Cure for Painful menstruation

What do doctors call this condition?

Dysmenorrhea

What is this condition?

Painful menstruation is the most common gynecologic complaint and a leading cause of absenteeism from school (it affects 10% of high school girls each month) and work (it causes an estimated 140 million lost work hours a year). It can occur as a primary disorder or secondary to an underlying disease.

What causes it?

Although primary painful menstruation is unrelated to any identifiable cause, possible contributing factors include hormonal imbalances and psychological factors. The pain probably results from increased prostaglandin secretion that intensifies normal uterine contractions.

Painful menstruation may also stem from an underlying gynecologic disorder, such as endometriosis, cervical narrowing, uterine fibroids, uterine malposition, pelvic inflammatory disease, or pelvic tumors.

What are its symptoms?

Painful menstruation produces irregular, sharp, cramping pain in the lower abdomen, which usually radiates to the back, thighs, groin, and vulva. Such pain - sometimes compared with labor pains­typically starts with or immediately before menstrual flow and peaks within 24 hours. Painful menstruation may also occur with other signs of premenstrual syndrome (urinary frequency, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, chills, abdominal bloating, painful breasts, depression, and irritability).

How is it diagnosed?

A pelvic exam and a detailed history may suggest the cause of painful menstruation.

Primary painful menstruation is diagnosed when secondary causes are ruled out. Appropriate tests (such as laparoscopy, dilation and curettage, and X-rays) are used to diagnose underlying disorders in secondary painful menstruation.

How is it treated?

Initial treatment aims to relieve pain. Pain relief measures may include the following:

. pain relievers, such as aspirin, for mild-to-moderate pain (most effective when taken 24 to 48 hours before the onset of menstruation). Aspirin is especially effective for treating painful menstruation because it also inhibits prostaglandin synthesis.

.  narcotics if pain is severe (infrequently used).

. prostaglandin inhibitors (such as Ponstel and Advil) to relieve pain by decreasing the severity of uterine contractions.

. heat applied locally to the lower abdomen (may relieve discomfort in mature women but is not recommended in young adolescents because appendicitis may mimic painful menstruation).

For primary painfUl menstruation, administration of sex hormones is an effective alternative to treatment with antiprostaglandins or analgesics. Such therapy usually consists of oral contraceptives to relieve pain by suppressing ovulation. (However, women who are attempting pregnancy should rely on anti prostaglandin therapy instead of oral contraceptives to relieve symptoms of primary painful menstruation.)

Because persistent, severe menstrual pain may have a psychological cause, psychological evaluation and appropriate counseling may be helpful.

In secondary painfUl menstruation, treatment is designed to identify and correct the underlying cause. This may include surgical treatment of underlying disorders, such as endometriosis or fibroids. However, surgical treatment is recommended only after conservative therapy fails.

What can a woman with painful menstruation do?

To help deal with this condition, you'll want to keep a detailed record of your menstrual symptoms and seek further medical care if these symptoms persist. Also, you can learn exercises that help relieve cramps.