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What to do about menstrual pain. How to reduce pain during menstruation: pills, folk remedies, exercises, massage

Some women experience the period of menstruation with great difficulties - due to pain and decreased performance. Debilitating discomfort indicates a health condition and requires the attention of specialists. Only on the basis of answers from laboratory and hardware diagnostic methods do they find out why the lower abdomen hurts during menstruation, and how to eliminate the symptom. It is possible that the detected underlying pathology will not be related to the field of gynecology. But even in this case, the therapeutic course should be completed completely without interruption.

With varying degrees of intensity, pain in the lower abdomen accompanies the period immediately before menstruation and all days of physiological bleeding. Only 5 out of 100 women do not experience discomfort before and during menstruation. The range of potential causes of discomfort varies. This includes inflammation, tumor process, tissue destruction. Measures that can potentially make you feel better these days can only be recommended by a gynecologist. A doctor of this profile focuses on the main cause of deterioration in health. If for some women it is enough to take an analgesic tablet and relieve spasms, then for others it is necessary to undergo the full course of treatment.

Causes of menstrual pain

It should immediately be noted that the localization of the underlying disease that causes painful periods is not always associated with the pelvic organs. The main causes of discomfort during menstruation:

Diseases of the digestive system (inflammatory, destructive) – colitis, enteritis, peptic ulcer
Problems in the musculoskeletal system (osteochondrosis)
Infectious and inflammatory lesions of the urogenital tract (urethritis, cystitis, endometritis, chlamydia)
Anatomical features of the uterus (bicornuate, saddle-shaped, with a bend)
Endocrine disorders (increased estrogen concentration in the blood)
Formation of neoplasms of benign or malignant origin (fibroids, cysts, carcinoma)

Predisposing factors are irregular sex life, previous abortions, a history of problematic childbirth. Even a disorder in the blood clotting ability leads to additional pain during menstruation. If blood clots form from the secreted masses, it is more difficult for the uterus to move them into the vagina. Increased contractility of the reproductive organ is characterized by spasms. This is what a woman feels during her period and experiences severe pain, which is accompanied by dizziness, weakness, and irritability.

Should I take pills?

If you have dysmenorrhea (painful periods), you can and should take pills to relieve discomfort in the lower abdomen and back. If the pain is severe, you should not endure it, since the level of pressure and performance decrease; general health worsens, dizziness. Antispasmodics are allowed to be taken before visiting a doctor. A woman needs to be administered intramuscularly 1 ampoule (2 ml) of the drug No-shpa. When the discomfort is relieved, you can take the same medication, but in the form of tablets (no more than 3 tons per day). Papaverine has antispasmodic activity (it should be administered intramuscularly).

The analgesic effect will be provided by Spazmalgon, Ketanov, Dexalgin. The listed medications belong to the group of analgesics. They relieve pain faster after intramuscular injection. In all cases, the prescription of a medicine should come from a doctor; an intradermal test should first be carried out to determine the body’s sensitivity to the drug.

How to reduce pain

Through observation and research, gynecologists have identified methods that help alleviate a woman’s well-being, regardless of the root cause of its deterioration:

Drinking herbal tea. Chamomile, mint, lemon balm, thyme - these medicinal herbs have calming and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be taken outside of menstruation - to strengthen immune properties and stop pathogenic processes that have a hidden course. Drinking warms you up and provides a distracting effect.
Relieves the intestines naturally, through a laxative or using a microenema. An overloaded intestine puts pressure on the uterus. As a result, pain, spasms, and bleeding increase. To reduce menstrual pain, you need to empty your bowels in a timely manner. If this presents difficulties, you can use a laxative rectal suppository or microenema (its volume is 30-150 ml).
Applying a heating pad to your stomach. This is not acceptable in all cases, so the technique can be implemented only after approval by a doctor. Relieves pain, stiffness, allows you to relax and get ready for sleep.

