Painful menstrual periods

• Painful menstrual periods are a woman experiences crampy lower abdominal pain, sharp pain that comes and goes, aching pain, or possibly back pain

• Painful menstruation affects many women. For a small number of women, the discomfort makes it difficult for normal home, work, or school-related activities to perform 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.

• The pain may take several days before the start, or just at the beginning of your period. The decreases in general as menstrual bleeding tapers off.

• Although some pain during menstruation is normal, too much pain. The medical term for excessively painful periods is dysmenorrhea.

• Primary dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain that occurs around the time the first period starting in healthy young women. This type of pain is usually not related to specific problems with the uterus or other pelvic organs. Increased activity of the hormone prostaglandin, produced in the uterus, is thought to be a factor in primary dysmenorrhea be.

• Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that develops later, after periods are more normal, and is often related to problems in the uterus or other pelvic organs, such as:

•      Endometriosis

•      fibroids

•      Intrauterine device (IUD) of copper

•      cysts

•      Pelvic inflammatory disease

•      Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

•      Sexually transmitted disease

• Stress and anxiety.

HOME REMEDIES:

 The following steps may allow you to avoid prescription drugs:

•   Apply a heating pad to your lower abdomen (below your navel).  Be careful dont  fall asleep with the heating pad .  
•     Do light circular massage with your fingertips around your lower abdomen. 
•       Drink hot drinks.   
•    Eat light but frequent meals.
     
•   Follow a diet rich in complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits and vegetables but low in salt, sugar, alcohol and caffeine.
   
•     Keep your legs lying down, or lie on your side with your knees bent.
     
•    Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.
   
•       Try over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Begin the day before your period is expected to start, and taking it regularly for the first few days of your period to continue.
    
•     Try vitamin B6, calcium and magnesium supplements, especially if your pain is from PMS.
   
•       Take warm shower or bath.
       
• Walk or exercise regularly, including pelvic rocking exercises.
      
•   Lose weight if you are overweight.