Painful periods, lower abdomen hurts. Why does my stomach hurt during menstruation?

Most women experience unpleasant sensations during menstruation: periodic pain in the lower abdomen, a feeling of heaviness and soreness in the mammary glands, increased irritability. Sometimes the stomach hurts so much during menstruation that it is impossible to do normal activities. Why does this happen, and what to do in such cases?

Why is there severe pain?

During the menstrual cycle, the endometrial mucosa grows in the uterus, into which a fertilized egg can implant. If the egg is not fertilized, the uterus begins to contract at the end of the cycle, expelling the mucous membrane. This normal physiological process is the cause of mild, painful sensations in the lower abdomen in the first days of menstruation. The condition when pain during “critical” days is unbearable is called dysmenorrhea by gynecologists.

Primary dysmenorrhea

Occurs when the body produces excessive amounts of prostaglandins, which leads to strong contractile activity of the uterus. Usually, discomfort in the lower abdomen begins 1-2 days before the start of the menstrual cycle and lasts 3-4 days. This pathology is diagnosed in girls 16-25 years old. Often accompanied by headache, stool upset, and nausea. During an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs, no developmental anomalies are detected. After the birth of a child or with age, the pain becomes less intense.

Secondary dysmenorrhea

It appears only several years after the first menstruation. In most cases, it is diagnosed in women over 30 years of age. The cause of severe pain is pathological changes in the internal genital organs. The following factors can lead to the development of secondary dysmenorrhea: excessive stimulation of nerve endings during uterine contractions, the use of an intrauterine device, inflammatory process in the pelvic organs, endometriosis.

If the stomach pain during menstruation is not severe, short-term, and this does not affect your lifestyle in any way, then there is no need to consult a gynecologist. Otherwise, you need to visit a doctor as soon as possible, since severe pain may be a symptom of an inflammatory disease or malignant neoplasm.

What to do?

Doctors unanimously say that severe pain cannot be tolerated, as it negatively affects overall well-being, emotional lability, and mental health. The following ways can help reduce abdominal pain during menstruation:

• dry heat (heating pad) and a light, relaxing massage of the lower back and lower abdomen help reduce the intensity of uterine contractions;
• taking painkillers (Ibuprofen, Ketonov) and antispasmodics (Spazmalgon, No-shpa) medications;
• taking sedatives (Persen, Fitosed) in cases where the cause of pain is overexcitation of the nervous system;
• taking oral contraceptive pills in situations where pain is caused by hormonal imbalance (it is strictly forbidden to start taking hormonal medications on your own, as this can harm your health);
• regular, low-intensity physical activity (Pilates, yoga, gymnastics, exercises) helps improve tone and relieve muscle spasms;
• daily (except for menstruation days) baths with sea salt for 20 minutes and a contrast shower help to activate blood circulation and relieve spasms in the reproductive system;
• taking infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs (parsley, mint, tansy, angelica, chamomile, sorrel, strawberries) normalizes the menstrual cycle;
• a few days before the start and in the first days of the menstrual cycle, it is necessary to rub a mixture of essential oils into the skin of the lower back and lower abdomen twice a day: clary sage (4 drops), yarrow (5 drops), marjoram (5 drops), St. John's wort (50 ml). ); You must first test for an allergic reaction;
• regular swimming promotes natural muscle relaxation, improved blood circulation and the production of the hormone endorphin (a natural pain reliever);
• Sometimes doctors advise applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the lower abdomen for 10-15 minutes.

• stop smoking and drinking alcohol;
• try to avoid hypothermia and severe stress;
• refuse or minimize the consumption of spicy or overly spicy foods, do not drink coffee in large quantities;
• Eat foods high in calcium every day, such as yogurt and kefir.

Regular sex life helps improve blood supply and relax the muscles of the genital organs, which leads to a decrease in pain during menstruation.

When is it necessary to consult a doctor?

• the pain is so intense that you need to take a day off from work and lie in bed all day;
• pain does not go away 2-3 days after the start of menstruation;
• bleeding is profuse, lasts more than two days, dark clots come out of the vagina along with blood;
• long-term use of oral contraceptives does not reduce pain;
• severe pain during menstruation appeared in middle age;
• taking antispasmodic and analgesic drugs does not reduce the intensity of pain;
• bleeding has become more intense;
• pain in the lower abdomen is accompanied by diarrhea, headache, nausea;
• the menstrual cycle is disrupted;
• body weight decreased sharply.