During dysmenorrhea, it is not recommended to wear clothes with a tight elastic band at the waist (tight trousers, skirts, belts, corsets). Compression of the uterus increases discomfort and bleeding, hinders movement, and prevents convenient changing of pads.

Ways to feel better

Non-drug methods during dysmenorrhea can partially normalize well-being. They are based on the use of heat sources, performing massage and changing the attitude towards the condition. In addition to the psychological aspect, the remaining 2 factors require prior approval by a gynecologist.

Warming treatments

A warm shower is not only allowed during dysmenorrhea, but also useful. It provides a full level of hygiene, relieves pain, relaxes and warms. The use of hot water is contraindicated. During the procedure, it is advisable to massage the abdominal area.

Physical activity

With dysmenorrhea, many exercises are contraindicated. Especially if they involve impact on the abdominal muscles. Fiber tension contributes to increased discomfort and increased blood loss. It is recommended to limit physical activity aimed at the uterus and genitals to massage. It can be done with or without special oil. Stroking circular movements in the lower abdomen (in the umbilical area) relieve pain, tension, and help reduce spasms. The duration of the procedure is up to half an hour.

Diet during menstruation

To reduce pain, you should avoid foods that irritate the walls of the urogenital tract. It is recommended to refrain from eating sour, spicy, salty foods. Drinking alcohol is strictly contraindicated (alcohol increases bleeding and spasms). Although caffeine is a substance that irritates organ tissue, its use during menstruation is acceptable. The reason is that due to blood loss, the woman’s blood pressure level decreases. Coffee supports its performance, preventing weakening of the body, dizziness and other symptoms.

Psychological attitude

Concentrating on a problematic health condition, it is difficult for a woman to relax and thereby reduce uterine spasms. In order not to regard dysmenorrhea as a stress factor, it is recommended:

do outdoor training
listen to soothing music
use aromatherapy

Due to pain in the lower abdomen and back, the woman becomes irritable. At the peak of discomfort, it is advisable to limit communication with others so as not to cause conflict situations. Rethinking the situation comes down to understanding that pain during menstruation is not a condition that simply needs to be experienced, but a signal from the body about the disturbances that exist in it.

Diseases that cause pain

Gynecologists have established a relationship between dysmenorrhea and diseases that a woman has. The main pathologies that contribute to the development of painful menstruation are shown in the table.

Diseases that aggravate health during menstruation	Reasons for development	Treatment of the disease
Cystitis	Entry of pathogenic microflora into the bladder. Predisposing factors: hypothermia poor personal hygiene the presence of inflammation of the urethra or genital organs lack of water procedures before and after intimacy The development of cystitis is promoted by drinking alcohol and coffee, excessive consumption of spicy, sour and salty foods.	Antibacterial therapy, use of uroseptic agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, rinsing the bladder with antiseptic solutions is prescribed.
The underlying etiology has not been established. Predisposing factors: frequent abortions, problematic childbirth, hormonal problems. This also includes the factor of removed uterine tumors and changes in the vaginal microflora.	Mostly surgical. The overgrown endometrium is surgically excised, then the cervical tissue is cauterized. The patient is prescribed antibacterial therapy and sexual rest. Endometriosis is prone to recurrence.
Inflammation of the appendages	Predisposing factors are hypothermia, inflammation of other organs of the urogenital tract, sexually transmitted infections. An additional factor is irregular sex life.	Antibacterial therapy, prescription of hormone therapy (in 90% of cases), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Cyst	A predisposing factor is hormonal instability (interrupted pregnancy, irregular sex life). Cyst formation is promoted by inflammatory processes inside organs.	Sometimes the mere presence of a cyst aggravates the well-being during menstruation. When a tumor causes pain and increased blood loss, it is eliminated. Less often - in a conservative way (suppressed with hormonal drugs), more often - through surgery. If the cyst does not bother the patient, the neoplasm is not affected (either by medication or surgery).

