A woman goes through about 450 menstrual cycles in her lifetime. The whole process takes place in 28 days on average. Sometimes a significant pain sensation may occur in various periods of the menstrual cycle due to many reasons.
What is Dysmenorrhea?
Under the influence of these hormones secreted from the pituitary gland, the egg follicles in the ovaries and the inside The egg cell continues its development and when the egg cell becomes mature enough, it leaves the follicle and passes into the structure called the fallopian tube. When it combines with the sperm, which is the male reproductive cell, the pregnancy process begins. The formation of the embryo takes place in this tube structure. If the union does not occur and the embryo does not form, the egg cell together with the thickened uterine tissue is thrown out of the body with menstruation (menstruation). The whole process takes place in 28 days on average. Sometimes a significant pain sensation may occur in various periods of the menstrual cycle due to many reasons.
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term used to describe painful menstruation and menstrual pain. Dysmenorrhea is usually felt as a throbbing, crampy pain in the lower abdomen just before menstruation occurs.
While menstrual pain does not cause extreme discomfort in some women, it can reach a size that limits daily activities in some women. ?
The causes of menstrual pain are evaluated in two categories as primary (primary) and secondary (secondary). While menstrual pain accompanying various gynecological diseases is classified as secondary, menstrual pain caused by high secretion of chemicals called prostaglandin during the menstrual cycle and contractions in the uterus is considered as primary menstrual pain (primary dysmenorrhea).
Primary dysmenorrhea is common among young women, and although it negatively affects quality of life, it is a benign condition. In the primary type, menstrual pain manifests itself in a short time after the onset of menstruation. A In addition to the pain in the lower abdomen, symptoms such as low back pain, back pain, hip-thigh pain, headache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting may accompany the primary type of menstrual pain. It can occur at any time of the menstrual cycle. The onset time and character of the secondary type of menstrual pain may change over time. Since various gynecological diseases are the main reason for the occurrence of pain, symptoms such as painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) and excessive menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) may be present together with the complaint of menstrual pain, depending on the underlying disease. ) What are the Causes?
There is no underlying gynecological disorder in primary menstrual pain. Menstrual pain occurs as a result of increased prostaglandin secretion and accompanying uterine contractions during menstruation. Prostaglandin secretion stimulates contractions in the uterine muscle tissue. The contraction of the muscle tissue also causes the blood flow to be interrupted in the vessels feeding the uterine tissue and the occurrence of menstrual pain.
The intensity of primary menstrual pain was found to be related to the amount of prostaglandin secreted. The amount of prostaglandin secreted especially in the first 2 days of menstruation is very high in women with a very pronounced pain complaint.
Secondary menstrual pain occurs due to an existing disease. There are many gynecological disorders that can cause this situation:
Endometriosis
The presence of tissue in the uterus in the areas outside the uterus is called endometriosis. Endometriosis is the most common cause of secondary menstrual cramps. Fallopian tubes and ovaries can be given as examples of areas where the uterine tissue is located outside the uterus.
Adenomyosis
The growth of glands in the inner layer of the uterus into the muscle layer is called adenomyosis and adenomyosis is one of the causes of abnormal menstrual bleeding.
Complaints of menstrual pain, abnormal menstrual bleeding and inability to have children causes symptoms of nomyosis. The diagnosis of the disease is made by means of radiological methods such as transvaginal ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is caused by the abnormal proliferation of muscle cells in the uterus. Although the reason that triggers the inappropriate growth of the muscle cell has not been definitively revealed, the formation of uterine fibroids has been found to be associated with the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the bloodstream.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
The infection that starts in the uterus as a result of various microorganisms is found in the surrounding environment. It can spread to other reproductive system tissues. The causative agents of the disease are bacteria usually transmitted after unprotected sexual intercourse.
Symptoms such as lower abdomen and groin pain, pain during sexual intercourse and abnormal bleeding during menstruation may occur in women with pelvic inflammatory disease.
In addition to these situations, the occurrence of pain in the ovarian region where the egg follicle continues to develop in the middle of the menstrual cycle (between the 7th and 24th days), although not during the menstrual period, is called Mittelschmerz pain.
It is thought that approximately 40% of women of reproductive age are affected by this condition.
What is Good for Menstrual Pain (Dysmenorrhea)?
In the presence of any condition in the body with symptoms different from normal, the first thing to do is to get support from health institutions and employees. Painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used if the physician recommends and prescribes them for the relief of menstrual pain. placing a hot water bag on the back area
Hot applications on the lower abdomen or back can be effective in relieving menstrual pain. Taking a warm bath other than a hot water bag or applying a hot towel to these areas can also relieve menstrual pain.
Relaxing massage to the lower abdomen
Massaging the lower abdomen for approximately 20 minutes can contribute to relieving menstrual pain. At the same time, the duration and intensity of pain can be alleviated by the use of lavender or clary sage oil, which are classified as essential oils, while massaging.
Performing physical exercise
The chemical endorphin secreted in the body during physical activities may contribute to the alleviation of menstrual pain. Preferring light exercises such as walking or yoga instead of heavy physical exercises is considered more suitable for alleviating menstrual pain.
Consumption of nutritious but not heavy foods
The inclusion of unprocessed fiber-rich products and plant-based foods in the diet plans of people who complain of menstrual pain during that period may provide relief in their complaints. Chamomile tea is considered to be a good tea for menstrual pain due to its relaxing effect on the nerves that carry the sense of pain.
Hazelnut, almond and pumpkin seeds are foods rich in manganese mineral. Manganese can contribute to the reduction of cramps that can cause pain during the menstrual period. At the same time, iron loss occurs with menstruation. Consumption of chicken, fish and green leafy vegetables is recommended to prevent iron deficiency. Fatty foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks, caffeine-containing liquids and salty foods are examples of foods that can have a relieving effect on menstrual pain if the consumption is limited.
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