Advertising on the portal

Terribly severe pain during menstruation. Pain during the menstrual cycle, causes and treatment of abnormalities

Update: December 2018

Moderate pain during menstruation occurs in approximately 70% of girls and women of childbearing age. The pain syndrome that accompanies menstruation can be of varying intensity. Mildly expressed pain, only minor discomfort, especially in nulliparous women, is considered a normal physiological phenomenon.

However, if a woman experiences unbearable, severe pain every month during menstruation, accompanied by diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, vomiting and other symptoms that deprive the woman of her ability to work, obvious “critical days” actually occur - this is usually referred to in medicine as the disease algomenorrhea. Such symptoms indicate that the young woman has various disorders in the hormonal, vascular, reproductive, nervous or other systems of the body.

If the causes of painful periods are established, then treatment of these disorders can significantly alleviate the condition and improve the tolerance of such a natural process in a woman’s body as menstruation. In this article we will tell you why girls and women experience painful periods, the causes and treatment of such a disorder.

What other symptoms can accompany painful menstruation and why is it considered a disease?

In medicine, very painful periods are considered the most common menstrual dysfunction. Between the ages of 13 and 45, almost all women experience minor discomfort and soreness on the first day of menstrual bleeding. And only 10% of them complain of very strong cramping spastic pain from uterine contractions, which are also supplemented by the following symptoms:

  • 79% of women experience diarrhea
  • 84% vomit
  • 13% headache
  • 23% dizziness
  • 16% fainting

The main symptom of algomenorrhea is pain in the lower abdomen, which appears on the 1st day of menstruation or 12 hours before its onset, it gradually subsides by 2-3 days, it can be aching, tugging, stabbing, radiating to the rectum, bladder, etc. Maybe . Against the background of unbearable pain during menstruation, a woman’s psycho-emotional state is disrupted, irritability, drowsiness, depression, insomnia, anxiety, and weakness appear. Painful periods poison a woman’s life; waiting for the next bleeding has an adverse effect on the psyche, the emotional sphere of life, and leads to conflicts in the family and at work.

With a mild degree of algomenorrhea - short-term, moderate pain during menstruation does not lead to loss of performance and activity, such pain can be tolerated without additional painkillers, however, the causes of painful periods should be clarified, since even a mild degree of algomenorrhea can later become more severe, with more significant discomfort. Sometimes after childbirth, women stop having a mild degree of algomenorrhea and uterine contractions become less painful; its increase during pregnancy and reduction after pregnancy subsequently weakens cramping pain during menstruation.

In moderate cases, nagging pain in the lower abdomen is accompanied by general weakness, nausea, chills, and frequent urination. Psycho-emotional disorders are also associated - depression, irritability, intolerance to strong smells and sounds, and performance is noticeably reduced. This degree of algomenorrhea already requires drug correction and the causes of pain should also be clarified.

In severe cases, very intense pain in the lower back and abdomen is accompanied by headache, general weakness, fever, heart pain, diarrhea, fainting, and vomiting. In a severe case of painful menstruation, a woman completely loses her ability to work; usually, their occurrence is associated either with infectious and inflammatory diseases or with congenital pathologies of the genital organs.

The main causes of primary painful menstruation in adolescent girls

Primary algomenorrhea appears with the first menstruation or develops within 3 years after the onset of menstruation. It mainly occurs in easily excitable, emotionally unstable girls, with an asthenic physique, in combination with. Depending on the accompanying “set” of symptoms, primary painful periods are divided into:

  • Adrenergic type

In this case, the level of the hormones dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine increases, causing a malfunction of the entire hormonal system of the body. Girls experience constipation, severe headaches, body temperature rises, heart rate increases, insomnia appears, legs and arms become bluish due to spasms of small vessels, the body and face turn pale.

  • Parasympathetic type

It is characterized by an increase in the level of the hormone serotonin in the cerebrospinal fluid. In girls, on the contrary, the heart rate decreases, nausea with vomiting appears, body temperature decreases, gastrointestinal disorders are expressed by diarrhea, swelling of the limbs and face often appears, allergic reactions on the skin, girls gain weight.