Cystitis

Classified into acute and chronic forms. It is an inflammation of the bladder, accompanied by a wide range of symptoms:

dysuria (sharpness and irritation inside the urethra when urinating)
pain in the lumbosacral back (of a girdling nature)
increase in body temperature to subfebrile levels
general weakness caused by intoxication of the body

During menstruation, the uterine os is opened enough to facilitate the complete evacuation of blood masses. But this physiological phenomenon injures the reproductive organ before the penetration of pathogenic microflora. The movement of cystitis pathogens from the bladder to the uterus leads to inflammation of the uterus. The reverse process may also occur - cystitis due to menstruation. Inflammation occurs due to the entry of pathological microorganisms present in menstrual blood into the bladder. In both cases, this aggravates the woman’s condition, since the pain comes simultaneously from two sources: the uterus and the bladder.

A severe gynecological disease always manifests itself with violent symptoms. It is characterized by the discharge of large fragments of the uterine mucosa during menstruation. Outwardly they resemble a liver. Discomfort increases as tissue detaches from the reproductive organ. When these clots are rejected, bleeding increases and pain in the lower abdomen increases. Hyperthermia is not typical for endometriosis. Additional symptoms of the pathology are pain during sexual intercourse, aches in the lumbosacral back, weakness.

Inflammation of the appendages

Adnexitis is a lesion of the fallopian tubes and ovaries (it is these organs that are combined into the term “appendages”). Characteristic symptoms are pain in the lower abdomen, but at a certain point (at the site of inflammation) at rest and during menstruation. Other signs:

Heavy menstrual bleeding
Discharge of viscous purulent masses from the vagina during the period between menstruation
Pain during sexual intercourse (with chronic adnexitis)
Refusal from intimacy due to discomfort and decreased libido (with acute inflammation of the appendages)

Since pathogenic microflora is present in the blood, body temperature rises to high levels. This contributes to the development of weakness, dizziness, and hypotension. Chronic adnexitis is the leading cause of ectopic pregnancy. The fallopian tubes are glued together by pathological secretion, which prevents the full movement of the fertilized egg into the uterus. As a result, it remains inside the tube and pregnancy develops there. However, menstruation may continue. The phenomenon reduces a woman’s vigilance - she does not suspect that she has an ectopic pregnancy.

In this case, the sources of pain during menstruation are inflamed appendages and the fallopian tube, which stretches under the influence of the growing fetus and creates debilitating discomfort.

Cyst

Benign neoplasm of the ovaries. In rare clinical cases, it has a tendency to degenerate into a malignant tumor. Clinical manifestations are pain during menstruation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, pale face, darkening before the eyes. During menstruation, a woman is almost completely destabilized - on the first day of bleeding, she is forced to adhere to bed rest. The cyst may rupture under the influence of physical activity. In this case, an urgent call for an ambulance is indicated.

When is it necessary to consult a doctor?

Indications for contacting a specialist:

During menstruation, the degree of pain predisposes to loss of consciousness.
In addition to pain in the lower abdomen and back, large fragments of mucous membranes are released.
The discomfort is so severe that analgesics are ineffective.

If a woman’s well-being is aggravated by a decrease in blood pressure and associated symptoms, this is a good reason to make an appointment with a gynecologist. This phenomenon can lead to the development of anemia, which is unfavorable for well-being. You should also visit a gynecologist if the aggravated condition occurs every month, if there is a history of problematic childbirth and previous curettage. An important reason for visiting a specialist is maternity planning.

Diagnostics

To identify the root cause of dysmenorrhea, the patient will have to undergo the following types of diagnostics:

Questioning and inspection. The doctor reproduces the clinical picture of the patient’s condition, plans further interventions, and makes a preliminary diagnosis.
Laboratory testing of blood and urine. Depending on the factor that contributed to dysmenorrhea, inflammation, anemia, and an infectious process are identified. Laboratory methods determine the state of hormonal balance.
Ultrasound of the uterus, appendages, bladder, gastrointestinal tract. Allows you to detect almost all pathogenic processes in the urogenital and digestive tract.