If your stomach hurts badly during menstruation, then you cannot ignore this fact, and you should not follow popular advice. It is necessary to visit a gynecologist as soon as possible and undergo an examination. Only after studying the results of tests and diagnostic procedures will the doctor determine the cause of severe pain and prescribe appropriate treatment.

17.03.2016

Many women and girls worry about pain in the lower abdomen during or before menstruation. In fact, this is a normal phenomenon and not always worth worrying about. The uterus begins to produce discharge, this happens every month, but not during pregnancy.

Excess contents come out and thereby the uterus contracts, causing unpleasant pain. In order to start panicking, you need to understand whether your stomach hurts during menstruation, causing cramping.

Diagnostics

If a woman or girl experiences severe abdominal pain, and it continues for a long time, then this is not normal. If the pain makes it difficult to move, even in a supine position you feel a strong heaviness, then you urgently need to consult a doctor. Perhaps it's dysmenorrhea.

This disease can occur in half of all girls. Basically, at the first stage it is impossible to identify the causes of the disease, and it passes in a mild form, only in 5-15% of women it develops into a severe one. Young girls often suffer from this disease. During menstruation, sharp pain begins, sometimes vomiting, dizziness and even fainting. Therefore, it is necessary to provide yourself with bed rest for about 2-3 days.

Symptoms

If dysmenorrhea is primary, then it may have arisen as a result of physical exertion or psychological problems.

In case of secondary, there may be the following reasons:

• pelvic organs swell;
• pelvic veins dilate;
• hormonal imbalance in the body;
• venereal diseases;
• dysplasia;
• pelvic inflammation and others.

With primary dysmenorrhea occurs:

• feeling of pain;
• weakness;
• nausea;
• constipation;
• insomnia;
• possible skin redness.

And during the secondary stage:

• diarrhea;
• heart rate increases;
• vomit;
• body temperature decreases.

Sometimes the most important symptom is pain during sex.

Causes

The causes of pain in the lower abdomen can be diseases of the genital organs, for example, inflammatory:

• endometritis;
• oophoritis;
• salpingitis;
• ovarian cyst;
• polyps;
• endometriosis;
• uterine fibroids.

If a woman uses intrauterine contraceptives, for example, IUDs. In addition, there may be obstetric problems: miscarriage, abortion, pathological problems during pregnancy.

When should you see a doctor?

If a girl or woman feels pain in the lower abdomen, she in any case needs to see a gynecologist, at least for prevention. You shouldn’t delay this; it’s better to figure out your problem right away than to spend a lot of money on treatment and surgery later. You should immediately see a doctor if:

• heavy periods with painful sensations;
• body temperature is very elevated;
• before this there was no pain in the lower abdomen;
• suspicion of pregnancy;
• pain lasts more than 7 days;
• acute pain.

Treatment methods

Treatment takes place in two ways: with medications and surgery. There are three types of drug treatment:

1. Progestogens are hormones that renew uterine tissue and relax its muscles.
2. Contraceptives are special oral hormonal contraceptives that can suppress ovulation. The pressure on the uterus gradually decreases, and accordingly on the lower abdomen.
3. Anti-inflammatory - they are prescribed if the above drugs are contraindicated for a woman, the reasons may be different. This remedy should only be used during menstruation.

Surgery comes into play when a girl or woman begins to experience severe pain in the lower abdomen.

Can stress affect lower abdominal pain? Of course it does. Moreover, not only for the entire period of menstruation, but also for your condition and well-being. If there are problems at work, in school, in the family, all this can affect your health and also cause pain in the lower abdomen.

Traditional methods

Not only medications can numb the pain, but also various procedures that relax the uterus. It's both useful and enjoyable.

Beverages

Green tea will help cope with pain, especially if you add a little lemon balm or oregano. You can make the following infusion yourself: chop the celery root and pour a glass of water (cold), let it brew for two hours in a warm place and take about 2 teaspoons three times a day.

Water procedures

Warm water can relax the muscles of the uterus. Abdominal pain will subside or disappear completely. You can use a bath or shower; using both methods will have a positive effect.

Warm

It is necessary to ensure that the room is warm, thereby achieving a minimal effect of relaxation of the uterus, and its contractions will decrease. Most often, a heating pad or bottle filled with warm water is used. It is enough to lean the object against the painful area for a while.

Painkiller

You can simply take pills that dull the pain, they can be analgin, ketonal, ibuprofen. The contraction of the uterus is eliminated and the pain disappears. Many gynecologists advise taking medications even before the onset of menstruation.

Sedative

If there are troubles in life that make you nervous, then perhaps your lower abdomen hurts due to stressful situations. Then you should take a sedative; valerian or motherwort will help best.