Modern research establishes the fact that primary painful periods are not an independent disease, but a manifestation of deeper internal disorders, that is, symptoms of the following diseases or abnormalities:

  • Congenital abnormalities of connective tissue development

In gynecological practice, it has long been established that approximately 60% of girls with primary algomenorrhea are diagnosed with genetically determined connective tissue dysplasia. In addition to painful periods, this disease is expressed by flat feet, scoliosis, myopia, and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.

This is a very serious disease, which occurs more often in girls with elongated limbs, flexible joints, cartilage tissues, most often during the growth of a child, magnesium deficiency is detected, which can be determined by taking a biochemical blood test.

  • Diseases of the nervous system, neurological disorders

In girls with signs of a reduced pain threshold, with emotional instability, with various psychoses, neuroses and other neurological disorders, the perception of pain is exacerbated, so pain during menstruation in such patients is pronounced.

  • Bends of the uterus anteriorly and posteriorly, underdevelopment of the uterus, malformations of its development - bicornuate, two-cavity uterus

The occurrence of very painful periods due to abnormalities in the development of the uterus is caused by problematic, difficult outflow of blood during menstruation from the uterine cavity. This provokes additional uterine contractions, causing pain during menstruation.

Causes of secondary algomenorrhea in women

If pain during menstruation occurs in a woman who already has children, or she is over 30 years old, then this is considered as secondary algomenorrhea. Today, it occurs in every third woman, most often in a moderate to severe form, since it reduces performance and is aggravated by accompanying symptoms, and is also accompanied by heavy menstruation. In addition to pain in the lower abdomen, painful periods occur with other symptoms, which are usually divided into several characteristic groups:

  • Autonomic symptoms - bloating, vomiting, nausea, hiccups
  • Vegetative-vascular symptoms - dizziness, leglessness, fainting, rapid heartbeat, headaches during menstruation
  • Psycho-emotional manifestations - disturbance of taste, perception of smells, increased irritability, anorexia, depression
  • Endocrine-metabolic symptoms - increased unmotivated weakness, joint pain, itching of the skin, vomiting

The intensity of pain during menstruation depends on the general health of the woman, age and concomitant diseases. If the patient has a metabolic disorder (and other disorders of the endocrine system), then endocrine-metabolic manifestations are added to additional symptoms during menstruation; in case of disorders of the cardiovascular system, vegetative-vascular symptoms may be more pronounced; when premenopause approaches in women (see. ), the likelihood of psycho-emotional instability and depressive symptoms increases.

Often women with secondary algomenorrhea experience problems that definitely cannot be ignored and this is an urgent reason to contact a gynecologist for examination and treatment. If primary painful periods, the causes of which are associated with congenital anomalies and pathologies, are very difficult to treat, then the occurrence of secondary algomenorrhea is mainly associated with acquired diseases of the female genital organs, the treatment of which must be carried out without fail, these are:

  • infectious and inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs and the accompanying adhesive process in the pelvis
  • malignant and benign (polyps) tumors of the uterus and appendages
  • varicose veins in the abdominal cavity, in the pelvic organs
  • pelvic neuritis

Also, in women over 30 years of age, the appearance of very severe pain during menstruation can be caused by the following reasons, provoking factors:

  • intrauterine contraception
  • , other intrauterine interventions, due to cicatricial narrowing of the cervix
  • surgical operations on the uterine appendages, birth complications or complications after cesarean section
  • mental and physical fatigue, constant stress, violation of rest and work schedules

Why should painful menstruation be treated?

Considering the above, it should be understood that the natural physiological function of menstruation should not cause significant general malaise in a woman, depriving her of her ability to work. In order to reduce the pain of menstruation, treatment should not consist of pain relief, but in eliminating the cause of this phenomenon. Of course, you can hope that this will change with the birth of a child, but if this does not happen, especially if a woman experiences painful periods after giving birth to children, she should consult a gynecologist to find out the cause of pain during periods.