Other diagnostic techniques are prescribed taking into account the suspected diagnosis that led to the development of dysmenorrhea. Complex methods of radiation imaging (CT, MRI) are necessary to clarify the characteristics of the tumor, the degree of blood supply to the tissues, and the spectrum of inflammation. When dysmenorrhea is associated with osteoarticular pathologies, the patient is referred for an X-ray examination. Even if such a diagnosis is only assumed.

Treatment

During painful periods, it is recommended to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Voltaren). Rectal administration of any of the listed drugs in the form of a suppository relieves pain and relieves tension inside the genital canals.

The following prescriptions help eliminate the main pathologies that cause dysmenorrhea:

Antibiotic therapy. Stops inflammatory and infectious processes.
Hormonal drugs. Corticosteroids are administered; substances produced by the pituitary gland.
Vitamin therapy. Whole complexes or individual vitamins are prescribed.
Analgesics. They relieve pain and normalize general well-being.
Drugs are administered aimed at normalizing blood pressure levels (with a decrease in its levels).
Dyspeptic disorders are treated with antiemetic medications.

Additionally, the patient is prescribed a course of physiotherapeutic treatment (enterofuresis, magnetic therapy, UHF). To eliminate pathological discharge from the surface of the genitals, it is necessary to treat the tissues with antiseptic solutions. If a woman is diagnosed with anemia (caused by massive blood loss), injection of iron supplements is indicated. When sexually transmitted diseases are detected, not only the woman, but also her sexual partner undergoes treatment.

Prevention

In order not to subsequently encounter the problem of severe pain during menstruation, it is recommended:

Refuse to perform abortions
If you don’t want to get pregnant, choose the optimal method of contraception and stick to it
Don't get too cold
Timely relief of inflammation of the urogenital and digestive tract. Prevent the pathology from becoming protracted
Don't abuse alcohol

Other preventive measures are the use of an intrauterine device strictly within the established time limits (do not exceed the period of operation). It is important for a woman to lead an orderly sex life - to avoid casual intimacy. Attention should be paid to the issue of strengthening the immune system, since 90% of diseases are a consequence of weakening the body’s protective properties. It is preferable to refrain from lifting heavy objects at home and not to associate professional activities with exhausting physical labor.

Video: Painful menstruation - causes

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.

Pay attention! 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. These could 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 uterine muscles, 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.

Physical activity should be daily, even during menstruation. It is necessary to exclude jerking, heavy lifting and bending from the daily routine.
A week before the start of menstruation, you should include more vegetable salads, leafy greens, fruit juices and fresh berries in your diet.
It is advisable to completely stop smoking and drinking alcohol, as they contribute to fluid loss.
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 the pain persists after the end of menstruation, you should contact your local gynecologist to find out the possible causes.

Normal periods come regularly and last 3-5 days. These days, the woman quickly gets tired and feels unwell. However, this does not cause too much discomfort and does not interfere with the usual way of life. However, some people feel severe abdominal pain. Sometimes it is so painful that a woman is forced to abandon everything, stay at home, take painkillers. Such pain during menstruation is a sign of pathology. The cause may be diseases and hormonal imbalances. It is impossible to endure and hope that the malaise will go away on its own. We need to go to the doctor.

Content:

When pain during menstruation is considered a pathology

The lining of the uterus (endometrium) is regularly renewed, resulting in menstruation. The removal of dead epithelium from the uterus is carried out by contracting its muscles. In this case, compression of the nerve endings and compression of the blood vessels occurs, which causes pain in the lower abdomen. The pain radiates to the sacrum and lower back. They usually appear on the eve of menstruation and in the first 2 days after their arrival.

Painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea) is a pathology. In addition to pain in the lower abdomen and back, accompanying ailments of varying severity appear. If a woman has a regular cycle, the nature of her periods corresponds to the norm, then the unpleasant symptoms quickly pass without causing her much suffering. In severe cases, serious treatment is required.

