Why pain occurs during menstruation: causes of malaise. Very severe pain during menstruation: causes, treatment Nature of pain during menstruation

Anna Mironova

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

What experts say about painful menstruation, and how to relieve such pain ?

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

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

Why is this happening?

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

Painful periods have a name - algomenorrhea:

Primary algodismenorrhea. Increased contractile activity of the myometrium by tissue hormones and, as a result, cramping pain and vascular spasms. Typical for women 16-25 years old. Symptoms include nausea, headaches, upset bowel movements and pain in the lower abdomen a day or two before menstruation and in the first two days of menstruation. There are no pathological changes in the pelvic organs. Typically, the level of pain decreases after childbirth and with age.
Secondary algomenorrhea. In this case, there are some pathologies of the pelvic organs, and pain becomes a symptom of anatomical changes in the uterus.

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

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

If pain during menstruation is short-term, the level of pain is tolerable, and there is no need to postpone everyday activities, then everything is normal, and there is no reason to panic .

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

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

Dry heat, massage and rest
Heat will help relax the uterus and reduce the force of its contractions; a light massage of the abdomen (strictly clockwise) will relax the muscles.
Painkiller
1-2 tablets of no-shpa will help relieve spasms. Ibuprofen, spasmalgon or ketonal will help cope with severe pain. For pain caused by overexcitation of the nervous system (stress, etc.), a simple sedative can help - even ordinary valerian.
Oral contraceptives
Birth control pills contain hormones that help normalize hormonal levels. Such pills are very effective in relieving abdominal pain and other “effects” of menstruation. Of course, you should not start taking it without consulting a gynecologist.
Physical exercise
Of course, we are not talking about shock loads and, especially, not about abdominal exercises, but bending, rotating the body, and light stretching are quite suitable. Pilates and yoga, which involve working on muscle tone, are also an excellent remedy for pain.
Compresses and baths
For example, a bath with sea salt (take before and after menstruation for 15-20 minutes, daily). Also suitable are sitz baths (contrast) before the onset of menstruation and compresses during menstruation. After a bath or contrast shower, you should dress warmly and lie down for at least an hour.
Herbal teas, infusions, decoctions
Such remedies include chamomile and mint tea (you can add honey), parsley or sorrel, mineral water, tansy, acorns, strawberries, angelica, etc.
Massage
Lower back massage will help relieve spasms. Preferably with someone's help, although you can do it yourself. Place a tennis ball in two socks and lie on them with your back so that the balls are at the level of the lower ribs on either side of the spine. Gently press on them with your back and lightly roll the balls with your muscles.
Essential oils
Before your period and in the first days, you can rub a mixture of essential oils into the sacral area, as well as into the lower abdomen. Ingredients: St. John's wort oil (50 ml), marjoram (5 drops), clary sage (4 drops), yarrow (5 drops). Rub in a couple of times a day. Before the procedure, conduct an allergy test by spreading a little mixture, for example, on the elbows. Itching or redness is a sign of an allergy.
Swimming
The most useful and least traumatic way to relieve pain. The main benefits are the release of endorphins (a natural pain reliever) and muscle relaxation.
Cold on the stomach
“Freezing” pain is one of the effective methods. You should put an ice pack on your stomach (only in a towel and over your clothes!) for 15 minutes, no more.

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 of reproductive age experience severe pain during menstruation, especially on the first day. 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. Medical specialists usually combine such symptoms with the concept of algodismenorrhea - a disorder of the menstrual cycle. If painful sensations are 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, and 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 in hormonal balance, the functioning of the nervous, muscular and vascular systems, and the psychological state of the 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, folds, underdevelopment.

Read also 🗓 What to do if your stomach hurts 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, thyroid pathologies;
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, and radiate to the rectum, bladder, hips, and mammary glands. The following symptoms are also noted:

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 moderate levels, 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 problems occur with autonomic and neurological symptoms: severe irritability, sweating, tremors 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.

The causes of the painful physical condition are usually severe disturbances in the functioning of the reproductive organs, severe hormonal imbalance, and genetic predisposition.