Contraceptives

They will help get rid of pain affecting the lower abdomen if it is severe. After some time, these pills will help get rid of not only pain, but also other troubles of menstruation, for example, heavy periods and the cycle will be established.

Physical training

With the help of walks in the fresh air, light jogging, exercise in a fitness club or at home with regular gymnastics, you can dull the pain in the lower abdomen.

Diet food

Sometimes, due to poor nutrition, problems with the genitals appear. My lower abdomen begins to hurt. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate your diet, eat only light and healthy foods. Meat and milk should generally be excluded a week before menstruation. But not all types of vegetables and fruits have beneficial properties for the uterus; they can also negatively affect a woman’s well-being.

If all these remedies do not help get rid of the unpleasant sensations when the lower abdomen hurts, then the doctor is always ready to advise what to do. Therefore, you should not delay, you need to go straight to the hospital so that a much more serious illness does not develop in the future.

Abdominal pain during menstruation is a very common symptom that every second woman of reproductive age experiences. Painful sensations are most intense in the first days of menstruation and begin to subside starting from the third day. The nature of the pain is usually nagging, but sometimes the pain syndrome can look like a sharp or stabbing pain localized in the lower abdomen. This phenomenon in medicine is called dysmenorrhea and is most often observed in nulliparous women, as well as in those who have weight problems or suffer from bad habits.

Dysmenorrhea can be accompanied by a whole range of symptoms: headache, nausea, lack of appetite, weakness, and fatigue. The most pronounced sign of dysmenorrhea is pain in the lower abdomen. Some women experience stomach pain so severe that they are unable to carry out household and professional activities. In such a situation, it is important to know what to do and what ways you can reduce the intensity of unpleasant sensations.

A nagging pain in the lower abdomen is caused by uterine contractions. The inside of the uterus is covered with mucous membranes containing a large number of blood vessels and capillaries. This lining is called the mucosal layer or endometrium. During the period of ovulation, the endometrium produces hormones necessary for the attachment of a fertilized egg to the walls of the organ and the further development of the embryo. If fertilization does not occur, endometrial rejection occurs, accompanied by uterine bleeding. This period of the menstrual cycle is called menstruation (the medical name is regula).

On the first day of menstruation, the uterus begins to contract intensively in order to cleanse itself of blood clots and blood accumulated in its cavity. Spasms of the uterine walls are the cause of pulling, painful sensations in the lower abdomen. They can have varying intensity and resemble weak labor contractions. About 35% of women experience very intense pain during their periods and lose their usual ability to work, so it is important for them to know how to deal with the pain quickly and effectively.

Note! The intensity of pain at the beginning of menstruation depends on the woman’s age, lifestyle, and hereditary factors. Women whose mothers or grandmothers suffered from dysmenorrhea are more likely to experience a similar syndrome. The same clinical picture is observed in women with limited mobility or a sedentary lifestyle.

Frequency of dysmenorrhea in women aged 18 to 45 years

Do I need to take pills?

To get rid of pain caused by uterine contractions, it is allowed to take antispasmodics. This is a group of painkillers whose action is based on weakening spasms of smooth muscle fibers and blood vessels (when used systemically, the spasm stops completely). The most popular medicine in this group is “ No-shpa"(analogue - " Drotaverine"). To eliminate pain during menstruation, it can be taken in tablets (1 tablet 2-3 times a day) or given intramuscular injections. For severe pain, it is best to use the injection form of the drug, and after stopping the acute attack, switch to oral administration.

Another well-known and affordable antispasmodic is “ Papaverine" It is best used in rectal suppositories. The daily dosage is 1-2 suppositories, the course of use should not exceed 3-5 days. If the pain does not stop after the end of your period, you should consult a doctor. “Papaverine” helps to quickly alleviate a woman’s condition and restore her ability to work, but it will not be possible to get rid of unpleasant sensations completely in one day.

If your stomach hurts very much during menstruation, you can use combination drugs with anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and analgesic effects. These include complex drugs " Spasmalgon" And " Pentalgin" To relieve moderate pain, a one-time dose of non-steroidal drugs with anti-inflammatory action is allowed. It can be:

• "Ibufen";
• "Moment";
• "Ibuprofen";
• "Nurofen Express";
• "Next".

Important! The exact dosage of any drug is indicated in the instructions. It is not advisable to use medications with antispasmodic and analgesic effects for more than 3 days in a row without consulting a doctor. Some, such as ibuprofen-based products, can cause severe side effects if taken long-term, so they should only be used to relieve acute pain.

