Abdominal pain when you have your period

Around 50% of women experience abdominal pain during their period, with up to 15% describing their menstrual cramps as severe. Studies of teenage girls show that over 90% of girls experience abdominal pain during their monthly cycle.

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Causes of abdominal pain during menstruation

Painful periods are divided into two groups, depending on the cause:

• Primary dysmenorrhea
• Secondary dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that occurs when healthy young women first begin menstruating. This pain is usually not associated with a specific problem with the uterus or other pelvic organs. Increased activity of prostaglandin hormones, which are produced in the uterus, plays a major role in this condition.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that develops later in women with normal periods. It is often associated with problems in the uterus or other pelvic organs, such as

• Endometriosis
• Myoma
• Copper intrauterine device (IUD)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Stress and anxiety

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Painful menstruation

Painful periods are a condition in which a woman experiences cramping pain in the lower abdomen, sharp or aching pain that comes and goes, and is sometimes accompanied by back pain. The medical term for painful periods is dysmenorrhea. While mild pain during menstruation is normal, severe pain is not normal.

Many women experience painful periods. Sometimes abdominal pain during menstruation deprives her of the opportunity to live and work fully: at home, at work, at school - time for several days during each menstrual cycle is simply lost from life due to pain. Painful menstruation is the most common reason for losing time from studying and working among women in their teens and over 20 years old.

Lab tests that may include

• Complete blood count
• Vaginal swab to rule out sexually transmitted infections
• Laparoscopy
• Ultrasound

Home care for painful periods

The following steps may allow you to avoid medications:

1. Apply the heating pad to the lower abdomen, below the navel. 15-20 minutes will be enough - never fall asleep with the heating pad on your stomach, this can lead to bleeding.
2. Make a circular massage with your fingertips on the lower abdomen.
3. Drink warm tea.
4. Eat light salads, eat small but frequent meals.
5. Follow a diet rich in complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, but low in salt, sugar, alcohol and caffeine.
6. Lie down and keep your legs raised, or lie on your side with your knees bent.
7. Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga.
8. Try anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. Start taking it the day before your period starts. You can continue taking it regularly for the first few days after your period.
9. Try vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium supplements.
10. Take a warm shower or bath.
11. Walk or exercise regularly, including pelvic floor exercises.
12. Lose weight if you are overweight. Do regular aerobic exercise.

If these preventive measures do not work, your gynecologist may prescribe medications such as:

• Antibiotics
• Antidepressants
• Contraceptive pills
• Prescription anti-inflammatory drugs
• Prescription pain relievers

When to Call Your Doctor for Period Abdominal Pain

Call your doctor if you have:

• Large amounts of vaginal discharge or foul-smelling discharge
• Pelvic pain
• Sudden or severe pain in the lower abdomen, especially if your period is more than a week late and you have been sexually active.

Also see a doctor if:

• The treatment does not relieve your period abdominal pain even after 3 months.
• During menstruation, blood clots are released and there are symptoms of pain.
• The pain does not occur at the time of menstruation, it begins more than 5 days before the date of menstruation or continues after it.

Treatment for painful periods

Treatment for menstrual cramps depends on what exactly is causing your period abdominal pain.

Your doctor may prescribe birth control pills to help relieve menstrual cramps. If you don't need them to control your pregnancy, you can stop using the pills after 6 months and up to 12 months. Many women experience relief from their pain symptoms after stopping treatment.

Switching to a different type of birth control that contains the hormone progesterone, which usually makes periods lighter and less painful.

Surgery may be needed if other treatments don't relieve your pain. Your doctor may use surgery to remove cysts, fibroids, scar tissue, or the uterus (hysterectomy).

Abdominal pain during menstruation can be overcome if you do not give up and use different treatment options.