

Why does my lower back hurt so much during menstruation?

Existing ailments can also contribute to this unpleasant phenomenon:

  • fibroma
  • cervical dysplasia
  • endometriosis
  • polycystic ovaries

Why does the back hurt so much during menstruation in those who have given birth?

The uterus of the woman who carried the child, although it returns to normal, nevertheless acquires somewhat different sizes. During menstruation, this "extra" volume is enough to infringe on the nerve endings of the small pelvis, squeezing blood vessels and worsening blood microcirculation in the lower back.

Why does the back hurt so much during menstruation in those who have given birth?
The female uterus can increase in size not only during pregnancy, but also under the influence of the progression of nonspecific postpartum diseases:

  • fibroids
  • endometrial hyperplasia
  • pelvic organ prolapse

IMPORTANT: All such gynecological defects affect the back with irradiating (reflected) pain sensations.

How to relieve pain during menstruation?

Significantly reduce painful manifestations before or during menstruation help:

  1. Food enriched with potassium and calcium. The lack of these elements significantly increase the frequency and strength of uterine contractions.
  2. Surgical intervention or special gynecological treatment of functional problems of the uterus
  3. Complex hormonal treatment to restore the required balance of biologically active substances acting on the uterus
  4. Medications and supporting pharmaceutical preparations
  5. Traditional medicine and exercise


How to relieve pain during menstruation?

Be sure to take care of your health and eat right. Pharmacies and simple gestures will help to cope with the remaining problems.

Tablets and drugs for pain during menstruation

To get rid of discomfort, doctors recommend antispasmodics, complex analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Among others, the most in demand:

  • no-shpa
  • papaverine
  • tempalgin
  • spazmalgon
  • baralgin
  • ibuprofen

If the above pills and drugs for pain during menstruation are not suitable (give unacceptable side effects), then paracetamol can also be used. To achieve high-quality pain relief, it should be taken at a dose of 3-4 tablets every 6-8 hours. However, the official instructions for the medicine indicate the possible danger of such self-treatment.

What helps with severe pain during menstruation?

In some women, menstruation is extremely painful: the sensations during uterine contraction are comparable in strength to labor pains. At the same time, the spasm also "moves" to the intestines, which causes painful three-day diarrhea.

In such situations, ketanov and tamipules are saved (2 tablets every 12 hours). The first, however, is sold by prescription. Both drugs have a very mild effect on organ systems and practically do not cause side effects.

What helps with severe pain during menstruation yet? In extreme cases, analgin and solpadein can be used.
However, it is quite difficult to predict the strength and extent of the side effects of these drugs on the nervous system. Even with the third and subsequent receptions.

Folk remedies for menstrual pain

In addition to herbal decoctions of horsetail, tansy, meadowsweet and oregano, sweet pepper is considered an extremely effective remedy for pain during menstruation. At the same time, it is used as a salad base or freshly squeezed juice.



Other folk remedies for menstrual pain:

  • asparkam tablets (usually used for other purposes)
  • dried and fresh apricots, grapes, bananas
  • pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds
  • wheat bran and wheat germ

Treatment of severe pain during menstruation

There aren't a lot of exercises that can help relieve stomach pain during your period, but they do exist! For example:

  • it is necessary, sitting on a fitball / legs wide apart and crouching, make circular movements with the pelvis in both directions alternately
  • it is necessary for the maximum possible time to take the pose “mother washes the floor” from a standing position, it is advisable to touch the feet while tilting your hands
  • you need to sit or lie in a "knuckle up" in different positions-turns alternately

Treatment of severe pain during menstruation with physical activity another kind is contraindicated due to the possibility of heavy bleeding. By the way, ready-made tincture of water pepper will help to regulate them.

REVIEW: I suffer terribly in the first three days after the start of menstruation. I save myself with sedalgin or ibuprofen. It seems to me that nothing but pills or injections can relieve this terrible pain!!!

REVIEW: God forbid to be treated with analgin! Now I know how high drug addicts feel. Maybe. The gynecologist said that he has this effect on many people. Girls! Be careful!

REVIEW: Once they brought me a whole bucket of sweet pepper from the dacha. I used it in salads for a week and ate it. Menstruation went in a week. And I did not feel the moment of their onset at all. Since then, I eat pepper at the first opportunity I get. Which is what I recommend to you.

REVIEW: Naproxen relieves my severe period pain. A friend advised. And the gynecologist insists on taking hormonal contraceptives. Until I refuse. I'm afraid of various side effects.

REVIEW: And I was advised indomethacin suppositories. Well helped. But now the stomach hurts, and nothing can cure it. I'm going to the doctor one of these days.