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 lesion, you need to resort to medication. 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. Painkillers that combine several active ingredients are more effective. For example, Trigan-D, which contains an analgesic and antispasmodic. Usually, using the appropriate 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: weakly brewed tea, decoctions of parsley, dill seeds, elecampane root, currant compote. This will promote better resorption and removal of swelling. Additionally, you can apply dry heat to the stomach and lower back: a heating pad, a bottle of hot water. Some people find relief from severe cramps not by heating the abdominal wall, but by 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.

Menstrual flow in medical terminology is the process of removing spent mucous membrane and endometrium from the uterine cavity through bleeding. The beginning of the menstrual period is the first women's day.

At this time, conception is out of the question, since the smooth muscles of the uterus produce strong contractions and, as it were, help to reject the spent endometrium. In addition, this process is accompanied by spasm of the veins and capillaries and, accordingly, not enough oxygen and nutrients are supplied to all tissues and organs.

Therefore, intense pain appears on menstruation days. The basis for this course of events are hormones - prostaglandins. If we look in more detail, then over the course of 25-30 days, the uterus, preparing for fertilization, is saturated inside with many capillaries, the main function of which during fertilization of the uterus is to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.

If fertilization does not occur, there is no need for the presence of this layer of tissue in the uterine cavity, and it is removed through the synthesis of prostaglandins. This is a kind of “mini-birth”: the reproductive organ contracts and strives to free itself from unnecessary endometrium, somewhat opening the cervix.

Pain from this physiological process may be present, but if it increases significantly, you should check with a gynecologist. You can endure such pain, but it is best to eliminate the cause of the increased pain.

Pain during menstruation

Pain syndrome during critical days is expressed in different ways:

If you believe medical statistics, the vast majority of women are susceptible to pain on the first day of menstruation.

Nature of pain during menstruation

Menstruation- this is a natural process through which a woman’s body gets rid of the spent product.

Since the process of tissue removal itself is controlled by the nervous system, discomfort and some painful feeling cannot be ruled out, but if this feeling is more pronounced, then there may be some disruptions in the woman’s general health.

Normally, mild painful discomfort may begin some time before the bleeding begins and lasts two days.

According to the descriptions, the pain manifestations are similar to contractions, acute, aching with impact in the lower abdomen and lumbar region.

Degrees of dysmenorrhea

Depending on the intensity, sensations are distributed into 4 degrees:

Causes of painful periods

Why does pain occur? Pain syndrome during menstruation can appear due to incorrect position of the reproductive organs, vulnerability to the slightest changes in the body, strong emotionality, due to blockage of the excretory tract with adhesions and scars from abortions.

Heredity, calcium and magnesium deficiency, vitamin deficiency and physical inactivity (lack of physical activity) also have an impact.

All of the above can also include interruptions in the synthesis of hormones; with an increase in prostaglandins, impulsive uterine tension increases, and the lumen in the vessels narrows accordingly.

The use of contraceptives, such as the IUD, can also provoke the occurrence of primary dysmenorrhea. Endometriosis, fibroids of the reproductive organ, pregnancy in the appendages, inflammatory and infectious diseases of the genitourinary organs provoke secondary dysmenorrhea. Unbearable pain during menstrual periods is caused by the appearance of cysts and polyps in the uterine cavity.

Diagnostics

For any woman, severe pain turns into a constant depressed anticipation of her critical days.

This problem requires a rigorous solution by visiting a gynecological office, taking appropriate tests for the amount of female hormones, and conducting ultrasound diagnostics.

The specialist may also ask you to do a scraping of the intrauterine cavity, laparoscopy, Dopplerography of veins and capillaries, and visits to other doctors (neurologist, surgeon, psychiatrist).

In addition, the patient is required to continuously keep a diary and calendar of the menstrual cycle.

It is necessary to record symptoms, duration, and even volumes of discharge. These records will help the gynecologist determine the stage and complexity of the disease. Based on the results of the examination, “algomenorrhea” is often diagnosed. Therapeutic measures are related to the complexity of the diagnosis.

