Dysmenorrhea: symptoms, causes, and how to treat it

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Definition

What is dysmenorrhea?

Dysmenorrhea is the medical term to describe menstrual pain. This condition is characterized by cramps in the lower abdomen that usually appear before or during menstruation.

For some women, their dysmenorrhea may be mild and not interfere with routine. However, for some other women, menstrual pain often causes discomfort. In fact, sometimes it interferes with the sufferer's daily activities.

In general, there are two types of dimenorrhea, namely:

Primary dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that occurs because the uterine muscles contract strongly. This pain appears in the lower abdomen and sometimes radiates to the lower back and thighs.

Usually, pain can appear 1-2 days before menstruation comes. Even so, sometimes, this pain can also appear during your period.

During this condition, you may also experience several other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, lethargy, lack of energy, and even diarrhea.

Secondary dysmenorrhea

Secondary dysmenorrhea is pain caused by problems with the female reproductive organs. In secondary dysmenorrhea, pain usually begins at the start of the menstrual cycle and lasts longer than normal menstrual cramps. Pain due to secondary dysmenorrhea is also usually not accompanied by nausea, vomiting, weakness, and diarrhea.

In most cases, this pain will decrease as the woman ages and when you have had your first child.

How common is dysmenorrhea?

Menstrual pain is a condition that is often experienced by women. In many cases, the pain you feel during menstruation will decrease as the woman ages. In addition, this condition will often disappear once a woman has a baby.

Menstrual pain can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of dysmenorrhea?

In fact, the symptoms of dysmenorrhea can vary from woman to woman. But in general, the most typical signs and symptoms of dysmenorrhea are:

• Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen that can spread to the lower back and inner thighs
• Menstrual pain appears 1-2 days before menstruation or at the beginning of menstruation
• The pain feels intense or constant

For some women, they also experience several other symptoms that appear together before or when the menstrual cycle comes. The following are other accompanying symptoms that women often complain about during menstruation:

• Bloated
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Dizzy
• Weak, lethargic and powerless

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

Abdominal pain during menstruation is normal. However, if the pain you are experiencing is very painful, it even causes you to skip work or college, or makes it difficult for you to do your daily activities, then consult a doctor immediately. You should also tell your doctor if:

• The pain is getting worse
• Cramps still occur even though your menstrual period is over
• Your complaints increase, for example, accompanied by fever
• These pains and cramps occur more frequently

Often times, severe menstrual pain can be a sign of a serious medical condition that requires immediate treatment. So, always consult a doctor to find out the cause of your condition. The sooner your doctor will diagnose your complaint, the earlier treatment can be done.

Cause

What causes dysmenorrhea?

The cause of dysmenorrhea actually depends on the type. In primary dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain occurs due to contractions of the uterine muscles. This uterine muscle contraction is triggered by the hormone prostaglandin, which levels will increase before menstruation begins.

Too strong a contraction of the uterine muscles can put pressure on nearby blood vessels. As a result, the supply of oxygen to the uterus will be hampered. Well, the low supply of oxygen in the uterus is what causes pain and cramps before or during menstruation.

While the causes of secondary dysmenorrhea can occur due to certain conditions. Here are some causes of secondary abdominal pain that you need to be aware of.

Endometriosis

This condition occurs because the tissue that lines the lining of the uterus instead grows in other parts of the body, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the tissue that lines the pelvis.

A typical symptom of this condition is pain in the lower abdomen which usually gets worse when you have your period.

Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that usually appear above or within the uterine muscle. The appearance of a tumor lump in the uterine muscle can put pressure on the uterus which can cause pain during menstruation. These tumors can develop into one or more lumps of different sizes.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

This condition occurs due to a bacterial infection of the female reproductive organs, such as the uterus, cervix (cervix), ovaries, or fallopian tubes. This infection will cause pain during menstruation and cause inflammation of the reproductive organs.

In severe cases, this condition can also make it difficult for sufferers to get pregnant or have an ectopic pregnancy.

Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is a rare condition in which the tissue lining the uterus (endometrium) grows through the uterine wall (myometrium). This condition causes bleeding that occurs during menstruation to be heavier and longer than usual.

People who experience this condition also often experience intense pain during menstruation.

Narrowing of the cervix

Narrowing of the cervix, or in medical terms called cervical stenosis, is a condition in which the cervix is ​​narrowed and even closed. This condition blocks the flow of menstrual blood to the vagina. As a result, there is increased pressure in the uterus, causing pain.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of developing dysmenorrhea?

There are many things that can increase your risk of experiencing menstrual pain. Some of them include:

• You are under 30 years of age
• Your puberty starts at age 11 or under (precocious puberty)
• You experience heavy or abnormal bleeding during your period
• You experience irregular menstrual bleeding
• You have never given birth
• You have a family history of menstrual pain
• You are a smoker

Drugs & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are my treatment options for dysmenorrhea?

