Most women get it at some point in their lives. It's usually felt as painful muscle cramps in the tummy, which can spread to the back and thighs. The pain sometimes comes in intense spasms, while at other times it may be dull but more constant. It may also vary with each period. Some periods may cause little or no discomfort, while others may be more painful. Period pain happens when the muscular wall of the womb tightens contracts.
Mild contractions continually occur in your womb, but they're usually so mild that most women cannot feel them. During your period, the wall of the womb starts to contract more vigorously to help the womb lining shed as part of your period. When the wall of the womb contracts, it compresses the blood vessels lining your womb. This temporarily cuts off the blood supply — and oxygen supply — to your womb. Without oxygen, the tissues in your womb release chemicals that trigger pain.
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. At-home treatments can be helpful in relieving painful menstrual periods. Types of things to try at home include:. If menstrual pain is interfering with your ability to perform basic tasks each month, it may be time to talk to a gynecologist.
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. This could be a sign of endometriosis, a disease where tissue normally found in the lining of your uterus grows elsewhere in your abdomen. We asked her to bust some myths about this common disease. Pre-menstrual syndrome, or PMS, is generally worse in the two weeks before your period, while endometriosis pain is typically worse during your period.
The hallmark of endometriosis is pain. MYTH: Endometriosis can be caused by douching, abortion or infections. None of these cause endometriosis. 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. Hysterectomy may be done for adenomyosis if other treatments have not worked. Hysterectomy also may be recommended for other conditions when they cause severe pain.
This surgery usually is a last resort. Adenomyosis: A condition in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus begins to grow in the muscle wall of the uterus. Biofeedback: A technique used by physical therapists to help a person control body functions, such as heartbeat or blood pressure. Endometriosis: A condition in which tissue that lines the uterus is found outside of the uterus, usually on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic structures.
Fallopian Tubes: Tubes through which an egg travels from the ovary to the uterus. Fibroids: Growths that form in the muscle of the uterus. Fibroids usually are noncancerous. General Anesthesia: The use of drugs that create a sleep-like state to prevent pain during surgery. Hormones: Substances made in the body that control the function of cells or organs.
Intrauterine Device IUD : A small device that is inserted and left inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Laparoscopy: A surgical procedure in which a thin, lighted telescope called a laparoscope is inserted through a small incision cut in the abdomen. The laparoscope is used to view the pelvic organs. Other instruments can be used with it to perform surgery.
Menstruation: The monthly shedding of blood and tissue from the uterus that happens when a woman is not pregnant. Many types are available over the counter, including ibuprofen and naproxen. Ovaries: Organs in women that contain the eggs necessary to get pregnant and make important hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Progestin: A synthetic form of progesterone that is similar to the hormone made naturally by the body. Prostaglandins: Chemicals that are made by the body that have many effects, including causing the muscle of the uterus to contract, usually causing cramps. Ultrasound Exam: A test in which sound waves are used to examine inner parts of the body. During pregnancy, ultrasound can be used to check the fetus. This procedure is used to stop bleeding after delivery.
It is also used to stop other causes of bleeding from the uterus.
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