Colic in the abdomen during menstruation. How to establish the reasons and what to do

Pain is considered to be a sign of a disorder in any of the body’s functions, a signal of a problem. But there is a natural process during which any discomfort is perceived almost as normal. Most women experience severe pain during menstruation, especially on the first day. reproductive age. For some, their health is so impaired that it is impossible to do normal activities or even just stand on their feet. Some perceive pain doomedly, trying to endure it, others try to find a way to get rid of it. The question of why there is so much suffering in the initial days of menstruation rests on female physiology. This does not mean that you need to turn a blind eye to poor health, even if the gynecologist said that there are no pathologies.

Types of pain

For the first time, physical ailments may appear in girls already at menarche or within 1–3 years after the establishment of the ovulatory cycle. Discomfort occurs in the first hours of menstruation or can begin 1–2 days before. The severity and strength of pain symptoms is different for everyone: from barely noticeable to unbearable. Similar symptoms medical specialists It is customary to unite the concept of algodismenorrhea - a disorder menstrual cycle. If painful sensations associated with periodic delays in menstruation due to ovarian dysfunction, they speak of dysmenorrhea.

Menstrual pain can be of a primary nature: it occurs from the beginning of puberty. In such cases, the suffering of the first day is quite difficult to bear: it is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

Secondary appears after a period of relative well-being due to various types of diseases, surgical interventions, neurotic deviations, disorders in the sexual sphere. In such cases, severe heaviness in the lower third of the abdomen and cramps may be observed.

Why pain is painfully endured on the first day depends on a number of interrelated factors, including fluctuations hormonal balance, work of nervous, muscular and vascular systems, psychological state of a woman.

Causes of pain

In primary algodismenorrhea, conventionally natural and pathological causes of painful menstruation are distinguished. At the beginning of the next cycle, the uterine cavity, lined with a dense mucous membrane, without receiving a fertilized egg, begins to contract, pushing out unnecessary epithelium. The process is regulated by sex hormones. During this period, the walls and neck of the organ are filled with blood and detached myometrium. Therefore, the first contractions are always particularly uncomfortable. Even with complete well-being, women feel pressure and stiffness in the lower abdomen before menstruation, accompanied by physical fatigue. The following reasons can cause severe pain:

increased amount of prostaglandins - pain neurotransmitters in the myometrium;
violation of the synthesis of hormones: dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline;
lack of minerals and hypovitaminosis;
abnormal development of the body's connective tissue;
Features of the location and shape of the uterus: deviations, bends, bends, underdevelopment.

Read also 🗓 Kidney pain during menstruation

The reason why the stomach hurts severely before menstruation is a hidden neurological disorder, psychological trauma and other mental health conditions of a woman that are reflected on the physical level.

Secondary algodismenorrhea always implies the presence of pathologies. Common causes of painful cycle disorders that occur in women after a prosperous period:

incorrectly selected contraception, usually an IUD;
development of systemic diseases: diabetes mellitus, coronary disease, pathologies of the thyroid gland;
previous inflammation of the internal genital organs;
surgical abortions, therapeutic curettage;
growing uterine tumors, endometriosis;
nervous or physical exhaustion due to sports.

In women over 40 years of age, perplexed, they have recently become pregnant, so the beginning of menopause may manifest itself.

Pain on the first day

Since every woman’s body is individual, pain on the first day of the next menstruation begins and proceeds differently. A characteristic clinical picture: a gradual increase in discomfort 10–12 hours before the appearance of discharge. The syndrome develops as a series of successive contractions and pains in the abdominal cavity. The pain can be felt as stabbing, singing, burning, tugging, radiating to the rectum, bladder, thighs, mammary glands. Also noted following symptoms:

The initial degree of algodismenorrhea is tolerated as a slight discomfort: the pain is quite tolerable, does not require drug relief, and gradually disappears within 1–2 days. Women do not pay attention to the trouble or simply relax more.
At medium degree it is no longer possible to live with pain. Contractions or cramps in the abdomen begin even before menstruation, and in the first hours of discharge they become unbearable. Almost always, health disorders occur with vegetative and neurological symptoms: severe irritability, sweating, trembling in the limbs, numbness.
In severe cases, the first signs of pain appear several days before menstruation; at the beginning of the cycle, the woman is forced to lie in bed all day due to excruciating pain and complete inability to perform any actions. Frequent accompanying symptoms: severe tachycardia, heavy sweating,... Recovery may take several days after menstruation.

How to relieve pain

Tolerating even a “natural” deterioration in well-being is very harmful to the nervous system. This can lead to the development of depression, neuroses, and significantly complicates life. If the first day is not a consequence of a tumor or other organic damage, you need to resort to medicinal methods of help. It is useful to start taking painkillers not at the beginning of the cycle, but a day before the expected discharge. Drugs based on paracetamol, ibuprofen, and drotaverine help relieve pain during menstruation. More effective painkillers that combine several active ingredients. For example, Trigan-D, which contains an analgesic and antispasmodic. Usually, using the right remedy helps alleviate severe pain.

If the pills do not help or their effect is insignificant and short-lived, you can try physiological methods. The day before the start of menstruation and on the first day, it is recommended to drink more diuretic liquids: lightly brewed tea, decoctions of parsley, dill seeds, elecampane root, currant compote. This will contribute better resorption and removal of puffiness. Additionally, you can apply dry heat to your stomach and lower back: a heating pad, a bottle of hot water. Make it easier for some severe cramps It is not heating the abdominal wall that helps, but cold. It is not advisable to use ice; just place a towel soaked in cold water on the lower abdomen.

