When you have strong uterine contractions, the blood supply to the uterus is momentarily shut down, depriving the uterus muscle of oxygen and setting up the cycle of menstrual cramps and pain. Some studies show that women with severe menstrual cramps have stronger uterine contractions than others do when giving birth. According to Mayo Clinic, certain conditions such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease are associated with menstrual cramps.
Endometriosis can cause fertility problems. Pelvic inflammatory disease can scar your fallopian tubes, which increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy , in which the fertilized egg implants outside your uterus. Other risk factors include use of an intrauterine device IUD , uterine fibroid tumor, and sexually transmitted diseases. A study published in October in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies concluded that women who practiced yoga 30 minutes per day, two days a week, for 12 weeks at home had a significant improvement in menstrual pain and physical fitness over the control group.
Another study, published in January in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine , found that Hatha yoga practice was associated with a reduction in levels of chronic pelvic pain in women with endometriosis. If your periods are causing you significant pain, consult your doctor, because menstrual pain can be a sign of a serious problem.
Here are seven conditions known to cause painful menstrual cramps. Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which endometrium-like tissue is found outside the uterus on other structures throughout the pelvis, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, pelvic floor, and in more severe cases, the bowel , diaphragm, liver, lungs, and even the brain. According to Ken R.
Sudden cramping or pelvic pain could be signs of infection. An untreated infection can cause scar tissue that damages the pelvic organs and may lead to infertility.
When trying to find out what the underlying cause of painful menstruation is, your doctor will likely take your medical history and perform a physical exam. This will include a pelvic exam to check for any abnormalities in your reproductive system and to look for signs of infection. If your doctor thinks an underlying disorder is causing your symptoms, they may perform imaging tests. These can include:.
Depending on the results of your imaging tests, your doctor may order a laparoscopy. This is a test in which a doctor makes small incisions in the abdomen into which they insert a fiber-optic tube with a camera at the end to see inside your abdominal cavity. Treatment will depend on the severity and underlying cause of your pain. If PID or sexually transmitted infections STIs are causing your pain, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection.
Your doctor may also suggest that you try hormonal birth control. Hormonal birth control is available as a pill, patch, vaginal ring, injection, implant, or IUD. Hormones prevent ovulation, which can control your menstrual cramps. While your body is releasing these pain-triggering chemicals, it's also producing other chemicals called prostaglandins.
These encourage the womb muscles to contract more, further increasing the level of pain. It's not known why some women have more period pain than others. It may be that some women have a build-up of prostaglandins, which means they experience stronger contractions. Period pain linked to an underlying medical condition tends to affect older women.
Women aged 30 to 45 are most commonly affected. An intrauterine device IUD is a type of contraception made from copper and plastic that fits inside the womb. It can also sometimes cause period pain, particularly during the first few months after it's inserted.
You may notice a change in your normal pattern of pain if your period pain is linked to a medical condition or a contraceptive IUD. For example, the pain may be more severe or it may last much longer than normal. Period pain usually starts when your bleeding begins, although some women have pain several days before the start of their period.
The pain usually lasts 48 to 72 hours, although it can last longer. It's usually at its worst when your bleeding is heaviest. Young girls often have period pain when they begin getting periods. Read more about starting periods. Period pain that does not have an underlying cause tends to improve as a woman gets older. Many women also notice an improvement after they've had children. Women with bleeding disorders, asthma, aspirin allergy, liver damage, stomach disorders, or ulcers should not take NSAIDs.
Birth control methods that contain estrogen and progestin , such as the pill, the patch, and the vaginal ring, can be used to treat painful periods. Birth control methods that contain progestin only, such as the birth control implant and the injection, also may reduce period pain. Yes, the hormonal intrauterine device IUD also can be used to treat painful periods. In some cases, bleeding stops for women with an IUD. If you are not trying to get pregnant, you and your ob-gyn may talk about hormonal birth control methods as a form of treatment.
Acupuncture, acupressure, and nerve stimulation therapies may be useful for treating painful periods. Physical therapy that eases trigger points also may help with pain. Some types of physical therapy teach mental techniques for coping with pain.
These types include relaxation exercises and biofeedback. Vitamin B1 or magnesium supplements may be helpful, but not enough research has been done to recommend them as effective treatments for period pain. Exercise—Exercising most days of the week can make you feel better. Aerobic workouts, such as walking, jogging, biking, or swimming, help produce chemicals that block pain.
Apply heat—Taking a warm bath or placing a heating pad or hot water bottle on your abdomen can be soothing. Sleep—Getting enough sleep before and during your period is important. Being well rested can help you cope with discomfort.
If your symptoms or a laparoscopy point to endometriosis as the cause of your period pain, your ob-gyn may recommend you try a birth control method: the pill, the implant, the injection, or the hormonal IUD. Medications called gonadotropin-releasing hormone GnRH agonists also may relieve endometriosis pain. GnRH agonists may cause side effects, including bone loss, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness.
They usually are used for a short time. See Endometriosis to learn more. If these do not work, a treatment called uterine artery embolization UAE may be recommended. In this procedure, the blood vessels to the uterus are blocked with small particles. This stops the blood flow that allows fibroids to grow.
Most women have normal menstrual periods after UAE. In some women, periods do not return. See Uterine Artery Embolization to learn more. If adenomyosis is causing your pain, NSAIDs, a birth control method, or other medications may be recommended. UAE also can be done to treat adenomyosis. If other treatments do not relieve pain, surgery may be recommended. The type of surgery depends on the cause of your pain:.
Endometriosis tissue can be removed with surgery. In some cases, the tissue returns after the surgery, but removing it can reduce the pain in the short term. Taking hormonal birth control or other medications after surgery for endometriosis may delay or prevent the return of pain.
0コメント