What to do if you have pain on the first day of your period?

Here are some ways to eliminate pain in the initial and subsequent days, provided that the discomfort is mild:

drinking more fluids;
do active movements (physical activity relieves spasms);
water procedures with warm water;
taking quality painkillers.

But when there is pronounced pain at the beginning of menstruation, you simply cannot get out of bed, you should immediately consult a specialist. Such conditions indicate significant problems in the reproductive sphere.

Be that as it may, during uncomfortable critical days, it is best to visit a gynecologist.

How to reduce pain during menstruation?

To minimize pain before, during and after menstruation:

Products containing potassium and calcium. Deficiency of these substances provokes tension and pain;
Surgery or gynecological treatment of reproductive organs;
Medicines;
Alternative medicine and physical activity

When should you see a doctor?

All women, without exception, should be aware of situations where it is dangerous to independently treat severe pain in the lower abdomen:

A similar picture of symptoms indicates serious diseases in the genitourinary and reproductive spheres, these include: tumors, polyps, infectious and pathological development, as well as uterine oncology.

Consequences of painful periods

According to natural physiology, the endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus, and is replaced by a new mucous membrane every month. Getting rid of obsolete tissue is carried out through uterine contractions, and as a result, compression of sensitive nerve fibers and narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels appears.

This is what causes pain during menstruation. The pain sensations involve the lumbar region and sacrum. The manifestation of dysmenorrhea in time is characteristic of the beginning and the first couple of days of critical days.

Painful periods are not the norm. The above ailments are sometimes aggravated by a high degree of manifestation. In the case when the cycle is not disrupted, there are no prominent signs, and the unpleasant sensations are short-lived. If the pain does not go away, appropriate treatment is necessary.

Treatment

The most acceptable way is to use some medicine with an analgesic effect. However, you should not take aspirin or all aspirin-containing tablets.

Antispasmodics

Almost all doctors prescribe antispasmodics to eliminate menstrual symptoms, with the following name:

"Analgin"
"No-Shpa"
"Spazmalgon"
"Baralgin"
"Ketanov" ("Ketorol"),
"Nimesil"
"Ibuprofen."

Ibuprofen

No-Shpa

Analgin

Baralgin

Ketanov

Nimesil

Spasmalgon

Suppositories

Today, suppositories for rectal and vaginal use are also widely used. There are no age restrictions for suppositories, and if uncomfortable symptoms occur, they are used during menstruation.

Paracetamol in suppositories is the main active substance. By imitating the properties of analgin and due to its anti-inflammatory effect, this method qualitatively relieves all the unpleasant symptoms of menstruation.

Many gynecologists prescribe the following topical suppositories:

"Efferalgan"
"Ibuprofen"
"Diclofenac"
"Paracetamol".

Diclofenac

Efferalgan

Ibuprofen

Paracetamol

Since each medicine has contraindications, before using suppositories, it is not superfluous to consult a doctor.

other methods

You can also take the following to relieve pain during menstruation:

For the purpose of drug treatment, the gynecologist recommends radically changing your own habits, including eating, resting and starting exercise, for further painless critical days.

Non-drug treatment

Healthy diet

The manifestation of the painful syndrome is influenced by food during women's days.

Including the following foods in your diet works well:

sea fish meat,
oil and sunflower seeds,
peanuts, as well as walnuts, almonds,
fish of fatty and semi-fat varieties.

All of these foods contain omega-three fatty acids, which help reduce muscle contractions.

Supplemental intake of calcium and magnesium works in a similar way. The daily consumption rate of these elements is 800 and 300 mg, respectively.

Green vegetables, dairy products, dried fruits, legumes and cereals contain a lot of magnesium.

There are also products that stimulate the occurrence of pain during menstruation by spasmotizing the smooth muscle tissue of the reproductive organ:

Pepper sauces
Fried foods
Caffeine
Alcohol

Physical activity

Minor physical activity is very beneficial during menstruation. Motor loads form normal metabolism, which in turn has a positive effect on pain.