For more tips on how to reduce period pain, talk to your gynecologist.

Pain treatment

If the first painful day of the menstrual cycle is not associated with health problems, is not accompanied by delays, the discharge has a normal appearance - without massive blood clots and pus, therapy does not involve any specific methods. Treatment of pain in this case consists of timely prevention of symptoms and their maximum relief:

It is recommended to choose a suitable painkiller. For each woman it is different: one is helped by Ketanov, Ibuklin, another by No-Shpa, Trigan-D or Nise.
If your health allows, on the first day of your period you need to walk more - movement promotes better discharge of edema, myometrium and mucus.
It is useful to perform special relaxing stretching exercises and yoga asanas.
A light massage of the abdominal wall helps, which you can do yourself: with your palms for 1–2 minutes. stroke and rub the abdomen clockwise.

Most women know firsthand about the signs of approaching menstruation, which manifest themselves in the form of irritability, mood swings, pain in the chest, lower back, side and abdomen. What are the causes of severe pain during menstruation? Why is the pain so much worse on day 1? This will be clarified in this article.

Pain during menstruation can be so severe that a woman experiences a disruption in her usual way of life. This condition is called dysmenorrhea.

Dysmenorrhea is irregularities in the menstrual cycle that are accompanied by pain. And neurophysiologists include in this concept disorders in the neurovegetative, endocrine and mental systems. The main symptom for all of them is one - pain on the eve of menstruation.

Dysmenorrhea, according to statistics, is widespread among women and the frequency of occurrence varies between 43-90%. Some people tolerate it very hard, some take it easier, and some have no problems at all. It all depends on the character, social status and working conditions of the woman.

As for the types of dysmenorrhea, most often it is acquired, that is, a pathology formed due to disturbances in the functioning of the woman’s genital organs. But there are also cases when dysmenorrhea occurs and at a young age without the presence of pathology. In this regard, this disease is divided into two types: primary and secondary.

Primary dysmenorrhea is also called idiopathic. It occurs in the absence of diseases of the genital organs, both after the first menstruation and after many years of the menstrual cycle. Pain on initial stage They are short-term in nature, they are aching and do not bother the woman much. But after a few years, the pain becomes more severe and lasts for several days.

There is a tendency that women who complain of pain during menstruation are diagnosed with diseases vegetative-vascular dystonia, myopia, mitral valve prolapse, flat feet and scoliosis.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is the result of a woman having various organic diseases. Pain syndrome is caused by a violation uterine blood supply, stretching of the walls of the uterus and spasm of its muscles.

Types of pain on the first day of menstruation

Only 25% of women do not experience pain during menstruation; for the remaining 75%, pain during menstruation is a constant companion. Pain usually begins a day or two before the onset of menstruation, or on its first day. These discomfort can be considered normal only if they do not cause a woman severe discomfort, do not impair her ability to get out of bed and go about her daily activities.

Pain appears on the first day of critical days in the lower abdomen and fades away gradually by the second or third day of menstruation. The pain can be aching, jerking or paroxysmal in nature and radiate to the lower back, bladder or rectum.

Along with this, many women experience apathy, depression, irritability, lack of appetite, nausea, and in rare cases, vomiting, excessive sweating, breast tenderness, constipation or diarrhea.

Pain on the first day of menstruation is associated with events occurring in female body hormonal changes during this period. Since the egg was not fertilized, the uterine mucosa begins to renew itself: removing the old endometrium and growing a new one. Hormones to get rid of the dying endometrium cause muscle contractions in the uterus, which is why women feel pain. But pain can also be associated with dysmenorrhea, the types of which are mentioned above.

If on the first day of your period the pain is not particularly severe, then in order to reduce the feeling of discomfort it is enough to follow only these simple rules:

drink more fluids;
perform physical activity at a moderate pace;
take a slightly warm shower (but do not sit in the bath);
take some painkiller.

But if the pain is so severe that a woman cannot get out of bed, it is better to consult a gynecologist to rule out serious health problems.

Migraine before and after menstruation

Migraines before and after menstruation are very common. main reason its occurrence is a surge in the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, and the predisposing factors for this condition are hereditary predisposition and a tendency to increased platelet aggregation.

Migraine can be observed not only before and after menstruation, but also during menopause, pregnancy and lactation. Each of these conditions provokes hormone surges, which is why severe headaches begin.

Very often, migraines occur in young girls during puberty, and disappear as hormonal levels normalize. But women also experience migraines during their periods for a longer period of time: for some, they go away after they give birth, while for others they last for the rest of their lives.

Migraine that begins before menstruation is associated with it and is called menstrual. During this period, intense headaches occur in the vast majority of women and their duration varies between 4-72 hours. A symptom of an onset migraine is localized throbbing pain on one side. If you ask a woman to rate her headache on a scale of ten, their ratings will be in the range of 5-9 points.

Migraine attacks before the onset of menstruation are often accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdomen.

Lower abdominal pain

Pain itself causes discomfort, but how to live if a woman experiences pain in the lower abdomen every month before her period? You need to understand where it comes from in order to take action.

If the pain is not severe, but nagging, and concentrated only in the lower abdomen, the woman should not be alarmed. They mean the approach of menstruation. In addition to these pains, a woman may also feel painful sensations in her chest. It’s good if the pain is not prolonged and taking antispasmodic drugs is not required. It is worse if it lasts from 1 to 3 days, and the woman cannot do without painkillers, which indicates dysmenorrhea and the help of a gynecologist will be needed.

Nagging pain in the lower back

Many women complain of lower back pain during menstrual periods. Among doctors there is even a concept of radiating pain. But don’t worry too much about nagging lumbar pain, since nowadays it can be easily eliminated medicines or massage.

