The causes of menstrual pain can vary. Menstrual pain or dysmenorrhea is a common thing in most women. Pain can be mild or not annoying. However, heavy menstrual pain that is felt during menstruation or persistent pain and getting worse after menstruation can indicate the presence of certain diseases or conditions.
Menstrual pain is generally felt by some women at the beginning of menstruation. In some women, the pain in the lower abdomen is not so pronounced that they can still move as usual. However, others feel pain so unbearable that they are unable to do anything.
Contraction Causes of Pain
Over time, there are subtle contractions in the uterine lining muscles that are generally not felt. But during menstruation, these contractions become firmer as part of the uterine lining during menstruation. These contractions compress the blood vessels that surround the uterus, thus severing the supply of blood and oxygen to the uterus. This lack of oxygen causes the uterine tissue to release chemicals that create pain.
The pain gets worse because the body also secretes a chemical called prostaglandin which triggers the uterine muscle to continue to contract more. Prostaglandins are chemicals produced by a woman's body and can cause many symptoms related to menstrual discomfort. In addition, prostaglandins also trigger other conditions such as nausea, diarrhea, weakness, and headaches that often accompany pain. Allegedly, some women produce more prostaglandins so they feel more pain than others.
Specific diseases
Menstrual pain or dysmenorrhea can be categorized into two types, namely primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is a pain that is commonly experienced by women, especially around the beginning of menstruation. While secondary dysmenorrhea is caused by conditions or disorders of the female reproductive system. Pain due to secondary dysmenorrhea usually occurs earlier than usual menstrual pain and lasts longer.
Disorders that cause secondary dysmenorrhea can be:
- Endometriosis: occurs when cells that surround the uterus begin to grow outside the uterus, such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes. This cell can cause severe pain when it decays.
- Pelvic inflammation: infections that can cause inflammation or inflammation of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
- Adenomyosis: the uterine inner lining tissue begins to grow into the uterine muscle wall, causing pain during menstruation.
- Fibroids: tumors that are not cancerous in the uterus and can make your periods painful.
- Intrauterine device (IUD): contraception placed in the uterus can sometimes cause menstrual pain, especially in the early stages of insertion.
- Cervical stenosis: the opening in the cervix of some women is very small, thus inhibiting the flow of blood to come out during menstruation. This condition causes painful pressure in the uterus.
In addition to menstrual pain, secondary dysmenorrhea is generally accompanied by other symptoms such as irregular periods, vaginal discharge that is thick and smelly, bleeding between menstrual periods, and pain during sexual intercourse.
More risky
Some women are more at risk of experiencing menstrual pain because they experience the following:
- More menstrual volume
- Having your first period before 11 years of age.
- Obese or overweight.
- Never been pregnant.
- Consuming alcoholic beverages or smoking.
In addition to taking pain medication, menstrual pain can generally be relieved independently by massage, warm baths, warm drinks, lying down with legs raised, or sticking patches on the affected part.
Menstrual pain cannot be considered trivial. You should immediately consult a doctor if excessive bleeding occurs, menstrual periods are longer than usual, accompanied by fever, abnormal vaginal discharge, pain arises suddenly and feels intense on the pelvis, as well as signs of infection such as fever or chills and body aches during menstruation.
Meanwhile, precautions can be taken by consuming foods that contain vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and magnesium. These ingredients seem to reduce menstrual pain effectively; In addition, regular exercise so that weight remains normal; avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes; and reduce stress which can increase the risk of severe menstrual cramps and pain.
Komentar
Posting Komentar