Herbal medicine for painful periods

Some medicinal herbs and herbs can help with painful menstruation, so before taking pills, you can try to get rid of the pain with folk remedies. Experts recognize ginger tea as the most effective for dysmenorrhea. Ginger root contains many glycosides, esters and phytoncides - natural substances with antibacterial and analgesic effects. To prepare the drink, it is best to use fresh ginger, but if it is not available, dried spice will also work (1 spoon of fresh ginger = 0.5 spoon of dried root).

To prepare tea, you need:

• grate or chop a small piece of ginger root (2-3 cm) with a knife;
• pour a glass of boiling water;
• add a little cinnamon;
• leave for 7 minutes.

You can add a few mint leaves, a slice of lemon and a little sugar to the finished tea. The therapeutic effect occurs 15-30 minutes after use.

Important! Ginger drink is contraindicated for women with diseases of the digestive system (especially in the acute stage) and blood pathologies. If your periods are usually long and heavy, it is also better to avoid this method.

Peppermint tea with lemon balm

A mixture of mint and lemon balm has a pronounced analgesic effect. To make tea that will help get rid of pain during menstruation, you need:

• mix 2 g each of peppermint and lemon balm (you can use fresh or dried herbs);
• add 4-5 drops of lemongrass oil and 250 ml of boiling water;
• leave for 5-7 minutes.

If you don’t have lemongrass oil at home, you can use citrus zest: oranges, lemons, grapefruits (5 g per cup of drink). It is advisable to drink this tea every day until your menstruation ends. For prevention, you can drink one cup after waking up and 1-2 hours before bedtime.

Chamomile tea with raspberries

It is very important for this method to use raspberries, and not leaves. The fact is that raspberry leaves stimulate the contraction of muscle fibers and can lead to the opposite effect. Some pregnant women, wanting to speed up the approach of labor, drink a drink made from raspberry leaves to induce the onset of contractions.

To achieve relaxation of the muscles of the uterus, you need to prepare tea strictly according to the recipe below:

• Pour 1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers into 300 ml of boiling water;
• add 15 g of dried raspberries (berries);
• leave for 10 minutes;
• add a pinch of cinnamon and a little natural honey.

Chamomile tea with raspberries also has a general strengthening and calming effect, therefore it is recommended for women with severe clinical manifestations of PMS and disturbances in emotional stability during menstruation.

Video: How to relieve pain during menstruation: natural remedies

Thermal treatments

Warming procedures are an excellent way to relieve muscle spasms, but they can only be done if there is complete confidence in the absence of an inflammatory or purulent process. You should not heat your stomach if you have an inflamed appendix, so it is best to consult your doctor before using any of the methods below.

Hot water bottle on the stomach

A heating pad on the stomach is the easiest way to warm up the muscles of the uterus

The easiest way to warm up the muscles of the uterus is to place a heating pad with hot water on the lower abdomen. Doctors advise replacing the heating pad with a warm diaper, which must be ironed on all sides several times. This method is considered more gentle and does not cause exacerbations if there are low-grade inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs.

Keep warm for no more than 15 minutes and no more than 2 times a day. If the pain does not go away after this, you should consult a doctor to rule out gynecological diseases.

Warm shower

Taking hot baths during menstruation is not recommended, but a warm short shower will perfectly relieve fatigue, ensure body hygiene and help eliminate painful sensations. While showering, you can gently massage your stomach with a massage mitten or washcloth - this will relax the muscles and ease the spasm.

Warm massage

Abdominal massage can also reduce the severity of pain, especially if you add warm oil to the procedure. You can use industrially produced cosmetic oils with the addition of pepper and other warming additives, or any essential oil heated in a water bath to a temperature of 36°. Grapefruit, bergamot, and saffron oil can be used as antispasmodics. If they are unavailable, even baby massage oil or good quality vegetable oil will do.

Important! Under no circumstances should the oil be heated too hot, as this may cause skin burns.

Video - Painful menstruation

Video - Severe pain during menstruation: what to do?

The role of drinking regime in the prevention of dysmenorrhea

Sometimes painful sensations at the beginning of your period can be caused by severe dehydration. With blood, a woman loses a lot of fluid, and if during this period she does not receive enough fluid, the body will experience a lack of moisture, which is expressed in pain in the lower abdomen. It can be distinguished from uterine cramps by the nature of the sensations: with dehydration, the pain syndrome is usually dull or moderately acute. The intensity is rarely very high, but some women with a low pain threshold find it difficult to cope even with such sensations.

