It is difficult to find even one woman who goes through critical days completely painlessly. The main sign of the onset of menstruation is pulling pains in the lower abdomen, and such sensations can be present on the first day of menstruation. What to do if your stomach hurts badly during your period? This question is asked by many girls, and now we will try to answer it.
The nature of menstrual pain
Menstrual cramps are deep drawing pain in the abdomen and pelvic areas that occur in a woman a couple of days before the onset of menstruation. Moderate menstrual pain may be subtle and short-lived, reminiscent of a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen. Severe cramps can be so painful that they prevent a woman from leading a normal life for several days.
Menstrual pain is very similar to that experienced by a pregnant woman at the beginning of labor, that is, comparable to contractions. The cramping sensation increases when clots or pieces of blood from the lining of the uterus pass through the cervix, especially if the woman's cervical canal is very narrow.
What is considered a deviation from the norm?
Doctors consider it normal if the pain is moderate and does not deprive a person of working capacity. But the painful sensations in some of the fairer sex are so strong that they are not able to lead a normal life. A number of unpleasant manifestations can be added to the debilitating cramping abdominal pain that lasts more than one day:
- nausea and vomiting;
- dizziness and even loss of consciousness;
- severe headache;
- abnormal heart rhythm;
- chills;
- aching pain in the sacrum and pubic bone;
- loosening of the stool;
- depressive states.
This is already a deviation from the norm, which requires a consultation with a gynecologist to find out the reasons and select methods of treatment.
Causes of menstrual pain
Algomenorrhea (algomenorrhea, dysmenorrhea) - painful menstrual bleeding. Subdivided into primary and secondary. Both forms have many causes.
Primary dysmenorrhea is associated with increased contractile activity of the muscles of the uterus. It can be provoked by the lability (instability) of the nervous system, endocrine features and the pathological structure of the genitals. A confusion of these reasons is also possible. It is more common in young girls with an asthenic body type.
- Too emotional women are often nervous and are more exposed to stressful situations. Their pain receptors react more strongly to the corresponding stimuli. These two factors can lead to significant menstrual discomfort.
- Hormonal disorders can be caused by malfunctioning of the thyroid gland (its excessive activity) or abnormalities in the functioning of the pituitary gland.
- Speaking about the pathology of the structure, we often mean sexual infantilism - the underdevelopment of the reproductive apparatus. It can manifest itself in conjunction with a general developmental delay or separately. The degree of infantilism is determined by the size of the internal organs. With the second and third degree of underdevelopment of the uterus and improper location of the ovaries, the girl has a chance to correct this feature, get rid of pain during menstruation, and in later life carry and give birth to children.
- In addition to infantilism of the genitals, the cause of pain can be their incorrect location. Speaking about this, doctors in most cases mean the bend of the uterus, which interferes with the normal outflow of blood and thereby causes severe pain.
- Lack of movement can contribute to painful periods. The fact is that physical activity provokes the production of endorphins, which relieve pain.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is one of the symptoms (it is possible that the only one) of some gynecological disease. Most often, the appearance of a secondary form of algomenorrhea is provoked by:
- endometriosis;
- uterine myoma, which prevents the normal outflow of blood;
- any chronic inflammatory process in the pelvic organs;
- intrauterine contraception, which promotes increased release of prostaglandins;
- varicose veins of the pelvic veins;
- childbirth of a traumatic nature.
Basically, this form of dysmenorrhea affects women over 30 years of age with a history of childbirth. Very often, with the secondary form, pain is present during sexual intercourse, which greatly complicates the marital relationship.
In addition to serious causes such as sexual infantilism or endometriosis, a lack of vitamins and minerals can provoke pain. For example, a long-term lack of magnesium or calcium can affect the onset of severe pain attacks.
Lack of physical activity in a woman's life contributes to stagnation in the pelvic organs. This problem is solved by regular sports activities.
Why visit a doctor?
To determine the specific reason why the stomach hurts during menstruation, it is necessary to visit a doctor and conduct an examination. To endure pain is harmful not only physically, but also mentally. Constantly drinking analgesics is not a way out. The body gets used to them, and they cease to have anesthetic effect. Pain may indicate violations that, without intervention from doctors, will lead to disastrous consequences.
Examination and treatment
Examination includes:
- gynecological examination and history taking;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
- taking tests to determine hormonal status;
- delivery of urine and blood tests;
- diagnostic laparoscopy (in the secondary form of dysmenorrhea).
Treatment can be medication with the additional use of folk remedies and homeopathy. If necessary, resort to surgical intervention. Or you may just have to change your lifestyle: give up bad habits, exercise and take a course of vitamins.
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