REVIEW: The first day of my period begins with an injection of a mixture of analgin, papaverine and diphenhydramine. Otherwise, I climb the wall or lose consciousness.

I have been doing yoga for two years. After four months of training, I began to notice that the intensity of monthly pain is gradually decreasing. Today, I hardly use any medication. This is despite the fact that earlier Ketanov could not do without injections.

How to relieve menstrual pain:advice and feedback show that drug self-treatment is held in high esteem. First, we drink drugs, and then we consult with specialists. After all, you need to start from the other end!

Video: Painful periods (desmenorrhea)

Video: Everything you need to know about menstruation

Video: Painful menstruation. Women's diseases

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 dissuade 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 painful periods

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Anna Mironova


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Many women are familiar with such symptoms of impending or onset menstruation as soreness in the chest area, bad mood, loss of strength, irritability and pain in the lower abdomen. Usually these days the work is not going well, and the mood is such that even household members try to catch the eye less often.

What experts say about painful periods, and how to relieve this pain ?

Why does the stomach hurt during menstruation - the main causes of pain during menstruation

Every woman (with rare exceptions) experiences before or during menstruation least discomfort. The main complaint is abdominal pain.


Why is this happening?

First of all, don't panic : if there are no accompanying "signals", and menstruation is not knocked out of the framework outlined by doctors, then there is nothing to worry about. The natural physiological process (monthly rejection and release of the inner layer of the uterus, which, when contracting, causes pain) does not require an urgent visit to the doctors.

Painful periods have a name - algomenorrhea:

  • Primary algomenorrhea. Increased contractile activity of the myometrium by tissue hormones and, as a result, cramping pain and vasospasm. It is characteristic of women 16-25 years old. Symptoms include nausea, headaches, upset stools and soreness in the lower abdomen a day or two before menstruation and in the first two days of menstruation. Pathological changes in the pelvic organs are not observed. Typically, the level of soreness decreases after childbirth and with age.
  • Secondary algomenorrhea. In this case, there are any pathologies of the pelvic organs, and the pain becomes a symptom of anatomical changes in the uterus.


To causes of painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea), not associated with diseases of the female reproductive system, include:

  • Sex hormone imbalance (progesterone, which promotes uterine contraction, and prostaglandin, the excess of which increases the force of contraction of the uterine muscles), excessive thyroid activity.
  • Intrauterine device and other contraceptives.
  • High sensitivity to changes in the body.
  • An ill-positioned uterus.
  • Excitability of the nervous system.
  • Pain as a result of childbirth or.
  • Lack of proper physical activity.
  • Heredity.
  • Calcium or magnesium deficiency.
  • Wrong nutrition. Read also:

If the pain during menstruation is of a short-term nature, the level of pain is tolerable, and daily activities do not have to be postponed, then everything is fine, and there is no reason to panic .

10 best recipes - how to get rid of pain during menstruation

Traditional folk methods can help reduce the level of pain during menstruation (provided there are no serious problems with women's health):

  1. Dry heat, massage and relaxation
    Heat will help relax the uterus and reduce the force of its contractions, a gentle massage of the abdomen (strictly clockwise) will relax the muscles.

  2. Painkiller
    1-2 tablets of no-shpy will help relieve spasms. With severe pain, ibuprofen, spasmalgon or ketonal will help to cope. For pain caused by overexcitation of the nervous system (stress, etc.), a simple sedative can help - even ordinary valerian.
  3. Oral contraceptives
    Birth control pills contain hormones that help normalize hormonal levels. These pills are very effective for relieving abdominal pain and other "effects" of menstruation. Of course, without consulting a gynecologist, you should not start taking it.

  4. Physical exercise
    Of course, we are not talking about shock loads and, moreover, not about exercises for the press, but tilts, body rotations, light stretching are quite suitable. Pilates and yoga, which involve working on muscle tone, are also excellent pain relievers.
  5. Compresses and baths
    For example, a bath with sea salt (taken before and after menstruation for 15-20 minutes, daily). Sitz baths (contrasting) before the onset of menstruation and compresses during menstruation are also suitable. After a bath or a contrast shower, you should dress warmly and lie down for at least an hour.
  6. Herbal teas, infusions, decoctions
    Such remedies include chamomile and mint tea (you can add honey), parsley or sorrel, mineral water, tansy, acorns, strawberries, angelica, etc.

