Pain during menstruation generally occurs in the lower part of the abdomen and can appear just before menstruation or after it has started. The pain is usually mild. It is not expected to restrict life very much, and therefore it is not expected to affect daily life very negatively. But in some women, on the contrary, these complaints can be very severe. Some women even have difficulty continuing their daily lives during their periods. They may not be able to go to school or to work.
The prostaglandin produced in the female body increases during menstruation. High prostaglandin also causes contraction and pain in the uterus. In women with a high prostaglandin level, menstrual pain is severe. In addition, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea or headache are also linked to this chemical. The painkillers used in treatment reduce prostaglandin and thus cause a decrease both in the pain and in the amount of menstrual bleeding.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SEVERE PAIN?
Prostaglandins are not the only cause of severe pain during menstruation. Some diseases also cause this period to be painful and difficult. Various conditions such as endometriosis, known as the chocolate cyst disease, fibroids, or the formation of adenomyosis (the chocolate cyst disease affecting the uterus), inflammation in the uterus and/or the ovaries and tubes, ectopic pregnancy, an intrauterine device (coil) and an ovarian cyst make the menstrual period difficult.
In women who have had painful periods since their very first menstrual cycle, this situation is accepted as primary. However, severe pain experienced because of conditions such as the chocolate cyst, fibroids or pelvic inflammatory disease is secondary. When the physical condition causing the pain is treated, painful periods also disappear.
DRUG TREATMENT
To prevent cramps during the menstrual cycle, anti-inflammatory drugs are generally preferred. Ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, ketoprofen or naproxen help to suppress prostaglandin. These drugs are more effective when they are started a few days before the cycle begins, and it is advised to take them until the end of menstruation. However, they may not have the same effect in all women. Magnesium in particular is quite useful in reducing pain in painful periods. It can be used together with painkillers. Contraceptive pills are also among the options. These options can be used gradually, singly or together.
People with kidney problems or stomach problems such as a stomach ulcer or reflux must certainly consult a doctor before using these medicines. In addition, another important option in treatment is that hormonal contraceptives and the medicated intrauterine device (coil) can also be effective in bringing cramps under control or ending them. However, especially if the pain is due to a particular cause, resolving that cause is what allows these pains to be treated.