Causes nagging pain in the lower back before menstruation are as follows:

inflammation in the uterus or its cervix, or ovaries;
curvature or bending of the uterus;
infections in the genitals, as a result of which adhesions have formed in the uterus;
myoma;
installed intrauterine device;
heredity;
changes in hormonal levels.

It will not be possible to determine the cause of lower back pain on your own without a gynecologist.

Chest pain

The female breast is a very sensitive and delicate organ, which reacts as an indicator to even the most minor hormonal changes in the female body. Changes in breast size and shape occur not only in different age periods women, but also during each menstrual cycle. So, after ovulation, the glandular tissues in the breasts become larger under the influence of progesterone. And a day or two before the onset of menstruation, when the body is convinced that there is no pregnancy, the tissues return to their previous sizes.

With such changes in the volume of tissue in the breast, slight swelling, and strong blood flow to the breast, the woman feels discomfort and pain.

My stomach hurts

Menstruation is already not a particularly pleasant event for women, but it is often accompanied by poor health and even pain in the stomach. It would seem what it has to do with menstruation and why it hurts a week before its onset and in the first days after its onset. This is directly related to premenstrual syndrome.

Stomach pain is the result of hormonal changes occurring in a woman’s body. Estrogen, progesterone and other hormones released in large quantities affect the uterus, and in response it becomes larger and begins to put pressure on all the organs around it. Hence the feeling of discomfort in the stomach, bloated belly and frequent bowel movements. This does not affect the woman’s performance in any way and the pain is usually tolerable.

Pain in the right side

Pain before or during menstruation is one of the most common reasons why women turn to a gynecologist. And most of them complain that the pain is localized in the right side. Such a painful symptom may appear due to the development of neurological or surgical pathologies, so it is very important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Normally, pain in women during menstruation should be localized in the lower abdomen or lower back. If pain is felt elsewhere, you should consider finding out its causes. Causes of pain in the lower right side include:

incorrectly installed intrauterine device;
ovarian cyst or torsion of its legs;
inflammatory process in appendages;
myoma.

In addition, pain in the right side may have nothing to do with gynecology, but it may be one of the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (appendicitis, Crohn's disease or diverticulitis) or the urinary system (cystitis, urolithiasis, pyelonephritis). It is very important to get examined to prevent your condition from getting worse.

Pain with uterine fibroids during menstruation

Myoma is a hormonal benign growth in the form of a tumor in the uterus, formed from smooth muscle connective tissue. Uterine fibroids can increase pain in every third woman, making it more intense and prolonged. The pain may decrease, but does not completely disappear even after the end of menstruation. These symptoms are especially pronounced if adenomyosis is present in addition to fibroids (when the endometrial glands penetrate into the adjacent layers of the organ).

If the neoplasm is submucosal, then during menstruation the pain is cramping in nature. This is due to the uterus trying to push the tumor out. Sometimes this happens and the myomatous nodule leaves the uterus along with the discharge.

Myoma also increases pain during menstruation because it puts pressure on organs adjacent to the uterus and, more often, on the intestines and bladder. Manifestations from the intestines during menstrual periods are noticeable even without a neoplasm, and with it, flatulence and pain only intensify. And when manifested from the outside Bladder a woman notices that she has begun to go to the toilet more often.

How to get rid of pain on the first day of your period

What to do to get rid of or at least reduce pain during menstruation? The first thing that comes to mind is to take a painkiller. This is of course effective, but also a suitable drug and correct dosage a doctor must prescribe, otherwise you can only harm yourself and develop a disease due to which you may experience pain during menstruation.

Pain can be relieved without taking pills, just by following these rules:

stop smoking and reduce alcohol consumption;
eat less dairy and meat products before your period begins;
do sports or yoga;
massage the area where the pain is felt, clockwise;
avoid hypothermia and stress;
place a warm heating pad on your stomach.

When to call an ambulance

Women in particularly severe cases during menstruation may need immediate medical attention. It is recommended to call an ambulance if a woman has a fever during her period, has a fever, feels sick and vomits, has lost consciousness, or has discharge from the vagina. copious discharge, and my lower stomach hurts so much that I want to bend over.

Severe pain can lead to severe consequences. For example, due to the onset of infectious toxic shock, a woman may experience confusion, psychomotor agitation, high temperature and fever. Such a shock occurs due to a woman’s failure to comply with the rules of intimate hygiene.

Heavy periods may result in bleeding. If there was a delay at first and then menstruation began, then the woman’s pregnancy could thus be disrupted.

According to statistics, most women have experienced premenstrual pain at least once in their lives. For some of them, it was so strong that even movement became impossible. In such cases, the first thing you need to do is relieve the pain. There are different methods for this.

The most effective remedy is painkillers. But if the pain is not too severe, there is no point in taking them, because to some extent they cause harm to the body. It is preferable to use other methods, for example, applying a heating pad, taking sedatives, drinking relaxing and healthy infusions, breathing exercises, massage. Each method has its own nuances, so we will look at them in more detail. Taking painkillers. The following drugs are in good demand: “Analgin”, “Spazgan”, “Ketanov”, “Nimesulide”, “Baralgin”, “No-shpa”, “Ibuprofen”. If you experience severe pain every month, consult your gynecologist about purchasing the most suitable drug. If the remedies don't help, try double-dose painkillers (such as Ibuprofen). If the pain is not severe, try to eliminate it in another way. Reception sedatives. If you feel nervous, take a sedative. Even valerian will do. Menstrual pain may occur due to a restless nervous system. If you often experience stress, start as soon as possible before other disorders appear. Warm heating pad. Take a heating pad or a bottle of warm water. Place it on your stomach. This method will help increase blood circulation, as a result of which spasms will decrease. Some experts note that heat can cause increased bleeding, so keep the heating pad on for no more than 15 minutes. Then lie quietly and do not strain yourself for the whole day. Herbal drink. It is recommended to drink a lot during menstruation. You can drink any hot drink, but for our purpose, herbal tea is best. The latter can be purchased at the pharmacy in dry form.