Types of dysmenorrhea

There are two types of dysmenorrhea:

Primary (functional), not associated with any diseases. Usually, menstruation becomes painful 1.5-2 years after the onset of puberty, when the cycle normalizes, ovulation occurs regularly. Often, pain during menstruation significantly weakens after the first birth.
Secondary (acquired), associated with pathological changes in the genital organs and various diseases. Occurs most often in women over 30 years of age. Usually accompanied by vegetative-vascular disorders (dizziness, excessive sweating and others), as well as tachycardia and cardiac arrhythmia.

If over the years the intensity of pain during menstruation remains constant, then such dysmenorrhea is called compensated. If the pain during menstruation becomes stronger every year, then it is called decompensated.

Degrees of dysmenorrhea

There are 4 degrees of dysmenorrhea, differing in the intensity of pain.

0 degree. Abdominal pain is mild, painkillers are not required.

1st degree. The pain is moderate and quite tolerable. Natural accompanying symptoms are mild depression, headache, and indigestion. The malaise can be completely eliminated by taking a painkiller.

2nd degree. Pain during menstruation is severe, accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, chills, general weakness, migraine, irritability. The duration of illness increases. Painkillers and sedatives help make you feel better.

3rd degree. Severe abdominal pain appears in a woman 2-3 days before the start of menstruation and continues until its end. At the same time, the temperature rises, the head hurts very much (to the point of vomiting), tachycardia and pain in the heart occur. Fainting may occur. The woman is completely incapacitated. It is not possible to improve the condition using conventional means.

Addition: Pain during menstruation can vary in nature (cramping, pulling, aching, stabbing), radiating to the lower back and hips.

Causes of painful menstruation

Functional pain during menstruation can occur as a result of the pathological location of the uterus, the formation of adhesions and scars after an abortion, the increased sensitivity of the woman’s body to changes occurring in it, and emotional excitability. Heredity plays an important role. The occurrence of pain can be caused by vitamin deficiency and lack of magnesium and calcium in the body. A sedentary lifestyle is also a cause of progressive dysmenorrhea. A factor such as hormonal disorders in the body also contributes to the occurrence of pain during menstruation. An excess of the hormone prostaglandin causes increased contractions of the uterus and constriction of blood vessels.

The appearance of primary dysmenorrhea is facilitated by the use of an intrauterine device. Secondary dysmenorrhea can appear as a result of pathologies such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, ectopic pregnancy, inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs. Severe pain during menstruation occurs due to the formation of polyps and cysts in the uterus.

Video: What are the causes of painful periods

How to reduce period pain

If the pain is moderate, the cycle is regular, the periods are normal in volume and duration, then with the help of certain techniques you can ease the pain.

Recommendation: In case of severe pain, it is recommended to visit a doctor and make sure there are no diseases that are asymptomatic. In some cases, chronic inflammatory diseases and even tumors may not manifest themselves in any way. A pain symptom may be the only signal of trouble.

If after a gynecological examination no diseases are detected in a woman, then at home you can alleviate the condition in the following ways:

Massage the abdominal muscles in a clockwise direction, which will help relieve tension in them and ease cramps. It is also good to massage your lower back.
Take a warm shower, which helps relax muscles and dilate blood vessels.
Lie on your side with your legs tucked to your stomach (fetal position).
Take no-shpa to eliminate spasms in the uterus, ketonal or ibuprofen (have a strong analgesic effect), valerian (as a sedative).
Do light physical exercises (bending, body rotation). Yoga helps with menstrual pain.
Apply compresses with sea salt to the lower abdomen during menstruation. Before and after menstruation, it is useful to take relaxing short (15-20 minutes) baths with the addition of this salt.
Drink soothing chamomile and mint tea (add 1-2 teaspoons of honey to 1 glass of tea). It is useful to take an infusion of parsley and strawberries.
If you are not allergic, you can rub essential oil into the skin in the area of the sacrum and lower abdomen. The procedure is carried out 2 times a day, 2 days before menstruation and in the first 2-3 days after their onset. A mixture containing 50 ml of St. John's wort oil, 5 drops each of yarrow and sage oils helps relieve severe pain during menstruation.
In case of pain and heavy bleeding, ice should be applied to the lower abdomen for 15 minutes (on top of clothing, put it in a bag).