Walking, a walk in the fresh air, and simple cardio exercises can significantly reduce ailments.

Relaxation techniques

Nervousness and bad mood significantly increase the degree of pain.

In such cases, several relaxation methods can help.

You just need to abstract yourself a little from current problems, lie down with your favorite activity or activity, and allow yourself a little relaxation and unloading.

Yoga classes can help with this.

Gestagens

Progestins are essentially a group of hormones synthesized in the human body.

These enzymes stimulate the growth of new endometrial cells in the uterine cavity, relieve tension from the smooth muscle corset of the reproductive organ, and create all the optimal conditions for the synthesis of estrogens.

In addition, they are directly related to the process of fertilization and their insufficiency can result in the inability to have offspring, interruptions in the cycle of critical days, spontaneous childbirth (miscarriage).

In order to prevent initial dysmenorrhea, hormones with active progesterone are used, by analogy with natural enzymes. With such drugs, the main task is to reduce the presence of prostaglandin in the blood and normalize the cycle of critical days.

Current gestagen medications are significantly different from their counterparts at the end of the twentieth century; now they are more effective and safe, and have virtually no contraindications.

Oral contraceptives (COCs)

Hormonal contraceptives are very common in use for initial dysmenorrhea, especially in women of sexually active age.

Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are considered the most effective in this regard; they contain an imitation of the hormone estrogen.

The principle of their activity is aimed at suppressing the ovulation process, because of this the amount of prostaglandins decreases, and the painful syndrome disappears.

In addition, the pressure inside the uterine cavity decreases and the frequency and strength of contractile tension of smooth muscles slows down, which reduces pain.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Given the existing contraindications and simply reluctance to take hormone-based contraceptives, you can completely get by with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAIDs are characterized by pain-relieving qualities; they are prescribed for use specifically when painful ailments appear.

These medications work in a similar way to those listed above; NSAIDs minimize the presence of prostaglandins, the root causes of pain, in the blood secretions. Medicines in this group are instantly absorbed in the digestive tract and have an effect for 5.6 hours.

The most common names of the NVPS group are:

Aspirin,
Ibuprofen
Ketoprofen,
Proxycam,
Diclofenac.

Aspirin

Diclofenac

Ibuprofen

Ketoprofen

Piroxicam

Numerous experiments conducted to eliminate initial dysmenorrhea through NVPP have proven that naproxen, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid and aspirin show great results in the fight against initial dysmenorrhea, but Ibuprofen among them it ranks first in terms of the minimum degree of side effects.

Folk remedies for pain during menstruation

In this context, various recipes from herbs and roots are very relevant.

Prevention

Preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of manifestations of dysmenorrhea are difficult to overestimate, but the majority of the fair sex simply do not use them.

Every woman must visit a specialist once a year.

An initial examination by a gynecologist should be carried out immediately after the established date of the menstrual cycle, but no later than 16 years of age and in the absence of any negative indications on the part of the girl.

Inflammations of various etiologies that inhibit normal processes in the genitourinary system must strictly be cured in order to avoid complications in the future. This behavior eliminates the possibility of difficulties arising during the critical days of dysmenorrhea.

Girls who have not yet given birth are strictly prohibited from using IUDs for contraception. Most gynecologists do not recommend that women use this method of protection and contraception, since it contributes to painful symptoms during menstruation, and also causes the prospect of the formation of inflammatory pathologies of the genitourinary and reproductive sphere.

Since abortion often leads to mechanical damage to the lining of the uterus and has a negative impact on a woman’s hormonal parameters and her menstrual function, it is best to use high-quality medications to prevent fertilization.

It is also very important to carry out preventive measures during painful women’s days to exclude such severe pathologies as the inability to conceive, the appearance of neuroses and psychoses due to systematic pain.

When a woman’s menstrual period is complicated by severe pain, self-medication becomes irrelevant. Contacting a specialist in such circumstances is very necessary. Through even simple blood tests or smears, ultrasound examinations, the gynecologist identifies the root causes and determines the method of therapy.