Chamomile. Take 1 tbsp. l. chamomile and pour a glass of boiling water over it. For a more effective effect, it is recommended to add 1 tbsp to chamomile. l. lemon balm. Let the drink brew for at least 30 minutes, then strain. The infusion can be drunk throughout the day before meals.
Raspberry leaves. Take 2-3 tsp. raspberry leaves and pour a glass of boiling water over it. After 15 minutes, strain the drink and drink in small sips throughout the day.
Oregano. You will need 1 tbsp. l. oregano. Pour a glass of boiling water over it, and strain after 20 minutes. The drink can also be drunk throughout the day.

Breathing exercises. Experts say that breathing exercises are very effective in relieving spasms. Take a light object and place it on your stomach. A book (like a telephone directory) is ideal. Tune in to calm, then begin to breathe slowly and carefully through your nose. At the same time as you inhale, lift your stomach with the book. Then stop and tense it. After 5 seconds, continue the breathing exercise with deep relaxation muscles. Do it for no more than 2 minutes. Massage. One more effective technique is a massage. A simple option is to massage your stomach in a circle. You can also massage your spine. In some cases this technique is very helpful. Take 2 tennis balls (or other hard ones) and put them in your socks. Then lie on them and place them on both sides of the spine. Try rolling the balls with your muscles for 2-3 minutes. Diet. If you want to get rid of period pain, pay attention to your diet. Before menstruation begins, it is not recommended to eat meat and dairy products. It is preferable to drink natural juices, especially parsley, carrot and beetroot. Experts also recommend consuming vitamins: calcium, magnesium, B and E. The day before the start of menstruation, it is recommended to reduce the amount of food you eat or not eat at all. Physical exercise. Exercise 25-20 minutes a day. All women who experience pain during menstruation should practice yoga. It was found that women leading healthy image life, are much less likely to suffer from menstrual pain. Therefore, if necessary, review your lifestyle, daily routine and give up bad habits. If pain occurs for the first time, this may indicate the appearance of a disease. In this case, first relieve the pain and then get examined by a gynecologist. If you experience pain every time during menstruation, and you still haven’t consulted a doctor, don’t hesitate. In most cases there is nothing serious, but an examination is necessary.

Each woman is individual, so there is no single recipe for eliminating menstrual pain. But, having set a goal, you can choose suitable remedy. The above tips will help you choose the most effective way for your body.

Pain in the lower abdomen for most women during menstruation is normal phenomenon, which they face on a monthly basis. The most severe pain during menstruation is felt in the first days, and starting from the third day, its intensity gradually subsides. Menstrual pain is nagging in nature, but the pain syndrome has the form of colic and acute pain in the lower abdomen. This phenomenon is usually called, it most often affects young people, nulliparous women, as well as ladies with excess weight and harmful addictions.

Dysmenorrhea is diagnosed when a woman’s painful regulation is accompanied by a whole complex of pathological symptoms, including headaches, nausea, weakness and fatigue. For some women, severe pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation prevents them from exercising household chores and significantly reduce performance, so you should know the main reasons that provoke pain and be able to cope with them.

In this article you will learn why your stomach hurts during menstruation, and what to do if the sensations are very strong.

What can hurt and accompanying symptoms

is a normal process that occurs in all women of reproductive age every month, starting from puberty and until the onset of menopause, when withering occurs reproductive function. During menstruation, a woman feels a certain discomfort and there is an additional need to comply with hygiene standards.

Very often, the process of rejection of the inner layer of the uterus is accompanied by menstrual pain, they resemble short-term cramps in the lower abdomen, which disappear on the second day of menstruation.

Both biological and mechanical processes are involved in cleansing the body during regulation. The nervous system sends a signal to the muscles of the genital organs, causing them to spasm. What actually hurts during menstruation is the contracting walls of the uterus, which thus push out the exfoliated endometrium and blood through the vagina. The whole process is controlled by impulses that pass through nerve cells. Pain is only felt when there is insufficient nutrition nerve cells, as a result of which they stop nerve impulses.

Usually, pain begins to be felt on the eve of menstruation, in which case we can talk about the presence of dysmenorrhea. This is the medical name for a condition in which the stomach hurts very much during menstruation. The nature of the pain is usually aching, stabbing or cramping; a woman’s lower abdomen pulls, and the pain can also radiate to the kidney area or lower back. Mild pain is typical for menstruation; if it intensifies, you should definitely seek help from a doctor, as there are the only symptom some dangerous gynecological diseases, including oncology. But even in the absence of obvious causes, severe pain in some cases may require medical treatment.

If the cause of pain during regulation is diseases and infections in the organs of the reproductive and urinary systems, then accompanying symptoms may be observed:

pain in the back and sacral area;
heaviness and pain in the lower extremities;
general weakness and poor health;
emotional swings, in which aggressiveness and irritability are replaced by complete apathy.

The intensity of pain is different for each woman and depends on the characteristics of the body, on its general condition, from heredity and a woman’s lifestyle. About 32% of women aged 18 to 25 years experience very severe pain, which has a detrimental effect on performance and disrupts their normal lifestyle. At the age of 25-35, this percentage decreases slightly and amounts to 28%, and at the age of 35-45, almost 40% of the fair sex experience monthly pain. The choice of treatment for this pathology will depend on the type of dysmenorrhea and its severity.