Swimming is recommended. During swimming, muscles relax and nervous tension is relieved. The body intensively produces endorphins (the so-called joy hormones, pain-relieving substances).

Video: Exercises against period pain

When to see a doctor

Clear signs of serious pathologies are most often severe pain that lasts a long time (more than 2 days). Moreover, the painful sensations are so strong that the woman is forced to postpone all her affairs and stay at home. Abdominal pain is accompanied by diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Dizziness, headache, and stabbing pain in the abdomen may be signs of excessive blood loss and anemia.

Severe cramping pain in the abdomen occurs with an ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the woman requires urgent surgery.

When painkillers and no-spa do not help, the pain and volume of discharge intensify, consulting a doctor is simply necessary. If severe pain suddenly appears during menstruation against the background of cycle disruption or weight loss, this may be a sign of a tumor. You need to be examined by a gynecologist urgently.

Drugs prescribed for dysmenorrhea

Menstrual pain affects 90% of women aged 18 to 35 years. Such pain is often intense, so timely administration of an effective analgesic helps patients restore the rhythm of life and completely eliminate menstrual pain.

Dialrapid is a fast-acting analgesic that eliminates pain of any intensity. Potassium bicarbonate acts as a pH buffer, ensuring the drug is completely dissolved in water, and subsequently creating a microenvironment around the active substance - potassium diclofenac. It is this microenvironment that promotes accelerated absorption and helps the drug to be completely absorbed by the body. Dialrapid shows a pronounced effect in the first 5 minutes after application. The powder is absorbed by the body almost as quickly as an injection, and unlike tablet analogues, it has a high peak concentration in plasma 1.

To eliminate pathological pain during menstruation, the doctor prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs along with antispasmodics. They are able to suppress the production of prostaglandins, thereby reducing uterine contractility.

To treat dysmenorrhea, oral contraceptives are widely used - low-dose hormonal drugs that prevent the formation of excess prostaglandins. Herbal preparations based on phytoestrogens are also used, which help improve hormonal levels, as well as homeopathic remedies with non-hormonal action (menalgin). Gradually accumulating in the body, they help regulate the menstrual cycle, reduce pain and improve the condition of the nervous system.

Complex preparations containing vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, as well as plant extracts (for example, time factor) are prescribed. It is recommended to start taking medications in advance, before the start of your period. Then, by the time they occur, the required dose has accumulated in the body, and the drug acts more effectively.

Physiotherapy methods - UHF and electrophoresis - help reduce pain during menstruation. In this case, the procedure is carried out in advance. Before the onset of menstruation, special solutions (novocaine, sodium bromide) are applied to the stomach and exposure to ultrasound or electrical impulses is performed. Warming and pain relief occurs.

Prevention of dysmenorrhea

To make your periods less painful, it is recommended to stop drinking alcohol on menstrual periods, avoid stress, avoid catching colds, move more, and do yoga. It is necessary to limit the consumption of sugar and foods that cause bloating these days. It is useful to eat chocolate, which stimulates the production of endorphins, as well as foods containing calcium and magnesium.

Video: Yoga classes during menstruation

1. There are contraindications. You need to read the instructions or consult a specialist.

During menstruation, many women experience pain of varying intensity. There is no need to worry only if the pain does not cause suffering and does not disrupt the usual way of life. If pain appears every month during menstruation, the condition worsens greatly, this may be a signal of serious health problems. What causes pain during menstruation? How to get rid of this symptom without pills?

Causes of pain during menstruation

The occurrence of regular pain during menstruation and worsening of the condition is called dysmenorrhea. It can be primary or secondary. The causes of each type of dysmenorrhea may be different. In the first case, pain is associated with congenital pathologies, hormonal disorders and dysfunction of the nervous system. With secondary dysmenorrhea, the cause of pain is acquired diseases of various natures.