  7. Massage
    Lumbar massage will help relieve spasms. It is desirable, with someone's help, although you can do it yourself. Put two tennis balls in two socks, lie on them with your back so that the balls are at the level of the lower ribs on both sides of the spine. Gently press them with your back and lightly roll the balls with your muscles.
  8. Essential oils
    Before menstruation and the first days, you can rub a mixture of essential oils into the sacral region, as well as into the lower abdomen. Ingredients: St. John's wort oil (50 ml), marjoram (5 drops), clary sage (4 drops), yarrow (5 drops). Rub a couple of times a day. Before the procedure, conduct an allergy test by smearing the mixture a little, for example, on the elbows. Itching or redness is a sign of an allergy.
  9. Swimming
    The most useful and least traumatic way to relieve pain. The main benefits are the release of endorphins (a natural pain reliever), muscle relaxation.
  10. Cold on the stomach
    Freezing pain is one of the most effective methods. An ice pack should be placed on the stomach (only in a towel and over clothes!) For 15 minutes, no more.

Pain during the menstrual cycle is a common phenomenon. As a rule, menstrual pains are quite tolerable and do not interfere with daily activities, they are experienced by three-quarters of women of reproductive age. However, 10% of women experience severe pain during menstruation, which can cause significant discomfort. This pain syndrome is called algodysmenorrhea (dysmenorrhea).

Specialists distinguish between two forms of dysmenorrhea. The primary form is characteristic of all women and occurs, as a rule, one to two years after the onset of menstruation, and the secondary is caused by changes in the structure and pathologies of the uterus or pelvic organs. The secondary form of dysmenorrhea can lead to cycle disorders, early menopause and infertility.

If you notice that the pain before and during menstruation has become sharply dynamic or there are special, unprecedented symptoms, you need to undergo a thorough examination. The specialists of our clinic have been treating the female reproductive system for a long time, they will conduct a thorough diagnosis and recommend a number of necessary measures.

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Symptoms of dysmenorrhea

Often, pain during menstruation is accompanied by general weakness, chills, headaches, increased sweating, diarrhea, nausea, and even vomiting are possible.

However, pain during menstruation can be accompanied by more serious symptoms. If your stomach hurts after menstruation, there are stool disorders (there is blood in it or its color has turned black), fainting, a rash appears on the body, the discharge has become more abundant, and painkillers do not improve well-being, you urgently need a gynecologist consultation.

Pain during menstruation: causes

Pain during menstruation is cramping in nature and is felt in the lower abdomen. Sometimes she "gives" to the lumbar region, thighs, groin or external genitalia.

The cause of such pain during menstruation is the rejection of the endometrium of the uterus (mucous membrane), which is accompanied by blood loss. In order to reject the endometrium, the uterus is actively contracting, and therefore pain occurs.

Another reason why the stomach hurts during menstruation is hormonal imbalance. The levels of progesterone and estrogen fluctuate chaotically in relation to each other. When progesterone levels drop, prostaglandins take their place. They are responsible for the contraction of the uterus, and the more of them are above the norm, the more pronounced the pain syndrome.

If the lower abdomen hurts after menstruation, this is often a sign of inflammation of the uterus or appendages. Normally, after the end of the cycle, pain should not be at all.

Progesterone itself, on the contrary, prepares the uterus to receive the embryo and is designed to relax it. A relaxed uterus increases in size and women experience harmless bloating. As a rule, this process occurs before the start of the cycle, and this explains why the stomach hurts before menstruation (usually 2-3 days before them).

If pain in the lower abdomen occurs a week before menstruation, this may be a sign of endometriosis - the growth of the inner layer of the uterus outside the organ. This is a pathology and can lead to the inability to become pregnant or other pathological processes. The problems of the organs of the reproductive system are also evidenced by an increase in temperature before menstruation (basal), which is combined with severe pain.

Separately, it is worth talking about why the chest hurts before menstruation. The cause of this type of pain is also the hormonal background, which, recall, changes during menstruation.

During the second phase of the cycle (luteal), the sensitivity of the breast and nipples increases. This is caused by an increase in the amount of epithelial tissue in the ducts of the breast. As a result, there is an increase in breast density, slight swelling, as well as an increase in glands. If the chest stops hurting before menstruation, this indicates that the pregnancy has not occurred.

As a rule, in the last days of bleeding, discomfort in the chest area disappears. If this does not happen, the woman probably has some kind of gynecological disease. You should also examine the glands themselves for mastopathy, infections or cancer.

Chest pain before menstruation is sometimes unusual. So, a common complaint is pain only under the left breast. This is a sign of problems of the gastrointestinal tract, vegetative-vascular and cardiological disorders.

Tension in the pelvic area, a violation of the water balance and all the same hormonal changes explain why the lower back hurts during menstruation. A lot depends on the nature of the pain. So, severe pain in the lumbar region indicates the deviation of the uterus back (in this case, it touches the nerve trunks that innervate the pelvic organs), its inflammation or diseases of the genitourinary system, ectopic pregnancy, improperly selected intrauterine devices. Mild intermittent lower back pain may be an echo of normal menstrual pain in the lower abdomen.