  • Enduring pain is not only physically difficult, but also very harmful to the nervous system, and regular use of NSAIDs and analgesics does not eliminate the cause of painful periods; moreover, the body gets used to them and painkillers have a number of side effects.
  • The appearance of very painful periods is an indicator that some kind of malfunction or disease is occurring in the body, this is a signal that you should definitely find the reason for the body’s inadequate response to a natural process.

Painful periods can and should be treated. Read more about this in our next article. To determine the cause of primary algomenorrhea, a gynecologist is examined, tests are taken for hormonal status, an ultrasound of the pelvic organs, and the girl should also be additionally examined by a neurologist, osteopath, or psychotherapist. For secondary algomenorrhea, hormonal examination, ultrasound, diagnostic laparoscopy, and diagnostic curettage are also performed.

A woman or girl with painful periods should keep an observation diary, a menstruation calendar, in which they describe in detail the sensations, the amount of discharge, the duration of the cycle and the duration of bleeding, all the symptoms that appear during menstruation, in order to then help the doctor in determining the cause and choosing a method of therapy.

Every month women have their period. Nobody likes this period, and some look forward to it with fear because of the terrible cramping pain. There are times when a representative of the fairer sex is forced to stay at home and call an ambulance because she feels terrible. What causes severe pain during menstruation, how to prevent their occurrence and relieve cramps if they have already appeared, you need to know in order to be able to help yourself before visiting a doctor.

Why does my lower abdomen hurt?

Dysmenorrhea- These are pains in the lower abdomen that accompany menstruation. They arise due to the fact that within a month the epithelium grows in the uterus, to which the embryo will attach after fertilization, and if this does not happen, the body gets rid of it through bleeding. Doctors have found that it is impossible to get pregnant on the first day of the cycle.

During menstruation, a woman experiences slight malaise, abdominal discomfort and fatigue. However, this does not prevent her from adhering to the usual rhythm of life. If your critical days are very painful and your cycle is irregular, then you need to consult a gynecologist.

Types of pain during menstruation

There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary.

Primary occurs within two years from the beginning of the girl’s first menstruation in her life. It is not associated with any pathologies, and the pain is natural and occurs due to the expulsion of an unfertilized egg from the ovary. This type of malaise usually disappears after the first birth. With primary dysmenorrhea, the cycle does not go astray, but remains normal and regular.

Secondary, or as it is also called, acquired dysmenorrhea, occurs due to diseases and changes in the genital organs. It appears more often in women over 30 years of age and is accompanied by cardiac arrhythmia, tachycardia and vegetative-vascular abnormalities (excessive sweating, dizziness).

If the unpleasant sensations do not change over the years, then such dysmenorrhea is called compensated. If the pain only intensifies with age, then, accordingly, it is decompensated.

Types of associated ailments

In addition to nagging pain in the genital area, menstruation may be accompanied by:

  • Discomfort in the heart.
  • Severe headaches or migraines.
  • Fatigue quickly.
  • Unpleasant sensations in the eye area.
  • Sleep disturbance.
  • Pressure surges.
  • Irritability and depressed mood.
  • Swelling.
  • Mood swings.
  • Pain in the lower back.
  • Dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
  • Increased sweating.
  • Breast pain or tenderness.
  • Constipation, diarrhea or other abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract.

Severity of dysmenorrhea

There are 4 types of pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation:

Causes of menstrual pain

Menstrual pain can occur due to the following factors.

  • Incorrect location of internal organs, in particular the uterus.
  • Formed adhesions and scars after artificial termination of pregnancy (abortion).
  • Heredity.
  • Constant psycho-emotional stress.
  • Lack of iron, calcium and magnesium in the body.
  • Hormonal imbalances.
  • Avitaminosis.
  • Installed intrauterine device.
  • Ectopic pregnancy.
  • Sedentary and inactive lifestyle.
  • Inflammation in the pelvis.
  • Diseases such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis.
  • Formation of cysts or polyps in the uterus.
  • Sexually transmitted infections.

If the sensations do not interfere with the girl’s normal activity, then there is no need to worry and draw hasty conclusions. If the spasms interfere very much and cannot be tolerated, then you need to consult a specialist.