Classification and degrees of deviations

Most often, the stomach hurts severely on the first day of menstruation, and starting from the second day, the pain subsides. If a woman experiences severe pain on the eve of menstruation and accompanies all her menstrual periods, then a diagnosis of dysmenorrhea is made. Depending on the causes of occurrence, two types of pathology are distinguished:

primary dysmenorrhea or functional. It is diagnosed when the body produces increased amount prostaglandins, which cause excessive contraction of the uterine muscles. In this case, painful sensations appear on the eve of menstruation and continue for another 3-4 days. This type of dysmenorrhea is typical for girls 16-25 years old. Associated symptoms are headache, diarrhea and nausea. Since pain in this case is not associated with any pathologies, ultrasound will not show any developmental anomalies or lesions in the pelvic organs. The situation may improve with age or after the birth of a child;
secondary or acquired algomenorrhea. It appears most often in women after 30 years of age. The cause of such dysmenorrhea may be excessive excitability of the nerve roots during uterine contractions, inflammation and pathology in the organs of the reproductive system, endometriosis. Painful sensations can also be the body’s reaction to the intrauterine device.

In the case when, over the years, pain during menstruation remains at the same level of intensity, then they are usually called compensated, but if they increase with each cycle, these are decompensated pain.

Depending on the intensity of menstrual pain, there are 4 degrees of dysmenorrhea:

Zero degree. The pain is mild, tolerable and does not require painkillers.
The first degree is characterized by moderate pain, which is accompanied by depression, digestive system disorders and headaches. You may feel slightly unwell and drowsy, but the woman remains incapacitated and is still physically active. In 40% of women, this stage of algomenorrhea manifests itself from the first menstruation. After childbirth or with age, the situation changes, and until the end of reproductive function, about a quarter of all women live with moderately painful periods. If the pain is at the same level, then no measures need to be taken; 1-2 painkiller tablets per day are enough. special cases. If they increase, mandatory consultation with a specialist is required.
The second degree is severe menstrual pain, accompanied by nausea, chills, dizziness, migraine-like pain, general weakness and irritability. Analgesics and sedatives help correct the situation.
The third degree of dysmenorrhea is diagnosed with very severe pain in the lower abdomen, which begins 2 or even 3 days before the regulation, and only goes away with its end. Additionally, the body temperature may rise, severe headaches may occur, which can provoke vomiting, the heart rhythm may become erratic, and heart problems may appear. A woman may faint, lose her ability to work, and ordinary painkillers from the home medicine cabinet cannot cope with the situation. This is a very dangerous degree of algomenorrhea, which can lead to disruption of the menstrual cycle, and even cause infertility. Often at this stage dysmenorrhea is diagnosed and accompanying illnesses reproductive system or nearby organs.

Why does pain occur during menstrual periods?

In adolescents, primary algomenorrhea is most often diagnosed, associated with abnormal location of the uterus or developmental anomaly reproductive organs. Often, after the first birth, pain during menstruation for women with primary dysmenorrhea ceases to cause discomfort.

If dysmenorrhea occurs after puberty, then it is considered to be secondary; such abdominal pain can be caused by various reasons:

uterine contractions. This is the main factor that causes severe pain during the regulative period, even during the menstrual cycle, which proceeds without any disturbances. The contraction of the smooth muscles that make up the walls of the uterus is caused by the hormone prostaglandin; the higher its level, the higher the contractility of the uterine muscles. Normally, this hormone is responsible for the timely cleansing of the uterus from exfoliated endometrium, but with its increased concentration, intense muscle contractions cause a woman to feel pain. Not only the intensity, but also the nature of the pain depends on this hormone;
Critical days are especially painful if a woman has genital diseases. Unbearable pain during regulation occurs with endometriosis, uterine fibrosis and inflammatory processes in the organs of the reproductive system. Pain syndrome can signal an existing disease, or be a consequence of an already eliminated gynecological illness;
A deficiency of certain microelements can lead to disruptions in the menstrual cycle, resulting in painful periods. In this way, a lack of calcium and magnesium in a woman’s body may occur;
genetic predisposition. If a woman’s closest relatives suffered from severe menstrual pain, then she too is at risk. Not only pain sensations, but also the pathologies that cause them could be inherited;
An imbalance of hormones and, as a result, painful periods can be caused by stress and poor nutrition.

If pain during menstruation does not go away even after taking painkillers, they can be triggered by the following factors:

bending and displacement of the uterus. If these are congenital anomalies, then there is a high probability that the pain will go away after childbirth;
avitaminosis;
a sharp drop in progesterone levels;
cysts and polyps in the ovaries;
spontaneous abortion;
emotional overstrain, state of shock;
adhesions;
polycystic ovary syndrome;
hormonal imbalance caused increased activity thyroid glands;
intrauterine device;
excessive excitability of the nervous system;
pelvic overload syndrome;
cervical stenosis;
recent operations, including abortion, childbirth;
sedentary lifestyle;
malignant tumors.

If the pain during the procedure is tolerable and lasts a short period of time, there is no need to panic, but if the pain is severe, consultation with a specialist is necessary.

Diagnostics

To determine the exact reason why a woman experiences severe pain during menstruation, it is necessary to undergo comprehensive examination. It must include the following activities:

an oral survey, during which the gynecologist draws up big picture and makes an assumption about the possible cause of menstrual pain;
gynecological examination in a chair and palpation of the mammary glands;
Ultrasound examination of the organs of the reproductive system;
blood tests for hormones;
a smear for flora and cytology, the latter will help determine the presence of sexually transmitted diseases.