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:

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 are enough in 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 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.

Hello dear readers. Let's figure out what to do at home if your stomach hurts during your period. It is no secret that menstruation gives women discomfort for several days. Some people simply experience discomfort in the first days, but there are those for whom “this inevitability” causes real pain, knocking them out of their usual rhythm for some time. This condition may be accompanied by feelings of nausea, bloating or diarrhea, headaches, migraines, heightened sense of smell, or even pain when touching the body.

Why does the lower abdomen hurt during menstruation?

According to research, doctors have found that at this time more than 80% of women suffer from severe pain in the lower abdomen. This is explained by the fact that during such a period substances that are responsible for inflammation and pain accumulate in the body in large quantities.

They increase the ability of the uterus to contract, and spasms are formed that disrupt blood circulation and lead to local irritation of the nerve endings. Thus, pain appears, which lasts only the first days, or throughout the entire menstruation.

There are other reasons why pain occurs:

Features of the location of the uterus and pressure on nerve receptors.
Low level of sensitivity to pain.
Hormonal background.
Increased pain after 30 years.
High levels of the hormone estrogen.
Ongoing inflammatory processes.
Consequences of injuries or operations.
An IUD installed to protect against pregnancy can cause pain during menstruation.

In medical terms, the pain can be explained by the hormone prostaglandin causing uterine contractions.

The greater its concentration, the more it contracts, causing discomfort. Plus this adds a feeling of nausea, headache or even vomiting.

Cycle disruption also leads to pain before and during menstruation. At a young age, when the cycle is just beginning to form, many suffer from painful sensations. When complaining, the doctor may prescribe a course of examinations.

After which, a diagnosis called algodismenorrhea is most often established. Its symptoms are abdominal pain extending to the upper legs, sleep disturbances or sweating. Some people stop having menstrual pain after their first birth.

If menstrual pain is simply unbearable, then its causes may be:

cyst on the ovaries;
endometriosis;
lack of calcium in the blood;
bend of the uterus;
inflammation in the pelvic organs;
miscarriage.

It is impossible to independently determine what the cause is. To determine the root cause of painful periods, you should consult a doctor.

How to reduce period pain

There is no one universal method that will relieve all women from regular pain.

It simply cannot be, since this happens differently for everyone. Pain can be a harbinger of the onset of menstruation and last the first days, or cause discomfort until it ends.

Each person must, through selection, find their own way, if not to completely get rid of them, then at least to reduce these sensations.

You can reduce pain by observing the following points:

Find time to relax. It is necessary to take breaks and days off while working, to ensure that the body is not overloaded.
Set aside time for sleep, it’s better to go to bed at the same time.
Create a daily routine and follow it. In this case, the nervous system will begin to rest.
Do not overcool the body. Drafts or clothing that is incorrectly selected for the weather will lead to inflammation that disrupts the cycle.
Monitor your diet; it should not only be correct, but also balanced (reduce the amount of flour products, fried foods, eliminate alcohol).
Drink clean water without gas.
Stop smoking.
Sign up and attend a gym or yoga class.
Go to the sauna (reduce stress).
Spend more time walking.
Practice hardening.

Intimate gymnastics will help reduce the feeling of pain. When performing Kegel exercises, the muscles of the perineum become stronger, elasticity and tone increase. Thus, blood supply to the reproductive organs improves and the likelihood of inflammatory processes decreases.

A prerequisite before using the technique is a medical consultation, which will identify possible contraindications.

Stomach hurts during menstruation - what to do

Why does the stomach hurt during menstruation, we figured it out. Remember, if you have very severe pain, you should consult a gynecologist. Now let’s figure out what you can do at home if your stomach hurts during your period. You can take pills, folk remedies, follow a daily routine, do exercises, but first things first.

1. Folk remedies

Not all women want to use medications for various reasons (side effects, a number of contraindications, fear of the addictive effect, allergies) to cope with monthly pain. In such cases, some folk remedies are suitable.