Treatment of dysmenorrhea

When medications no longer help to get rid of terrible symptoms and a woman is forced to give up all her duties for several days every month, then an examination by a gynecologist is vitally important.

Most of the medications your doctor will prescribe are aimed at reducing the amount of prostaglandins produced and thereby reducing the contractions of the uterus that cause attacks.

The doctor may prescribe low-dose hormonal drugs - oral contraceptives. Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs and antispasmodics will also have an effect.

Some time before the onset of menstruation, the doctor prescribes complex medications that include iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamins. You need to drink them in advance so that by the beginning of the cycle the necessary microelements accumulate in the body and have the desired effect.

Electrophoresis and UHF provide pain relief and warming. These procedures will help relieve pain, but it is also better to start them in advance.

Treatment at home

If menstruation is regular, the pain is tolerable and there is no need to reconsider your schedule, then you can alleviate the patient’s condition at home in the following ways:

  • Lie down for a while in the fetal position (on your side with your legs tucked in).
  • Stand under a warm shower, which will relax your muscles and dilate your blood vessels.
  • Massage the abdomen in a clockwise circular motion and massage the lower back.
  • Attend a yoga class or do some exercise at home (rotate your body in different directions, bend over).
  • Take an antispasmodic or pain reliever.
  • Before and after menstruation, take baths with sea salt for about 20 minutes. During cramps, apply compresses from it to the lower abdomen.
  • An ice pack for 15 minutes will help relieve tension and reduce bleeding.
  • Drink mint and chamomile tea several times a day.
  • If there are no contraindications, you can rub a solution of essential oils into the lower abdomen and sacrum: 5 drops of sage and yarrow and 50 ml of St. John's wort.

For prevention, doctors advise doing yoga and swimming, which relax the muscles. You should not overwork, be very nervous and drink alcohol, especially during and before menstruation. Limit your intake of bloating foods and sugary foods. But chocolate, on the contrary, will help the production of endorphins. It is best to lead a healthy lifestyle and get rid of the causes of pain during menstruation than to suffer and treat their consequences in the future.

The intensity of discharge and accompanying symptoms during menstruation is a clear indicator of women's health. Some representatives of the fair sex have suffered from severe pain since adolescence. In order for menstruation to pass quickly and painlessly, you need to undergo an examination and identify the causes of unbearable pain.

Causes of painful periods


Minor menstrual pain can occur when increased muscle contractions of the uterus contribute to the rejection of the functional layer of the endometrium. Disruption of this process can be caused by many factors. When the intensity of contractions increases, the woman experiences unbearable pain, which in medicine is referred to as “dysmenorrhea” or “algodysmenorrhea”.

The most common cause of painful periods in adolescents is the location of the uterus, which compresses the nerve endings during the menstrual cycle. Pain syndrome in women who have not given birth to children can be caused by:

  • central nervous system disorders;
  • congenital anomalies of internal organs;
  • magnesium deficiency;
  • genital tuberculosis;
  • psychoneurological pathologies;
  • dysplastic abnormalities of connective tissue.

In most women, algomenorrhea disappears on its own immediately after the birth of the child. This is explained by the fact that during childbirth, the cervix is ​​stretched, which previously prevented the release of blood.


Painful menstruation in women with children can be observed with the following pathologies:

  • Sexually transmitted infections contribute to the development of diseases that cause severe pain, as well as menstrual irregularities.
  • Inflammatory processes caused by the proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms are often accompanied by painful menstruation. Increased bacterial growth can be triggered by vitamin deficiency, hypothermia, or neglect of personal hygiene rules.
  • Malignant and benign tumors, gradually increasing in size, put pressure on the vessels of the internal organs, which leads to disruption of uterine blood flow.
  • Endometriosis is characterized by the growth of endometrial cells outside the uterus and often causes irregularities in the menstrual cycle. When a hormonal imbalance occurs, periods become heavy and painful.