To drink during menstruation, it is better to choose clean water, still mineral water, herbal teas and infusions, berry decoctions, and dried fruit compotes. Vegetable and fruit juices are beneficial. But it is better to avoid alcohol, strong tea, cocoa and coffee during this period.

To ensure the least painful period possible, women are advised to follow the tips below. They will help improve your general condition and reduce the severity of discomfort.

1. Physical activity should be daily, even during menstruation. It is necessary to exclude jerking, heavy lifting and bending from the daily routine.
2. A week before the start of menstruation, you should include more vegetable salads, leafy greens, fruit juices and fresh berries in your diet.
3. It is advisable to completely stop smoking and drinking alcohol, as they contribute to fluid loss.
4. If you are forced to take anticoagulants (drugs that reduce blood viscosity), it is recommended to consult a doctor and possibly adjust the dosage for the period of menstruation.

By following these simple tips, you can ease painful periods and improve your quality of life during this period. If, despite all efforts, the pain does not go away, the use of medications or traditional medicine recipes is allowed. If pain persists after the end of menstruation, you should contact your local gynecologist to find out the possible causes.

Pain in the lower abdomen for most women during menstruation is a normal phenomenon that they encounter every month. 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, nulliparous women, as well as women who are overweight and have harmful addictions.

Dysmenorrhea is diagnosed when a woman’s painful dysregulation is accompanied by a whole range of pathological symptoms, including headaches, nausea, weakness and fatigue. For some women, severe pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation prevents them from doing household chores and significantly reduces their productivity, 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

- this is a normal process that occurs in all women of reproductive age every month, starting from puberty and until the onset of menopause, when the reproductive function fades. 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 felt only when there is insufficient nutrition of the nerve cells, as a result of which they stop the 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; the woman’s lower abdomen pulls, and the pain can also radiate to the kidney area or lower back. Mild pain is characteristic of menstruation; if it intensifies, you should definitely seek help from a doctor, since they are the only symptom of 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 varies for each woman and depends on the characteristics of the body, its general condition, heredity and the 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 an increased amount of 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 include 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 can be excessive excitability of the nerve roots during uterine contractions, inflammation and pathology in the organs of the reproductive system, and 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:

1. Zero degree. The pain is mild, tolerable and does not require painkillers.
2. 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 are enough in special cases. If they increase, mandatory consultation with a specialist is required.
3. 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.
4. 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 of dysmenorrhea, concomitant diseases of the reproductive system or nearby organs are also diagnosed.

Why does pain occur during menstrual periods?

In adolescents, primary algomenorrhea is most often diagnosed, associated with an abnormal position of the uterus or abnormal development of the 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 by an overactive thyroid gland;
• 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 a comprehensive examination. It must include the following activities:

• an oral survey, during which the gynecologist draws up an overall 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 the stomach hurts very much during menstruation, this may be one of the signs of serious problems with the woman’s health, and without the help of a gynecologist it will not be possible 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 a woman has been systematically taking hormonal contraceptives for a long time, 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 the intensity of bleeding during regulation only increases;
• when, in addition to pain in the lower abdomen, there is a headache, nausea and diarrhea;
• the menstrual cycle is disrupted;
• the woman lost weight dramatically.

If you have the symptoms listed above, you should immediately seek help from a specialist who, after a comprehensive diagnosis, 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 massage, be sure to measure the heating temperature of the oil to prevent thermal burn of the 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 you can rub a composition of essential oils into the lower abdomen and lower back throughout the entire period, which includes 4 drops of clary sage oil, 5 drops 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 a 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.

The use of 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, and 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 that reduce the level of prostaglandins, but the effect of their use will be observed for 2-6 hours. This group of drugs includes Mig, Diclofenac, Ketoprofen, Nimesil, Ibuprofen, Nurofen Express, Next, Ibufen.

• antispasmodics. They weaken 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. The antispasmodic Papaverine has a milder effect; it is produced 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, sedatives may be prescribed (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, so 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 that can soothe menstrual pain; they can be easily prepared at home. It is important to remember that taking any medicine 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 of the 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. A tablespoon of pharmaceutical chamomile poured into a glass of boiling water, to which 15 g of dried raspberries is added, will help eliminate muscle spasms in the uterus and thereby relieve pain. 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 for 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 fermented milk products rich in calcium (yogurt, fermented baked milk, kefir) every day;
• have an active sex life. This helps normalize blood circulation and relaxes the muscles of the genital organs;
• you should move more, walk in the 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;
• consume vitamin complexes containing calcium and magnesium;
• remove from the diet foods that cause fermentation 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.