In some cases, hysteroscopy or laparoscopy may be necessary, as well as additional consultations with specialists (surgeon, endocrinologist, psychologist, etc.).

When to see a doctor

If your stomach hurts very much during your period, this may be one of the signs serious problems with a woman’s health, and without the help of a gynecologist it is impossible to eliminate them on your own. You need to see a specialist in the following cases:

due to the pain, performance decreases so much that the woman is forced to take a day off from work and lie in bed;
if your period has been going on for 2-3 days, and the pain does not decrease in intensity;
bleeding has been profuse for more than 2 days, and there are large, dark clots in the discharge;
if the woman is already long time systematically takes hormonal contraceptives, and pain during regulation does not reduce its intensity;
if painful periods begin to bother a mature woman;
if painkillers and antispasmodics are not able to calm the pain;
if intensity bloody discharge during the regulation only increases;
when, in addition to pain in the lower abdomen, there is a headache, nausea and diarrhea;
violated menstrual cycle;
the woman lost weight dramatically.

If you experience the symptoms listed above, you should immediately seek help from a specialist who will then complex diagnostics will be able to determine the cause of the pain and prescribe the correct treatment.

Ways to reduce pain

Experts say that any pain cannot be tolerated, because it not only has a detrimental effect on the emotional state, but can harm both physical and mental health. If a woman experiences severe pain during regulation, first of all it is recommended that she consult a gynecologist, but if this is not possible, there are some ways to help with pain during regulation:

Thermal procedures perfectly relieve muscle spasms, but they cannot be used in inflammatory or purulent processes, as well as in inflammation of appendicitis. If you do not know the exact cause of severe menstrual pain, then there is no need to experiment with warming procedures. If the cause is muscle spasm, then warm water will be the best help. It is applied to the lower abdomen for a quarter of an hour, but no more than twice a day. A more gentle method of warming up is to apply a warm diaper, which is ironed on several sides;
water procedures. A hot bath is relaxing, but during regular periods it is better to replace it with a short warm shower. This procedure will eliminate fatigue and relieve pain, while you can additionally massage your stomach with a washcloth to relax the muscles and ease the spasm;
you can make a compress with sea salt and apply it to the lower abdomen, this will remove pain during regulation;
massage using a warm mala containing warming additives or essential oils, which are preheated in a water bath to body temperature. Essential oils of saffron, bergamot and grapefruit relieve spasms, but you can replace them with regular baby massage oil. Before the massage, be sure to measure the heating temperature of the oil to prevent thermal burn massaged area. Massage movements along the abdomen and lower back should be done clockwise, this will reduce pressure on the abdominal cavity. If a woman does not have allergies, then a composition of essential oils, which includes 4 drops of oil, can be rubbed into the lower abdomen and lower back throughout all periods clary sage, 5 drops each of marjoram and yarrow oil and 50 ml of St. John's wort oil;
if painful periods are caused by dehydration, which often accompanies heavy menstrual blood loss, then the treatment is simply to normalize the drinking regime. If there is a lack of fluid in the body, pain in the lower abdomen will be dull or sharp, but in no case cramp-like. Typically, pain of this kind is not too intense, but it may well cause discomfort for women with a low pain threshold. You can replenish the lack of fluid with spring water, still mineral water, teas and herbal infusions, berry compotes and dried fruit decoctions. You can drink fresh fruit, but it is better not to drink alcohol, strong tea, coffee and cocoa;
It is useful not only throughout the entire cycle, but also during regular periods to engage in not too intense physical activity, which improves tone and eliminates spasms - Pilates, gymnastics, yoga, morning exercises and swimming;
some experts recommend applying an ice pack to the lower abdomen, but for no more than 10-15 minutes; this advice is not supported by all gynecologists, so before using it, you should consult with your doctor;
Physiotherapeutic procedures – electrophoresis, acupuncture, auto-training, psychological therapy, etc. – can cope with menstrual pain;
you need to improve your psycho-emotional state, relax, for this you can read a book or watch an interesting film, go to the cinema or spend time in the company of a loved one. Positive emotions can reduce the intensity of pain;
assume the fetal position. This position relieves spasms and relaxes the muscles. For positive effect a woman needs to lie on her side, pull her legs up to her chest and lie down, or better yet, sleep.

In especially severe cases, treatment of pain during menstrual periods cannot be done without medications.

Drugs

In some cases, in order to cope with pain during regulation, the doctor prescribes it to the woman. Medicines from several groups with different mechanisms of action are usually prescribed:

gestagens;
hormonal contraceptives in tablet form;
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The first group of drugs affects secretory changes in the mucous layer of the uterus, but does not affect ovulatory function. Progesterone and testosterone are actively used. These artificial hormones reduce uterine tone and the amount of prostaglandins produced, and reduce the excitability of the nerve roots located in the uterine muscles.

Use hormonal contraceptives has a beneficial effect on a woman’s hormonal levels and normalizes her menstrual cycle. Birth control pills suppress ovulatory function, reduce the intensity of menstruation, suppress nervous excitability and uterine tone. Therefore, with systematic use of oral contraception, menstrual pain is significantly reduced. Progestins and oral contraceptives have a long-lasting effect.