The severity of pain during menstruation

Pain during menstruation varies in intensity depending on the cause of its occurrence. The severity of the pain syndrome is determined by the accompanying symptoms:


  1. The first degree is characterized by mild pain during menstrual bleeding. In most cases, it has no systemic manifestations and practically does not affect daily activities. To cope with pain, women are recommended to take analgesics.
  2. The second degree has more pronounced painful symptoms, significantly reducing performance. To carry out professional activities as usual, a woman needs to take medications that have an analgesic or anti-inflammatory effect. In rare cases, pain is accompanied by systemic symptoms.
  3. The third degree is determined by the severe pain syndrome associated with algodismenorrhea, in which professional activity is practically impossible. This condition in a woman is accompanied by severe headaches, insomnia, nervous disorders, and loss of consciousness. It is very difficult to eliminate painful sensations even with the help of painkillers.

Primary and secondary dysmenorrhea


Primary dysmenorrhea is most often diagnosed in adolescents, pubescent girls and young women. The first menstrual bleeding in most girls aged 10-13 years is accompanied by sharp pain in the lower abdomen. If no painful symptoms were observed during menarche, they may appear over the next 3 years. Menstrual pain during this period varies in intensity.

Primary dysmenorrhea is called functional, since the causes of its occurrence are associated with changes in the tissues of the internal genital organs, and not with the development of organic diseases. Pain syndrome can occur a day before menstruation and persist for the first 2 days. Uterine pain of a cramping or aching nature often spreads to the ovaries, fallopian tubes and bladder.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is associated with congenital or acquired organic diseases that affect a woman’s menstrual cycle. Painful periods are a consequence of impaired circulation of the uterus, stretching of its walls, contraction of the muscle layer or other pathological processes.

Most often, young women aged 26-30 years suffer from secondary dysmenorrhea. Aching pain in the lower abdomen occurs several days before the start of menstruation. The maximum intensity of the pain syndrome is achieved on the 2-3rd day of menstruation.

How to eliminate severe menstrual pain?

The treatment tactics for painful periods depend on the cause of the pathological condition. If severe pain is associated with an infectious or inflammatory disease, the woman must undergo a course of treatment to eliminate it. For primary dysmenorrhea, symptomatic therapy is most often sufficient.

The method of treating pain syndrome is selected by the gynecologist after diagnostic measures. Self-medication can provoke the transition of the disease to a more severe form.

Medications


Therapy for dysmenorrhea will be effective only if an integrated approach is used when prescribing drugs. The treatment regimen for the pathological condition consists of the following types of medications:

  • non-steroidal drugs that have an anti-inflammatory effect (Brufen, Ibufen, Nalgesin, Sanaprox);
  • antispasmodics (Spazmol, Baralgin, Drotaverin, Spasmonet);
  • hormonal contraceptives that contain gestagen (Duphaston, Levanova, Megastron);
  • antifungal suppositories (Zalain, Betadine, Pimafucin) are prescribed for intensive proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms;
  • medications that have a sedative effect on the central nervous system (Trioxazine, Valerian Forte, motherwort tincture);
  • homeopathic medicines (Feminal, Onagris, Tazalok).

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Timely administration of a set of physiotherapeutic procedures can significantly reduce pain during menstruation. Since physiotherapy has many contraindications, a gynecologist should prescribe procedures after determining the cause of the pain.


For primary dysmenorrhea, electrophoresis and acupuncture are used. Secondary pathology is treated using therapeutic baths, pulsed currents, electrical stimulation, magnetic therapy and ultrasound. It should be noted that physiotherapeutic procedures are contraindicated during menstruation. They should be carried out in the second half of the cycle.

Traditional medicine

To reduce the intensity of menstrual pain, you can use traditional medicine methods. Horsetail has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, therefore it is often used to eliminate gynecological diseases. A decoction of mint leaves, valerian root or chamomile flowers is often used as a pain reliever.

Heavy discharge during menstruation

Despite the fact that the amount of blood released is an individual characteristic of each woman, menstruation that does not stop throughout the week, during which it is very often necessary to change hygiene products, is considered heavy. A large volume of menstrual flow (menorrhagia) can be a sign of serious disorders in the functioning of the female reproductive system.