Since the body needs strength to reject the endometrium of the uterus, it accumulates fluid. The reason why the head hurts before menstruation lies in the violation of the water-salt balance. In this case, it is accompanied by swelling of the face and limbs. However, headaches can occur due to stress (mood swings before menstruation) and problems with the circulation of blood vessels in the brain.

Factors that cause pain during menstruation are also:

  • low endorphins

  • lowered pain threshold in women

  • insufficiency of the luteal phase of the cycle compared to the follicular phase

  • circulatory disorders of the small pelvis due to hypodynamia (inactive lifestyle)

  • consequences of artificial termination of pregnancy

  • pathologies of the organs of the reproductive system (including those associated with a hereditary factor)

An important indicator of a woman's reproductive health is the basal temperature before menstruation. Before the start of the cycle, it rises, because menstruation is a stress for the body. It is best to measure it immediately after sleep, lying in bed. Within an hour after waking up, the temperature indicators are chaotically changeable, therefore, the temperature is measured rectally or vaginally within the first five minutes after waking up, and orally - within three minutes.

Normal basal temperature during menstruation is 36.9 - 37.2 ° C. An alarming sign is its increase with the onset of menstruation. So, an indicator of 37.5˚ C at normal body temperature indicates a possible endometritis. If such numbers are observed during ovulation, and on the last day of bleeding they drop sharply, the cause may be a miscarriage at an early stage of fetal development.

Many are frightened by the basal temperature of 37˚С before menstruation: they don’t understand what it means and what it comes from. In fact, this indicates a normal menstrual cycle, just like that, the body reacts to the rampage of hormones that is happening at this time. Before the onset of menstruation, the temperature drops, continues to decrease during the cycle, and normalizes only at the end of menstruation. Recall that sudden changes in basal temperature, combined with severe pain, are a sign of diseases of the organs of the reproductive system.

If the basal temperature is stable both during the period of ovulation and during the period of menstruation, this indicates pregnancy and explains why the mammary glands hurt before menstruation.

Since pain during menstruation can be a symptom of several diseases at once, consulting one doctor may not be enough. In our clinic you will find all the necessary specialists who will conduct a comprehensive examination and select an effective treatment individually for each specific case.

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Pain during menstruation: what to do

  • Before and during the menstrual cycle, a diet is desirable. You should consume more fruits and vegetables (except those that cause fermentation), increase the average daily water intake. Bran and grains are very useful during this period, since the fiber they contain helps the normal functioning of the intestines (due to the increase in the uterus during menstruation, the pressure on it increases). Recommended natural painkillers for menstruation: herbal infusions of raspberry branches, chamomile, lemon balm leaves and mint. Apples, buckwheat porridge and liver cooked in any form will help restore the level of lost iron. It is necessary to reduce the consumption of coffee, salt and sugar, meat and fatty dairy products, pastries

  • A good remedy in how to get rid of pain during menstruation is a warm shower. It should be taken no more than 15 minutes, it will relax the muscles and reduce pain.

  • Also effective massage of the abdomen. Movements must be done in a circle, by analogy with the hour hand. So you can reduce the tension of the abdominal muscles and lower back, which, in turn, will reduce pain.

  • When the stomach hurts during menstruation, you can relieve cramps by sleeping in the fetal position - lying on your side with your knees pulled up to your stomach. This position relaxes the body as much as possible, which is very effective in relieving menstrual discomfort.

  • At the same time, do not forget about moderate physical activity. For example, walking also helps reduce pain levels. In this regard, elementary exercises are also useful (to exclude only complex long workouts, as well as moving weights). Many women talk about the effectiveness of yoga breathing exercises. They help reduce pain during menstruation and normalize the nervous system.

  • It's worth pampering yourself. It is known that stress or anxiety increases pain by at least a third. Do what is synonymous with comfort for you. A cup of chocolate, visiting your favorite cafe with close friends, doing hobbies, etc. will noticeably relieve pain

  • A lot of controversy is the topic of sex during menstruation. Pain and a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen during menstruation are associated with impaired blood circulation of the pelvic vessels. You can reduce discomfort thanks to orgasm, because it causes the uterus to contract, and during this the vessels narrow. According to statistics, women who are sexually active during this period practically do not take painkillers during menstruation. Thus, sex during menstruation is very useful. The main thing is to use condoms, because during the menstrual cycle, the uterus is very susceptible to foreign microorganisms.

When the stomach hurts during menstruation, what to do and what measures to take, each woman chooses on her own. If the above tips did not help, you need to take pills for pain during menstruation. However, only a doctor can correctly prescribe an anesthetic.