If women have a contraindication or excessive sensitivity to hormonal drugs, for menstrual pain the doctor may prescribe non-steroidal drugs, which reduce the level of prostaglandins, but the effect of taking them will be observed for 2-6 hours. This group of drugs includes Mig, Diclofenac, Ketoprofen, Nimesil, Ibuprofen, Nurofen Express, Next, Ibufen.

antispasmodics. They relieve spasms of smooth muscles and blood vessels. The most famous medicines from this group are Drotoverine. To relieve spasms, it is enough to take 1 tablet; you can repeat the dose 2-3 times a day. You can also use intramuscular injections, they relieve pain faster. More soft action Papaverine is an antispasmodic and is available in the form of rectal suppositories. It must be placed in 1-2 candles for 3-5 days, it has a cumulative effect, so you should not expect a lightning-fast effect;
if, in addition to pain, there are other unpleasant symptoms, experts recommend using complex-action drugs that not only relieve pain, but also eliminate spasm and inflammation. Pentalgin also belongs to this group of drugs;
if pain during regulation provokes overexcitation of the nervous system, an appointment may be prescribed sedatives(Persen, Fitosed).

It is worth mentioning separately about the well-known Analgin. These tablets were previously used to relieve any pain. Most women still use it for menstrual pain, although Analgin has too many side effects, which are eliminated in modern analogues. Since this drug can cause bleeding and reduce the production of white blood cells, it should only be used if other medications are ineffective. For mild pain, you can use Paracetamol; women choose this medication because of its rapid action, although for severe pain it is useless.

Any medication whose action is aimed at eliminating pain has a number of contraindications and side effects Therefore, it should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor, based on the diagnosis and general health of the patient.

Help from folk remedies

There are many folk remedies, which can soothe menstrual pain, they can be easily prepared at home. It is important to remember that taking any medications from alternative medicine should be agreed with your doctor.

Let's talk about the most effective folk recipes to help cope with menstrual pain:

ginger tea. Ginger root contains many phytoncides, esters and glycosides that can relieve pain and have an antibacterial effect. To prepare tea you need to take 1 teaspoon of grated, fresh or half a dry ginger root, pour boiling water, add a pinch of cinnamon and leave for 6-7 minutes. The drink can be supplemented with a lemon balm leaf, a slice of lemon or sweetened with sugar. A woman will be able to feel the effect of tea within half an hour. This recipe is not suitable for women with acute diseases digestive system and blood diseases. Ginger tea should also not be drunk during heavy periods;
mint tea with lemon balm. This herbal mixture has a pronounced analgesic effect. To prepare the drink, mix 2 g of dry or fresh peppermint and lemon balm leaves, add 4-5 drops of lemongrass oil and pour a glass of boiling water. Tea is brewed for 6-7 minutes. Schisandra can be replaced with 5 g of orange, lemon or other citrus zest. Drink tea daily until the regulation is complete. It can serve as a prophylactic; for this purpose it is taken daily in the morning and a couple of hours before bedtime;
chamomile tea with raspberries. In this recipe, it is raspberries that are used, and not leaves, since the latter, on the contrary, help to strengthen uterine contractions. Eliminate muscle spasm into the uterus and thereby relieve the pain, a tablespoon of pharmaceutical chamomile poured into a glass of boiling water, to which 15 g of dried raspberries is added. The drink is infused for 10 minutes, then a little cinnamon and honey are added. This tea will not only soothe and relieve spasms, but will also have a general strengthening effect on the female body;
Herbal decoctions with horsetail and bearberry will help get rid of pain, but have a diuretic effect. You need to drink this drug before your period;
Tea with catnip will help calm and relax the uterine muscles;
An infusion of oregano will help get rid of cramps not only in the uterus, but also in the intestines, this significantly alleviates a woman’s condition during her period. A spoonful of dry raw materials is poured into a glass of boiled water and infused for some time, taken three times a day before meals;
A decoction of viburnum bark shows good effectiveness in the fight against menstrual pain. 4 tsp. dry bark, add 0.25 liters of water and boil for half an hour. Drink a tablespoon before meals;
Strawberries also work well.

Physical exercise

Experts have developed a whole range of physical exercises that allow you, without the use of medications, to get rid of not only severe menstrual pain, but also the accompanying symptoms. The following exercises can be performed every day for prevention and during menstruation to relieve pain:

lying on your back, bend your knees and place your feet on the floor. Hands are placed along the body with palms facing the floor. On a short exhalation, a smooth deflection of the abdomen is made for several minutes. The muscles completely relax. Repeat 4 times;
you need to lie on your back with your buttocks positioned as close as possible to the wall, and your legs raised up perpendicular to the floor, then your legs bend at the knees. You need to stay in this position for 4-5 minutes;
You need to lie on your back, straighten your legs, pull one leg up to your chin, and leave the other on the floor. You need to spend 2-3 minutes in this position, and then do the exercise on the other leg;
you need to get on all fours and lean your elbows on the floor, you need to hold your head between your hands. You need to stay in this pose for 2-3 minutes. A similar exercise can be done lying on your back;
You need to lie face down on the floor, bring your feet together and strain your knees. As you exhale, the body rises, the head is thrown back and the buttocks contract. You need to stay in this position for half a minute. As you exhale, return to the starting position.

These exercises are suitable for those who are contraindicated drug treatment, but they should be performed only as prescribed by a doctor in cases where a woman has a spinal disorder and is diagnosed with arterial hypertension.