Let us consider in more detail the causes of pain with each type of dysmenorrhea.

Primary

It develops in adolescence and in most cases is associated with a violation of the synthesis of certain prostaglandins. With increased formation of endogenous components, a spasm of smooth muscle fibers occurs, blood flow in the vessels of the reproductive organ is hampered, which causes pain. Other causes of primary dysmenorrhea include:

pathological structure or position of the uterus, which leads to disruption of the outflow of bloody discharge from its cavity and causes strong contractions of smooth muscles;
instability of the nervous system;
disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system;
connective tissue dysplasia.

As a rule, primary dysmenorrhea is temporary and goes away after some time. No special treatment is required. But if the pain is very strong and cannot be tolerated, you need to contact a gynecologist to determine the cause.

Very often, pain that bothers you during menstruation can go away after childbirth. Therefore, a teenage girl must understand that it is very important to save her first pregnancy, and for this she needs to protect herself during sexual intercourse.

Secondary

It usually occurs after 30 years of age in the presence of diseases of a gynecological or extragenital nature. Diseases that cause pain during menstruation can be different. The most common:

inflammation of the genital organs;
uterine fibroids;
polyps in the reproductive organ;
endometriosis;
pelvic neuritis;
benign and malignant neoplasms in the uterus and appendages;
psychological and sexual disorders (low libido, depression, increased excitability, sexual dissatisfaction);
abortions, difficult childbirth;
adhesive process;
condition after surgery on the internal genital organs;
intrauterine contraceptive devices (spiral).

The symptoms of secondary dysmenorrhea can be completely eliminated only if the root cause of the problem is eliminated. Otherwise, the relief will be temporary.

If pain occurs, you cannot ignore it; in such cases, you cannot do without medical help. And self-medication can only worsen the situation.

What should you not do to reduce pain?

Often women try to independently reduce the pain that occurs during menstrual periods. And not everyone resorts to painkillers.

To reduce pain, you should not:

apply ice to the lower abdomen;
use a hot heating pad;
drink alcoholic beverages;
take antispasmodics and painkillers in large quantities.

See a doctor urgently!

The occurrence of pain during menstruation in some cases requires immediate contact with a gynecologist, namely:

the pain does not go away for a long time (much longer than it was before);
the nature of pain has changed;
the pain increases sharply;
heavy bleeding;
Symptoms from the urinary system appeared (uncontrollable urination, pain).

What will help with severe pain during menstruation?

During menstruation, the female body needs special support. A proper daily routine, balanced nutrition and proper rest will help reduce the symptoms of dysmenorrhea.

If the pain is severe, you need to lie down in a comfortable position and try to relax. Taking a warm shower may help.

On critical days, it is better to avoid heavy physical activity and intense sports. Physical exercise should be relaxing. Yoga and Pilantes are ideal for such days.

If possible, you should avoid drinking strong alcohol, tea, coffee, and smoking during menstrual periods.

Every woman can support her body during menstruation and reduce many unpleasant symptoms by adjusting her diet. Every day you need to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as dairy products, which are an excellent source of calcium. But the consumption of fried and spicy foods should be reduced as much as possible.

A light abdominal massage will help relieve muscle spasms. You need to do light strokes clockwise.

As for sexual intercourse on menstruation days, it will help reduce pain and the duration of menstruation, but the risk of infection entering the cavity of the reproductive organ increases.

Traditional recipes for pain during menstruation

How to relieve pain during menstruation without pills? Folk remedies will help with this, but you should not experiment. It is better to consult a doctor to choose a truly effective remedy, and not to aggravate the situation.

Here are some recipes that will help relieve abdominal pain during menstruation without pills:

Add 0.5 teaspoon of cinnamon to a glass of warmed milk, stir and drink in small sips.
Drink 100 ml of chamomile and lemon balm tea daily a week before the expected start of menstruation.
Before going to bed, drink ginger tea with lemon.
Place a warm heating pad or hot water bottle at your feet.
Mix plantain, nettle, sorrel and yarrow in equal parts. Pour a tablespoon of the mixture into a thermos with 500 ml of boiling water, leave for an hour and strain. Take 100 ml 3 times a day.
Mix mint, valerian root, chamomile. Take a tablespoon of the mixture and pour a glass of boiling water. Drink as tea 3 times during the day.
Pour 50 g of lovage root into 1 liter of water, bring to a boil, simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, cool and strain. Take the medicine throughout the day.

