Dealing with Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps (Dysmenorrhoea) refer to the throbbing pain women in their fertility periods experience during their menses. This pain is found in the lower abdomen of these women and can occur either before or during their menstrual period. For some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. But for others, menstrual cramps can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities for a few days and every month. Apart from the lower abdominal pain, other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, dizziness, loose stools (Diarrhoea), headaches, and at certain times pain in the hips and thighs. A woman is at risk of experiencing menstrual cramps when she is younger than age 30, started puberty at an early age of 11 or younger, have heavy bleeding during periods, have irregular menstrual bleeding, have never given birth, have a family history of dysmenorrhea, alcoholic or a smoker.

Menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea can be primary or secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is another name for common menstrual cramps. This cramps usually begin one to two years after a woman starts getting her period. The pain is usually felt in the lower abdomen or back and can be mild to severe. Common menstrual cramps often start shortly before or at the onset of the period and continue one to three days. They usually become less painful as a woman ages and may stop entirely after the woman has her first baby. Secondary dysmenorrhea is pain caused by a disorder in the woman's reproductive organs such as Endometriosis, Uterine fibroids, Adenomyosis, Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and cervical stenosis. These cramps usually begin earlier in the menstrual cycle and last longer than common menstrual cramps.

Menstrual cramps are caused by the contractions that take place in the uterus of the woman. During the menstrual period, the uterus (womb) contracts to help expel its lining which has become useless because there was no fertilization. The shedding of the lining is what comes out as blood. During the menstrual period, hormone-like substances called “prostaglandins” which is involved in pain and inflammation trigger the uterine muscle to contract. Higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with more-severe menstrual cramps. If the uterus contracts too strongly, it can press against nearby blood vessels, cutting off the supply of oxygen to the muscle tissue of the uterus. Pain results when part of a muscle briefly loses its supply of oxygen. The pain can be compared to the chest pain that occurs when blocked blood vessels starve portions of the heart of food and oxygen.

At the hospital, the treatment of menstrual cramps includes the use of pain killers, oral contraceptives and surgery.

1. Pain relievers. Your doctor may suggest taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen at regular doses starting the day before you expect your period to begin. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) may also lessen your pain. Start taking the pain reliever at the beginning of your period, or as soon as you feel symptoms, and continue taking the medicine as directed for two to three days, or until your symptoms have gone away.
2. Hormonal birth control. Oral birth control pills contain hormones that prevent ovulation and reduce the severity of menstrual cramps. These hormones can also be delivered in several other forms: an injection, a patch you wear on your skin, an implant placed under the skin of your arm, a flexible ring that you insert into your vagina, or an intrauterine device (IUD).
3. Surgery. If your menstrual cramps are caused by an underlying disorder, such as endometriosis or fibroids, surgery to correct the problem may help reduce your symptoms. Surgical removal of the uterus also may be an option if you're not planning to have children.

 To relieve pain at home, the following steps can be followed.

1. Exercise:  Studies have found that physical activity may ease the pain of menstrual cramps. Brisk walking, or any type of physical activity, can help to ease menstrual pains. When you do any type of aerobic exercise, your body pumps more blood to the rest of the body. This helps in the release of endorphins which counteract the prostaglandins and reduce your cramps. Exercising three to four times a week is good for the overall health of your body, but it is especially important if you're prone to painful menstrual cramps. 
2. Apply heat: Heat helps to relax the contracting muscles in the uterus, which is the cause for your pain. There are many over-the-counter heating patches and pads available in the market for use. Even taking a regular plastic bottle with hot water and applying it to your abdomen is an alternative when you don't have access to a heating pad. Applying heat may be just as effective as over-the-counter pain medication for relieving menstrual cramps.
   
3. Dietary supplements. A number of studies have indicated that vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-1 (thiamine), vitamin B-6 and magnesium supplements may effectively reduce menstrual cramps.  Vitamin D is also important in preventing menstrual cramps. A study found that high doses of vitamin D3 led to a significant decrease in menstrual cramps as reported by Health.com.
4. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco. These substances can make menstrual cramps worse.
5. Reducing stress. Psychological stress may increase your risk of menstrual cramps and their severity.