Causes of menstrual pain and Treatment

Causes of menstrual pain and Treatment. Menstrual periods is said to be Painful when  a woman in her menses has crampy lower abdominal pain, sharp or aching pain that comes and goes, or possibly back pain. Not withstanding some menstrual pain is normal, excessive pain is not. The medical term for painful menstrual periods is dysmenorrhea.

Many women experience painful periods. Sometimes, the pain makes it difficult to perform normal household, job, or school-related activities for a few days during each menstrual cycle. Painful menstruation is the leading cause of lost time from school and work among women in their teens and 20s.

causes of menstrual pain and Treatment
the causes of menstrual pain are broadly classified into 2, depending on causes menstrual pain.

1)  Primary dysmenorrhea
2) Secondary dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the causes of menstrual pain that occurs around the time that menstrual periods first begin in otherwise healthy young women. This pain is usually not related to a specific problem with the uterus or other pelvic organs. Increased activity of the hormone prostaglandin, which is produced in the uterus, is thought to play a role in this condition.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is also one of the causes of menstrual pain that develops later in women who have had normal periods and is often related to problems in the uterus or other pelvic organs, such as:

Endometriosis
Fibroids
Intrauterine device (IUD) made of copper
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Sexually transmitted infection
Stress and anxiety

TREATMENT
The above listed causes of menstrual pain can be taken care of in the following ways. In taking care of the causes menstrual pain,The following steps may allow you to avoid prescription medications:

1: Apply a heating pad to your lower belly area, below your belly button. Never fall asleep with the heating pad on.
2:Do light circular massage with your fingertips around your lower belly area.
3:Drink warm beverages.
4: Eat light but frequent meals.
5:Follow a diet rich in complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, but low in salt, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.
6:Keep your legs raised while lying down, or lie on your side with your knees bent.
7: Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga.
8:Try over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen. Start taking it the day before your period is expected to start, and continue taking it regularly for the first few days of your period.
9: Try vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium supplements, especially if your pain is from PMS.
10:Take warm showers or baths.
11: Walk or exercise regularly, including pelvic rocking exercises.
12:Lose weight if you are overweight. Get regular, aerobic exercise.

If these self-care measures do not work in taking care of those causes of menstrual pain, your doctor may prescribe medications such as:

Antibiotics
Antidepressants
Birth control pills
Prescription anti-inflammatory medicines
Prescription pain relievers (including narcotics, for brief periods)

Call your doctor right away if you have:

Increased or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Fever and pelvic pain
Sudden or severe pain, especially if your period is more than one week late and you have been sexually active.

Also call your doctor if:

Treatments do not relieve your pain after 3 months.
You have pain and had an IUD placed more than 3 months ago.
You pass blood clots or have other symptoms with the pain.
Your pain occurs at times other than menstruation, begins more than 5 days before your period, or continues after your period is over.

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