There are many more folk remedies that have proven effective against pain during menstrual periods.

There is no need to endure pain during menstruation, especially severe pain. If painful menstruation is a one-time occurrence and does not recur in the next menstrual cycle, there is no need to worry. But if you experience regular and intense pain, you should definitely visit a doctor, which will help you find out the cause and take the necessary measures to eliminate it.

If the pain subsides during the next menstrual cycle, there is no need to worry. But if you experience regular and intense pain, you should definitely visit a doctor, which will help you find out the cause and take the necessary measures to eliminate it.

They say that the ancestor Eve is to blame for women's ailments - painful childbirth and menstruation. She managed to snatch the forbidden fruit, and even incite Adam to commit an ungodly act! This is why, as history testifies, the creator commanded the entire female sex not only to give birth in pain, but also to lose blood with pain every month.

This, of course, is also the question of why the entire weaker sex takes the rap for the sin of Eve alone. But, one way or another, the problem of painful periods confronts seven out of ten women almost from the very beginning of menstruation.

Causes of pain during menstruation

If we ignore the biblical story, there can be several reasons for pain during menstruation.
One of them is a lack of calcium and magnesium in the body. Another, more common in women of mature age, is the presence of fibroids, fibroids or endometriosis.

In addition, various inflammatory processes in the pelvis, as well as genital infections, provoke pain during menstruation.

In cases where the source of pain is not associated with severe damage to the reproductive organs and infectious diseases, physiological discomfort during menstruation can be significantly reduced with the help of traditional painkillers or using folk remedies.

Folk remedies for pain during menstruation

Among the recipes for folk remedies for relieving pain during menstruation, the most common are herbal teas, decoctions of chamomile and oregano, as well as an infusion of the so-called red brush. This is such a traditional “female” herb, used in ancient times by healers in villages to treat heavy and painful menstruation. In addition, in such cases, following a certain diet and some pleasant indulgences in food also help to achieve the goal and cope with pain during menstruation.

Herbal tea against period pain

If the monthly natural process of cleansing the reproductive organs occurs with pain, then the first thing you need to do is put a taboo on yourself. Well, or at least significantly reduce consumption, especially a few days before the start of your period.

Classic black tea against period pain

An excellent proven remedy for painful periods is black, strong, freshly brewed tea, sweet to the point of cloying and very hot. It is better to drink it reclining in bed, placing a warm heating pad on your lower abdomen.

Chocolate against period pain

Dark chocolate has the inexplicable property of relieving cramping pain during menstruation. Although there is a plausible explanation: eating is accompanied by an increase in the level of happiness hormones - endorphins. These are the ones that provide the analgesic effect. Therefore, eat chocolate during your period as much as you like - today you can not give a damn about your waist.

And in general, some people manage to lose up to five or six kilograms of weight!

Bananas against period pain

By the way, you can dip a banana in dark chocolate dissolved in a water bath or in honey - the amount of endorphins in the blood will definitely go through the roof.

Cognac against pain during menstruation

Just don’t get carried away with this product! Overdo it, and it will get even worse if it also adds to painful periods. Experts say that to eliminate discomfort in the lower abdomen during menstruation, 50-70 grams of cognac is enough.

However, remember that it is better not to even get cognac from the bar if you are using antispasmodics, sedatives or painkillers.

Other effective ways to deal with period pain

Very often, painful periods occur in those who move little. Not everyone works as a fitness instructor; some work in the accounting department working on numbers!

To some extent, you can reduce the risk of painful periods by doing at least ten to fifteen minutes a day of at least some semblance of physical exercise.