Possible reasons


The main causes of heavy discharge during menstruation are the following pathologies:

  • hormonal imbalance;
  • infections of female genital organs;
  • disorders caused by the intrauterine device;
  • decreased blood clotting;
  • diseases of the endocrine, genitourinary or cardiovascular systems;
  • overload of the body caused by stress or physical activity.

Causes for concern

If during menstruation a woman releases a large amount of blood, which contains large clots, this should be a reason to contact a gynecologist. Heavy discharge can lead to the development of anemia, in which general health deteriorates, weakness appears, dizziness, and even loss of consciousness is possible.

Basic principles of therapy

To restore hormonal balance in the treatment of menorrhagia, estrogen contraceptives are used. Their action is aimed at reducing the growth of the endometrium and reducing the volume of menstrual flow. In case of severe bleeding, it is recommended to take hemostatic agents. To reduce the risk of developing anemia, women are prescribed iron supplements.


Preventive measures to prevent painful and heavy periods

To prevent dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia, doctors recommend following the following rules:

  • do not disturb sleep and rest patterns;
  • include fruits and vegetables in your diet;
  • monitor body weight;
  • reduce coffee and tea consumption;
  • avoid nervous shock;
  • spend more time outdoors;
  • maintain physical fitness.

Almost all women know that pain often occurs during menstruation. But, you must admit, the severity of pain in the same woman in different months can be different, and sometimes there is none at all. And sometimes - at least climb up the wall from her. Let's figure out what hurts during menstruation and how it can be avoided.

Anatomy of menstruation

Let's remember anatomy. Every month, one or more eggs mature in a woman’s body. They wait for fertilization, and without waiting for this wonderful event, they move through the tubes to the uterus. The uterus, meanwhile, produces a lot of substance that can help the fertilized egg “attach” to its walls. You understand that at a certain point in the uterus there is a large number of all kinds of tissues and cells that the woman’s body “was not useful” in this cycle, and they must be removed from the uterus. This removal is called menstruation; there is an abundant release of blood, and with it all unnecessary biological material.

What hurts?

After an anatomy lesson, it becomes clear why pain during menstruation occurs before it begins and lasts for some time - from 2-4 hours to 2 days. The uterus begins to open to remove unnecessary things. Remember labor pains - pain occurs when the uterus opens. Of course, during menstruation the uterus does not open so much, but still it opens! Muscles press on internal tissues rich in nerve endings. It's less sensitive and more painful. After the uterus has opened, an impulsive muscle contraction begins, which expels the blood out. Imagine a rubber bulb, you press on it, water flows out, right? So is the uterus, the muscles press on it, blood comes out. And any pressure brings unpleasant sensations.

Why does it hurt more?

Increased pain during menstruation occurs with certain diseases. If your hormonal levels have changed due to nervousness, the uterus may contract stronger or weaker, this affects the level of pain. Also, over the years, a woman may begin to suffer from increased sensitivity to pain. Then even the slightest contraction of the uterus will cause unbearable pain. In this case, you need to consult a doctor, he will prescribe the correct treatment. But the woman herself must follow the basic rules so that it hurts less: don’t be nervous, play sports, don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol, don’t catch a cold (especially protect your legs from hypothermia).

Algomenorrhea

If the pain begins 3-4 days before menstruation, and then only intensifies, then not only the uterus hurts when muscles are applied to it. This condition is called algomenorrhea, and only a doctor can determine that it hurts during menstruation. Pain can be caused by endometriosis and in this case the entire mucous membrane hurts, not just the cervix. Also often the cause of pain is inflammation of the genital organs. Pain during menstruation can even be caused by an intrauterine device, as well as polyps and peritoneal adhesions. By the way, many women do not even suspect that they have adhesions, thinking that these are standard pains during menstruation. And this is a very big danger! When muscles contract, they can exert such a strong mechanical effect that organs stuck to each other will cause nagging pain. In the most acute cases, rupture and internal bleeding occur, which can only be eliminated surgically.

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, bends, underdevelopment.

Read also 🗓 What to do for painful periods in teenagers

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.

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: lightly 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 put 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.