March | 2014 - Internatonal Womens Month

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Health . Work . Life
Defniton
Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) are dull,
throbbing, and/or cramping pains in the
lower abdomen. Many women experience
menstrual cramps just before and/or during
their menstrual period. For some women
the discomfort is merely an annoyance how-
ever to others it can be very server to the
point that it interferes with their everyday
actvites during that tme of the month.
Menstrual Cramps (Dysmenorrhea)
Symptoms
Dull, throbbing, and/or cramping pain in
the lower abdomen
Pain radiatng to the lower back and thighs
For some women additonal symptoms
may be felt such as:
Nausea and vomitng
Loose stools
Sweatng
Dizziness
Causes
During menstrual period, your uterus con-
tracts to help expel its lining. Hormone-like
substances (prostaglandins) involved in pain
and infammaton trigger the uterine muscle
contractons. Higher levels of prostaglandins
are associated with more severe menstrual
cramps.
Menstrual cramps also may be caused by:
Endometriosis. A painful conditon where-
in which the tssue.
Uterine fbrosis. These are noncancerous
growths in the wall of the uterus. These
rarely causes pain to the patent.
Adenomyosis. In this conditon, the tssue
that lines your uterus begins to grow into
the muscular walls of the uterus.
Menstrual cramps are a treatable con-
diton. Your doctor may recommend:
NSAIDs.
Hormonal birth control
Surgery. If your menstrual cramps are
caused by an underlying disorder, such
as endometriosis or fbroids, the sur-
gical removal of the abnormal tssue
may help reduce your symptoms.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Soaking in a hot bath or using a heatng
pad on your lower abdomen appears
to be just as efectve as over-the-
counter pain medicaton for relieving
menstrual cramps.
Treatments and drugs
Pelvic infammatory disease (PID). This
infecton of the female reproductve or-
gans is usually caused by sexually transmit-
ted bacteria.
Cervical stenosis. In some women, the
opening of the cervix may be so small that
it impedes menstrual fow, causing a pain-
ful increase of pressure within the uterus.
Risk factors associated with dysmen-
orrhea include:
Age younger than 20
Early onset of puberty (age 11 or young-
er)
Heavy bleeding during periods (menor-
rhagia)
Irregular menstrual bleeding (metrorrha-
gia)
Never having delivered a baby
Family history of dysmenorrhea
Smoking
If you've started menstruatng within
the past few years and are experienc-
ing cramps, chances are your men-
strual pain is not a cause for concern.
However, if menstrual cramps disrupt
your life for several days a month or
if you're older and just started experi-
encing severe menstrual cramps, see
your doctor.
When to see a doctor?
If menstrual cramps disrupt your life for
several days a month, see your doctor.

Source: 1998-2014 Mayo Foundaton for Medical Educaton and Research.

Hot compress on your lower abdomen
can help relieve menstrual cramps.