When it’s that time of the month, many of us know that menstrual cramps will come too. The scientific name is dysmenorrhea. Wow, what a long word, huh? When I used to have cramps, pain would start in my lower abdomen and radiate from there. In the first several years of having a cycle, the pain would be so bad that I would vomit. The only good thing about cramps was a day off from school!
But hey, it happens, right? So, now we just have to make sure that our cramps are just cramps only – not any underlying problem. Mayo Clinic states that normal symptoms of cramps include dull, throbbing or cramping pain in the lower abdomen, pain traveling to the lower back and thighs, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, sweating and even dizziness. And it further states that if you are younger than 20, experiencing early onset of puberty (think 11 or younger), have heavy menstrual bleeding and have never had a baby, chances are that you will experience mild or intense menstrual cramps. Hmm…that explains my situation; I got my visitor at age 11!
What exactly is happening to the body when we cramp? The Mayo Clinic explains that to expel the blood lining in the uterus (since the female doesn’t need it because of not being pregnant), the uterus contracts to push it out. Hormones (prostaglandins) trigger this reaction and the higher the levels of hormones, the more intense the pain.
But what if you suspect it’s something else? What if the pain goes on unusually long and/or makes you miss day(s) of your normal schedule on a regular basis? You may need to check with your doctor, because sometimes, menstrual cramps can be caused by the following:
Endometriosis - In this painful condition, the type of tissue that lines your uterus becomes implanted outside your uterus, most commonly on your fallopian tubes, ovaries or the tissue lining your pelvis.
Uterine fibroids - These noncancerous tumors and growths in the wall of the uterus rarely may be the cause of pain.
Adenomyosis - In this condition, the tissue that lines your uterus begins to grow into the muscular walls of the uterus.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - This infection of the female reproductive organs is usually caused by sexually transmitted bacteria.
Cervical stenosis - In some women, the opening of the cervix may be so small that it impedes menstrual flow, causing a painful increase of pressure within the uterus.
If any of the above conditions are suspected by your doctor, she may order any number of tests, such as an ultrasound, CT or MRI. Treatment will certainly depend on the underlying cause, if any. If you are just so unfortunate so as to have bad cramps, a NSAID can be prescribed if over the counter ones don’t seem to help. Sometimes, hormonal birth control is used to prevent ovulation and thus reduce extremely painful cramps. On the other hand, if it is found that you have a condition like endometriosis or fibroids, surgical removal may be recommended for easing your symptoms.
Best in Health!
Resource: Mayo Clinic
Dita Faulkner is a freelance writer whose 10-day vacation has ended and is now having to go back to work. Bummer!