Dysmenorrhea–Classification, Causes and Treatment

Abstract: Dysmenorrhea has been a nightmare for most women and girls. What exactly causes it and how can we ease the pain? This article will give you the answers.

Pain is a self-protection mechanism of human beings. When you feel pain, the body is actually reminding you that a certain part of the body may be hurting and you need to pay attention to it. For example, toothache may remind that you may have tooth decay. Pain is not the focus of the problem. The disease that pain reminds you to pay attention to is the key.

However, Dysmenorrhea, also known as menstrual cramps, is not the same. It is usually caused by the violent contraction of uterine smooth muscle, which oppresses the blood vessels in the uterus, causing short-term ischemia and causing pain. Only a small part of dysmenorrhea is caused by pelvic organs. Therefore, most dysmenorrhea is actually just pain, and it does not have much effect in reminding the body to pay attention.

• What Causes Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea usually includes primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. The former refers to dysmenorrhea during the first menstrual period, while the latter refers to the gradual appearance of menstrual cramps several years later. Most females suffer from primary dysmenorrhea.

Studies have confirmed that the main cause of primary dysmenorrhea is excessive prostaglandins secreted by the endometrium during menstruation. Prostaglandin was first discovered in men’s semen to be secreted by the prostate, and later it was discovered that this substance is also secreted elsewhere in the body. During menstruation, the endometrium will thicken under the action of estrogen and prostaglandin will be produced, which will increase the contraction of the uterus and help the discharge of menstrual blood. However, if the prostaglandin exceeds the standard, it will cause dysmenorrhea. It not only affects the uterus, but also acts on the intestines, causing diarrhea, so some females always have diarrhea during menstruation.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is often caused by some internal organ diseases, including common causes such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine malformations, etc. The pain is not typically accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or diarrhea. Patients with secondary dysmenorrhea are suggested to go to the hospital for a B-ultrasound examination in time to find out the cause and perform treatment.

• How to Ease the Dysmenorrhea

Heating the waist and abdomen is one of the best ways to relieve menstrual pain. Taking a hot bath, using a hot water bottle or a heating pad are all effective. The key is to keep the heat as continuous as possible.

Exercise can also help in easing cramps, at least in part by increasing blood flow to the abdomen. It’s proved that exercise, such as aerobic exercise, stretching, and yoga, is able to help decrease the intensity of dysmenorrhea, and can also shorten its duration. Exercise also helps in reducing stress, which can contribute to pain. For example, one can try focusing on poses that stretch and stimulate the abdomen, like the cobra, cat and fish poses, when doing yoga.

Nonprescription, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin are effective in relieving menstrual cramps. These drugs help lower the body’s production of prostaglandin. However, many people question these painkillers and are worried about the side effects. In fact, the dosage required to ease dysmenorrhea is relatively small, and the side effects of these analgesics are not that serious, the common ones are gastrointestinal symptoms.

“For example, ibuprofen sustained-release capsules use liposomes to reduce the dissolution and diffusion rate of the drug,” introduced by an expert at CD Bioparticles, an established drug delivery company. “Thus the drug takes effect in one hour after taking it, and the drug effect lasts for 12 hours. However, patients with stomach ulcers or asthma should not use painkillers, which does have an impact on these two diseases.”