Dry heat (heating pad or bottle filled with water)

You need to lie on your back, applying something warm to your stomach. After this, blood flow in the uterus will increase, and the feeling of pain will decrease. It is important not to hold for more than 5-7 minutes so as not to cause excessive bleeding.

Warm herbal tea

You can use herbs or individual types of herbs. The following will help reduce pain:

lemon balm or mint (the main herbs for women's health, have a calming effect, normalize the cycle, relieve sleep disorders);
chamomile (the oils contained in it will soothe pain, strengthen the immune and nervous system);
raspberry leaves (has the ability to relieve menstrual pain and regulate the cycle);
chopped elecampane root (can normalize hormones in the female body, reduces the feeling of pain during menstrual periods, and is also useful for infertility);
horsetail (during painful periods it has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, and is used as a restorative drink).

Pain Relief Drink Recipes

Pour a glass of boiling water over 3 teaspoons of dried raspberry leaves and let it brew. Drink 50 ml portions throughout the day.

Pour a glass of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried elecampane root and leave for an hour. Drink a tablespoon three times a day.

2. Massage

It has a relaxing effect, reduces pain and strengthens the body. Regular sessions will have a positive effect on internal organs.

3. Medicines

The simplest and first thing that comes to mind to get rid of menstrual pain is to take a pill. Doctors also prescribe medications of various effects to get rid of unpleasant sensations. Some of them:

Sedatives
They are also used during PMS to improve mood, eliminate tearfulness and irritability. The following have a good effect: tincture or tablets of valerian, motherwort. To restore sleep, your doctor may prescribe a course of sleeping pills or “evening” herbal pills.
Painkillers
The most effective drugs that quickly relieve pain these days include: Ketanov, Pentalgin, Ibuprofen, Analgin, Ketorol.
Antispasmodics
No-shpa helps many women; it is often replaced with an analogue called Drotaverine or Papaverine.

A course of taking vitamins B, E, calcium or Magne B6, Supradin complex will help prevent pain. If primary algomenorrhea is detected, then contraceptive medications or progestins are prescribed.

4. Exercises

You can reduce menstrual pain using a proper breathing system. To do this, you will need to lie on your back and place a light object on your stomach (you can use a book).

Breathe only through your nose, while simultaneously moving the abdominal wall, making sure that the object rises to the beat. You will have to keep your abdominal muscles tense for 5-7 seconds. This exercise should be performed for two minutes. The pain in the lower abdomen will gradually subside.

Acupressure class affects areas of pain using active points. Kneeling down, you need to pinch your thighs. Then apply pressure with your elbow, first from the outside of the thigh towards the knee.

Finally, walk along the inside, heading towards the pelvis. The next option is to press on a point located 4 fingers higher on the inside of the ankle. A good effect occurs after clicking on the points located:

below the navel and in the groin area;
in the center of the back, on the tailbone;
in the middle of the lower leg, on the inside.

Effective exercises for painful periods

Lying flat on your back, bend your legs, your feet should rest on the floor, while keeping your arms parallel to the floor, along your torso. For two minutes, do smooth bends with your stomach, with relaxed muscles. Repeat – 5 times.
Lying on your back, press your buttocks to it. With your knees bent, place your feet on the wall. Fix your position for 5 minutes.
Moving away from the wall, bend one leg as close to your chin as possible. Leave the second one on the floor.
The simplest thing is to kneel, rest your hands on the floor, lower your head between them, stay in this position for only 2 minutes.
Yoga practitioners can use Cobra Pose for menstrual pain. Lying on your stomach, straining your knees, bring your feet together and exhale. Then lift your torso up, tilt your head back, inhale and exhale twice. Keeping your buttocks tense, hold for 2 minutes.

By taking vitamins, adjusting your daily routine and consuming herbal infusions, you can reduce menstrual pain that is not caused by previous injuries or a characteristic of the body.

In fact, this is a natural process that he will cope with on his own after a certain time. By using the suggested tips and doing simple exercises, the pain that torments many women every month will go away. And life will not stop on such days because of discomfort.