There are women who consider the most terrible days in their lives - critical. Dysmenorrhea, or very severe pain during menstruation, the causes of which can only be identified by a gynecologist, simply unsettles the ladies. Symptoms like this are not the norm, but signal serious health problems. You can’t hesitate here, you should consult a doctor for help as soon as possible.
What is a menstrual period?
Menstruation, or menstruation, is the process of rejection of a certain part of the endometrium, during which bleeding occurs. The first day of menstruation is considered the beginning of the menstrual cycle. During this period, a woman cannot become pregnant.
During monthly bleeding, an intense contraction of the uterine muscles occurs. Vasospasm occurs, which interferes with the proper nutrition of tissues, and therefore severe pain occurs during menstruation. The reasons here lie in the increased level of prostaglandins in the blood. That is, during the whole month the uterus prepares to fertilize the egg, and its internal cavity is covered with small blood vessels, which should, in case of conception, nourish the embryo. If pregnancy does not occur, then these tissues become unnecessary for the body. He seeks to get rid of them by bleeding.
The situation resembles a “mini-birth”, where the uterus contracts and tries to push out unnecessary tissue outward, revealing the neck. Moderate pain here is quite acceptable, but strong ones speak about health problems. They do not need to be patient and it is necessary to do everything possible to get rid of the monthly soreness.
Severe pain during menstruation: causes
As a rule, behind such an uncomfortable state lies a number of very different factors, these are:
- violation of the hormonal background of a woman;
- inflammation of the uterus or appendages;
- endometriosis, including adenomyosis;
- fibroids (fibromyoma) or any other formation in the uterus;
- polyps in the uterine environment;
- violation of the production of progesterone;
- ovarian cyst;
- ectopic pregnancy.
Severe pain during menstruation can cause stress and prolonged nervous tension. The reasons will help establish a specialist. So, a gynecologist should be consulted for prolonged menstruation, which lasts more than seven days and is accompanied by very severe pain. You should go to the doctor with heavy periods with an increase in body temperature up to 38 ° C. Of particular concern are the symptoms that occur for the first time in a woman.
A variety of dysmenorrhea
There is primary and secondary dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). The first occurs as a result of a malfunction in progesterone production. This is a kind of response to ovum fertilization. A woman experiences pain while the egg is leaving the ovary. In the absence of ovulation, the body begins to rebel and experiences a number of ailments. These are abdominal pain, migraine, dizziness and nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, neuropsychiatric disorder, etc.
Secondary dysmenorrhea occurs if there is inflammation of the uterus or appendages. In addition, pain in the lower abdomen may indicate an inflammatory process of the abdominal cavity, pregnancy. These may be the consequences of surgery, trauma or a viral disease. Such ailments provoke some ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy. For example, a spiral.
Types of ailments
Severe pain during menstruation, the causes of which often speak of health problems, can be different, these are:
- headache (migraine);
- discomfort, increased pressure in the eye area;
- sharp jumps in blood pressure;
- heart discomfort;
- nausea, dizziness, and vomiting;
- excessive sweating;
- depression, irritability;
- mood swings;
- sleep disturbance;
- fast fatiguability;
- swelling;
- excessive breast sensitivity;
- lower back pain;
- violation of the gastrointestinal tract (flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, etc.).
It is proved that most women experience some discomfort during menstruation (especially on the first day) at the age of 13 to 45 years.
About pain syndrome of varying severity
The most severe pain is observed on the first day of the cycle and can be mild, moderate or severe.
In a mild form, a short, tolerant pain is manifested, which does not violate the existing lifestyle, performance. Does not require painkillers. Usually after childbirth, such pain disappears completely or decreases.
Pain of moderate severity is reflected by pulling pains in the lower abdomen. Symptoms are supplemented by nausea, weakness, frequent urination, chills. Against this background, the emotional state of a woman is disturbed. There is depression, excessive irritability. Sharp smells and sounds are disgusting. The performance of the lady at this time is reduced. At this stage, you need to see a doctor to find out the causes of pain.
The severe stage is characterized by acute and intense pain in the abdomen and lower back. Severe headaches, migraines, heartaches, tachycardia occur. Diarrhea, vomiting, fainting is observed. Here, a woman completely loses her ability to work. Such a picture is often formed as a result of infectious and inflammatory processes occurring in the body. Also severe pain can cause pathology of the genital organs.
Migraine before and after menstruation
Sometimes severe headaches occur before menstruation. The causes of this symptom lie in a sharp increase in testosterone in the blood. All headaches before and after menstruation are called cephalgic syndrome.