Dysmenorrhea is a common condition that is often experienced by women before or during menstruation. For some women, they do not need special treatment because the symptoms they feel tend to be mild and can go away on their own.

Unfortunately, for some women, the pain or cramps they experience is so intense that it hinders them from carrying out their daily routine. If you have this, you may need special treatment to relieve symptoms.

Here are some treatment options to relieve abdominal pain or cramps during menstruation.

Take pain relievers

If your menstrual pain feels so bad that it interferes with activities, it doesn't hurt to take pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. You can get both of these pain relievers without a doctor's prescription and are sold freely at the nearest pharmacy or drug store.

Before taking pain relievers, make sure you read the instructions for using the medication carefully. Take the medicine according to the recommended dosage to avoid dangerous side effects.

Hormonal contraceptives

In addition to using pain relievers, you can also take normonal contraceptives to relieve menstrual pain symptoms. You can use hormonal contraceptives such as oral pills, injections, skin patches (patches), implants under the skin, rings that are inserted into the vagina, or an intrauterine device (IUD).

All of these hormonal contraceptives can help thin the lining of the womb and reduce the production of prostaglandins before menstruation. That way, your menstruation will run more smoothly and with less pain.

Operation

If your menstrual pain is caused by another health condition, your doctor may recommend surgery to treat it.

What are the usual tests to diagnose dysmenorrhea?

Before doing the test, the doctor will usually ask about your medical history first. After that, the doctor will carry out a series of physical and laboratory examinations to make a diagnosis. If your doctor suspects an abnormality and infection in your reproductive organs, he or she may order a pelvic exam.

The doctor may also perform the following tests to make a diagnosis:

• Ultrasound (ultrasound) uses sound waves to examine the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
• CT (computerized tomography) scan or MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) scan to look at details on organs, bones and tissues to diagnose the cause.
• Laparoscopy to help determine the cause of your pain.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat dysmenorrhea?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with menstrual pain:

Compress the stomach

To relieve pain during menstruation, you can compress the stomach or lower back with a small towel dipped in warm water or with a bottle that has been filled with warm water.

The heat generated will make blood vessels dilate, so that blood flow and oxygen supply can more easily reach the affected area. The smoother flow of blood also helps relax tense and stiff muscles, thereby reducing menstrual pain.

Apart from using the compress method, you can also try taking a warm bath to relax all parts of the body.

Get active

Even though it makes the body weak and the mood fluctuates, menstruation should not be an excuse to be lazy. Instead, try to stay active, including doing sports. The reason is, this can help reduce the pain you experience.

Yes, physical activity such as sports can help improve your blood circulation. Not only that, this activity also helps the body produce endorphins which can help balance the work of the prostaglandin hormone. As a result, the pain and discomfort you experience before or during your period can decrease.

No need to be heavy, the important thing is to make your body actively move every day. Some physical activities that are safe to do during your exercise include walking, yoga, aerobics, or light jogging.

Watch your food intake

In order to avoid pain or stomach cramps during menstruation, you must be careful in choosing the foods you eat. Avoid eating foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar. In addition, avoid carbonated, caffeinated, and alcoholic drinks. These foods and drinks can cause bloating and water resistance in your body, making your menstrual pain worse.

You should increase your intake of foods containing omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium to reduce inflammation that causes menstrual pain. In addition, also increase your iron intake because it can help prevent anemia which often comes to your head during menstruation.

Drink chamomile tea

To relieve menstrual pain, you can drink warm drinks such as ginger or chamomile tea. In a journal released by the Journal of Agriculture and Chemistry, chamomile tea contains compounds that can reduce pain.

In this study, it is known that 14 people who were included in the study had a significant increase in hippurate levels. Hippurate is a compound in the body that acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. This anti-inflammatory can help reduce prostaglandin production and reduce menstrual pain.

Drink ginger ale

Apart from chamomile tea, you can also relieve menstrual pain by drinking a glass of warm ginger ale. Ginger has compounds that are considered effective for reducing inflammation and pain, including menstrual pain. In addition, ginger can also reduce the symptoms of nausea that sometimes often appear during menstruation.

How to make ginger root is quite easy. Crumble one segment of ginger, then boil it until it boils. In order to reduce the spicy taste that results from ginger itself, you can add a spoon or brown sugar.

Avoid stress

Menstruation can indeed affect a woman's emotions. Yes, many women havemood swing,aka drastic mood swings. You may suddenly feel helplessly sad or angry at anyone for no apparent reason.

If you are not smart in controlling your emotions, women who are menstruating will be susceptible to stress. If you are already stressed, your pain may get worse. Therefore, try to avoid stress.

The trick, do various things that are fun and win at the same time. For example, listening to instrumental music, reading motivational books, doing meditation, drawing, or just singing. In essence, do things that make you feel good.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.