Prevention

To avoid having to treat dysmenorrhea, it is better to initially follow simple preventive recommendations:

do not drink alcohol, especially during menstruation;
quit smoking;
avoid hypothermia, overheating and any stressful situations for the body;
do not eat junk food, spicy and very hot dishes, drink no more than 2 cups of coffee a day;
consume every day dairy products, rich in calcium (yogurt, fermented baked milk, kefir);
be active sex life. This helps normalize blood circulation and relaxes the muscles of the genital organs;
you should move more, go for walks fresh air, if possible, do yoga, swimming or gymnastics;
daily baths with sea salt, alternating with cold showers, will help improve blood circulation in the pelvic organs;
use vitamin complexes containing calcium and magnesium;
remove foods from the diet, fermentative and bloating;
You should regularly visit a gynecologist at least once a year, and if you experience any unpleasant symptoms, you should immediately seek medical help.

A bar of chocolate, which contains calcium and magnesium and stimulates the production of endorphin, the hormone of happiness, will help improve your mood during menstruation.

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

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

Feelings of pain and discomfort during menstruation are explained by contraction of the uterine muscles. When blood and fragments of exfoliated endometrium accumulate in the uterus, there is a need to quickly empty the uterine cavity of them. The uterine wall begins to intensively contract rhythmically, and its contents are evacuated, and unpleasant subjective sensations may appear in the projection of the uterus. The more the muscles of the uterus contract, the higher the likelihood of pain.

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

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

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

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

If menstrual pain does not always signal pathology, then which of them should you pay special attention to:

— Menstrual pain should certainly be on the alert for menstrual disorders, which include dysfunctional uterine bleeding (heavy periods with a clear periodicity), (irregular bleeding without set time intervals), polymenorrhea (frequent menstruation), intermenstrual bleeding and others.

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

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

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

- The seriousness of the causes of painful periods is indicated by their constant nature, when menstrual pain occurs (as it seems, without obvious serious reasons) begin to repeat monthly.

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

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

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

Treatment of menstrual pain should always be consistent with its cause. Relieving menstrual pain does not mean curing it, so therapy uses not only painkillers for menstrual pain. It is necessary to influence the cause of the disease and prevent its worsening.

Causes of menstrual pain

Sometimes painful periods happen due to completely harmless reasons. For example, menstrual pain can appear as a result of an improperly organized lifestyle during menstruation, when patients overexert themselves physically: lifting weights, playing sports, and also doing work associated with significant work. physical activity. Hypothermia and hypothermia can increase pain during menstruation. colds, stress and significant psycho-emotional stress. As a rule, arising from stated reasons painful periods occur only once, respond well to self-administered remedies for menstrual pain and do not recur.

A diagnostically important criterion is the time of occurrence painful menstruation. Conventionally, all menstrual pain is classified according to the moment of appearance into primary and secondary.

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

The most common causes of primary menstrual pain are:

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

— Mechanical obstacles to the timely evacuation of the contents of the uterine cavity during menstrual bleeding. These include, first of all, birth defects development of the genitals: incorrect position of the uterus or its abnormal structure, partial or complete fusion (atresia) of the cervical cavity.

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

- Psycho-emotional. Pronounced stress, prolonged emotional experiences and can change correct work brain, including the centers regulating the menstrual cycle. Stress can also change the perception of pain by changing its threshold.

Sometimes the source of primary menstrual pain remains unclear. If, upon examination of a patient with primary menstrual pain, no organic or functional pathology is revealed, menstrual pain is considered an individual norm and correlated with a low pain threshold.

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

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

Symptoms and signs of menstrual pain

Primary menstrual pain manifests itself from the first menstruation or appears in the first year and a half after its onset. More often they appear in girls and women of asthenic physique, with low body weight and a labile psyche.

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

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

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

- The first, easiest, degree differs insignificantly painful sensations without accompanying negative systemic symptoms. Usually there is a slight pulling, aching or pressing sensation for a short time, equal to the period of heavy menstrual bleeding. The patient feels well and continues to lead an active life without taking pills for menstrual pain, but over time the pain syndrome may worsen.

- The second, moderate, degree of severity of menstrual pain is characterized by a more vivid clinical picture. The pain recurs every menstruation and is accompanied by other, systemic, pathological symptoms, and in the case of secondary pain, the patient shows signs of the underlying disease. This degree of severity of pain during menstruation can no longer be ignored, as it worsens well-being and does not allow one to lead a normal life. The patient always has to take pain medication for second-degree menstrual pain. An important diagnostic criterion that allows us to differentiate this degree of pain syndrome from others is quick withdrawal menstrual pain with medications.

— The third degree of menstrual pain can be called very severe. Pelvic pain is so severe that it makes it impossible for the patient to get out of bed. Systemic symptoms are more intense. No self-administered medications for third-degree menstrual pain alleviate the patient’s condition.

The cause of menstrual pain is not always obvious; finding it often requires a large list diagnostic measures. They are carried out until the origins of the pain are discovered.

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

In adolescents, the leading complaints are primary menstrual pain due to menstrual irregularities in combination with.

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

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

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

Secondary menstrual pain is always combined with symptoms of the gynecological disease that caused it. The most common causes of painful menstruation of secondary origin are:

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

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

— Inflammatory diseases and their main complication is the adhesive process. Adhesions change position and mobility pelvic organs. At adhesive process the pain syndrome is not limited only to the period of menstruation, the pain is constant, and during menstrual bleeding only intensifies.

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

Laboratory diagnosis is most important for secondary menstrual pain. If their cause was an infectious process, the results of a study of the microbial composition of vaginal discharge and cervical canal(smear, culture, etc.) help determine the “culprit” of inflammation.

Also within laboratory research The level of main hormones (LH, FSH, estrogens, progesterone and others) is determined.

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

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

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

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

Treatment of menstrual pain

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

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

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

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

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

Self-medication of this condition is unacceptable. Pills or suppositories chosen at random for menstrual pain may temporarily eliminate the pain, but are unable to eliminate their cause.