Changes in the chemical composition of blood during menstruation affect brain function, which causes migraines. A similar condition can be caused by a violation of the water-salt balance. In order for the body to be able to fully perform the procedure of cell rejection during the menstrual period, it accumulates fluid, which then participates in this process. Causes swelling of the extremities, articular part and brain tissue. All this provokes a severe headache during and before menstruation.
Lower abdominal pain
Severe abdominal pain during menstruation, the causes of which each woman has her own, occur in many. Moderate pain is considered the norm, while severe ones indicate certain disorders in the gynecological sphere.
Pain in the abdomen is weak, moderate and severe. They appear in the depths of the pelvis as a dull, pulling or pressing pain. May be permanent or pulsating. Normal is considered to be a pain syndrome, which begins to appear before the appearance of critical days and passes immediately after the completion of menstruation.
Severe pains in the lower abdomen during menstruation, the causes of which are often not established, can go along with migraine, accompanied by an upset gastrointestinal tract. This condition cannot be considered normal. In this case, you should undergo a full medical examination.
The consequences of painful menstruation
Very severe pain during menstruation, the causes and consequences of which should be identified by a gynecologist, lead to a complete disability. They have an effect on the well-being, psychological state of a woman.
Mild and moderate form does not cause complications. The average pain syndrome provoked by diseases of the genital organs and pathologies can progress in connection with the development of a gynecological disease. In this case, the pain itself does not have any effect on the complication of the symptom.
Menstruation should not be accompanied by very severe pain, depriving a woman of full legal capacity. The treatment of such symptoms is not limited to painkillers, you should look for the true cause and eliminate it. Strong pain exhausts. They are hard to endure not only physically, but also emotionally, because it harms the nervous system. In addition, the constant use of anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers is addictive and a number of side effects.
Very painful critical days signal a serious problem in the body. It is simply necessary to treat such periods.
Diagnosis of painful menstruation
Severe pain during menstruation, the causes and treatment of which will help establish the correct diagnosis, is a real problem for a woman. To begin with, a lady should visit her gynecologist, who can prescribe the following:
- hormone analysis;
- pelvic ultrasound;
- laparoscopy;
- curettage for research of intrauterine material;
- general clinical examination;
- dopplerography of blood vessels.
In addition, a woman should constantly keep a diary of the monthly cycle and a calendar of critical days. All the symptoms that were present during this period are recorded there. The duration of menstruation, profusion. All this helps to establish the severity of the disease. The specialist may also advise you to be examined by a neurologist, psychotherapist and osteopath. Often, at the end of the examination, a diagnosis of algomenorrhea is made. Depending on the severity, treatment is prescribed.
Treatment of menstrual pain
Folk remedies that can reduce pain
Traditional pain can eliminate very severe pain during menstruation, the causes of which lie in diseases of a number of organs.
A pain symptom will help remove horsetail. To prepare the infusion, you should pour a tablespoon of herbs in a mug (300 ml) of boiling water. Let it brew for an hour. Drink 50 mg every hour and reduce the dose as the pain subsides.
Severe pain before menstruation, the causes of which are individual for each woman, can remove water pepper. Two tablespoons of the plant are poured half a liter of boiling water, after which the mixture is cooked on fire for another 10 minutes. Before use, the herbal infusion needs to be cooled and filtered. Use three times a day for 100 grams.
The collection of the following herbs will help relieve soreness: knotweed, centaury, field horsetail, goose cinquefoil in a ratio of 1: 3: 1: 5. Here, a tablespoon of the mixture is steamed with a glass of boiled water. Insist hour. They drink one sip during the first day of menstruation.
Helps to cope with pain elecampane root. Pour a teaspoon with a glass of boiled water, wait an hour, filter. Use a tablespoon in the morning, at lunch and in the evening.
These and other folk recipes are able to overcome menstrual pain, so they can not be discounted.
Preventative measures
A lot of problems cause severe pain during menstruation. How to treat it without drugs and what to do so that in the future a similar symptom does not bother? So, the following measures help to eliminate the cause and have a preventive effect on the body:
- The correct daily routine.
- Full sleep.
- Physical exercises, including swimming.
- Diet menu with a predominance of raw vegetables and fruits.
- Drinking the right amount of water, at least 1.5 liters per day.
- Refusal of bad habits (alcohol and cigarettes).
- Relaxation and getting rid of stress, depression.
- Yoga, acupuncture, massage, electrophoresis with novocaine.
- Soothing herbal tea.
- Bath with essential oils.
Such events will have the best effect on the woman’s health, her well-being and will reduce her soreness. They can get rid of such discomfort forever.