Premenstrual pelvic pain or dysmenorrhea, how to treat it?
PREMENSTRUAL OR DISMENORREA PAIN
Hello friends of steemit, I'm going to share some natural measures to improve the annoying premenstrual pain, which affects many women, I hope it serves, if you suffer from this problem.But before I will make a brief review about the subject.
Dysmenorrhea is defined as severe abdominal or pelvic pain that appears before or coincides with menstruation and lasts approximately 24 hours. It is estimated that between 25% and 60% of women suffer from it.
But to talk about dysmenorrhea the pain has to be sufficiently acute to prevent normal activity (for example, going to work) and requires treatment. It is estimated that one in ten women can lose their daily activity from 24 to 72 hours for this reason.
The pain usually presents in the form of cramps and is located in the lower abdomen, but can radiate to the lower back or thighs. In its most typical form, the first day of menstruation is more acute, to disappear when the menstrual flow has been clearly established.
Essential dysmenorrhea is frequent, but it is not possible to determine a certain prevalence, since there are subjective factors in the evaluation of pain, and the effectiveness of the treatments greatly reduces the symptomatology. It is believed that 50% of women have suffered dysmenorrhea in some period of their life.
It can appear at the end of adolescence (maximum peak at 20 years, age at which pain is also stronger) to decrease later the incidence. If the dysmenorrhea appears after the age of 30, the cause is almost always organic, that is, we must look for a primary pathology that is the cause.
It is also known that primary dysmenorrhea usually disappears after the first delivery. It is more frequent in obese women and may be related to physical exercise, since menstrual pain is less frequent in athletes.
Dysmenorrhea occurs when the cycles are regular and, therefore, is associated with ovulation, it is also logical to think that women whose menstruation occurs with heavy and prolonged bleeding are more prone; thus, it is rare that it occurs in rules of less than three days.
Etiology
source
The exact cause has not been identified. Changes in brain hormone levels may play a role. However, this has not been proven. Women can also respond differently to these hormones. It can be related to social, cultural, biological and psychological factors.
Dysmenorrhea can be:
-Primary (most common)
-Secondary (due to pelvic anomalies)
What is primary dysmenorrhea?
Dysmenorrhea is known as primary when it presents as an acute or spasmodic pain in the lower abdomen. In this case, it starts between 24 and 48 hours before the start of menstruation and gradually disappears at the end of the first day. It usually occurs in women between 17 and 25 years old and is rare at later ages or after having children.
What is secondary dysmenorrhea?
It is called secondary dysmenorrhea when the pain is more continuous and heavy. It usually appears one week before menstruation, being able to be alleviated or worse during the same, or even to persist the pains throughout the cycle. It occurs more frequently in women over 30 years of age and, especially, in those who have had children. Secondary dysmenorrhea can be a symptom of an underlying disease, such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, so it is advisable to see a doctor. The treatment will vary according to the cause of the problem and its severity.
Who is at risk for dysmenorrhea?
Dysmenorrhea is common among adolescents and women of reproductive age and affects approximately 25% -50% of them at some point during this period of life.
While all women are at risk for dysmenorrhea, it is believed that women who are more likely to suffer from this disorder are: women who smoke, women who drink alcohol during menstrual period, women who are overweight or those who had the first rule before of 11 years of age.
What are the symptoms of dysmenorrhea and how to differentiate them from other problems?
Pelvic and / or abdominal pain can have very variable characteristics and be associated with other symptoms. It can precede menstruation and even continue after it has been completed.
The following symptoms are the most common of dysmenorrhoea. However, each person can experience them in a different way. Symptoms may include:
Colic in the lower part of the abdomen in the lower part of the abdomendolor, lumbardolor radiating towards the legs, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, weakness, headache.Symptoms of dysmenorrhoea may resemble other conditions or medical problems, so you should always consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
What is the treatment for dysmenorrhea?
The specific treatment for dysmenorrhea will be variable depending on a series of factors such as age, health status, history, pain severity, tolerance to medications and whether the dysmenorrhea is primary or secondary.
If there is a gynecological pathology, it must be diagnosed and treated. If the dysmenorrhea is primary, the gynecologist and depending on preferences, opt for hygienic-dietary changes, physical exercise, analgesics and / or hormonal treatment among others.
Natural treatment of dysmenorrhea
Although it can not be cured, pre-menstrual syndrome can be relieved by changes in lifestyle and medications that can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Healthy measures
1-Heat: Although heat can cause an increase in menstrual flow, its application will relieve pain. Warm weed bags or warm cloths in the belly area. Do not overdo the temperature.
2-Massages: We can use our own fingers to massage the area of the ovaries for a few minutes. At first we may not notice relief, but after a while of massaging the area, we will notice an obvious improvement. We can add a few drops of roman sage or rosemary alcohol to this massage.
3-Aromatherapy: We can use the aromas as a home remedy to relieve menstrual pain. Its analgesic effect will calm the area so we will have to apply on the belly and massage with some of these natural products:
-Lavender: Its sedative action will help relax the nervous system and therefore menstrual pain.
-Soil oil: It will help us thanks to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
4-Sport: Practicing sports these days will help reduce the sensation of swelling and improve blood flow. If the pains are strong, let's choose to do softer sports activities such as going for a walk or stretching.
Natural treatments.
- Infusion of ginger
Its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties reduce colic and swelling, preventing them from interfering with daily tasks.
Ingredients
1 cup of water (250 ml)
1 teaspoon grated ginger (5 g)
Preparation
Heat a cup of water and add the grated ginger.
Cover the infusion, let it rest for 10 minutes and strain it.
Consumption mode
Eat 2 or 3 cups of ginger tea when you start to feel the symptoms of PMS.
Take it until you feel relief.
- Apple cider vinegar
Organic apple cider vinegar contains essential nutrients that decrease swelling and fluid retention caused by premenstrual syndrome.
Its assimilation in the organism reduces hormonal fluctuations and prevents irregularities in the menstrual cycle.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (15 ml)
1 glass of water (200 ml)
1 tablespoon of honey (25 g)
Preparation
Dilute the apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and mix it with a spoonful of honey.
Consumption mode
Eat the drink on an empty stomach, every day.
- Raspberry leaves
This relaxing remedy contains B vitamins, calcium and magnesium, which regulate the inflammatory processes to reduce the recurrence of pain.It is known as a uterine tonic, since it improves the activity of hormones and decreases contractions that produce severe cramping.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon of raspberry leaves (15 g)
1 cup of water (250 ml)
Preparation
Add a tablespoon of raspberry leaves in a cup of boiling water.
Cover the drink and wait for 10 minutes.
After this time, filter it with a colander and discard the waste.
Consumption mode
Eat a cup of infusion on an empty stomach and drink it up to 3 times a day.
Do the treatment over a week, before the menstrual period.
- Fennel seeds
Fennel has antispasmodic properties that decrease the colic of premenstrual syndrome. Its nutrients help to balance female hormones and relax the uterine muscles to prevent contraction.Added to this, is a powerful natural diuretic that prevents fluid retention and uncontrolled tissue inflammation.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon of fennel seeds (5 g)
1 cup of water (250 ml)
Preparation
Add the fennel seeds in a cup of boiling water and let the drink rest.
After 10 or 15 minutes, filter with a strainer.
Consumption mode
Drink 2 or 3 cups of fennel seed infusion daily.
Do the treatment from 2 weeks before the period.
- Cinnamon
Cinnamon became popular as a beverage for women, not only because its nutrients help balance hormonal activity, but because its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects soothe the pain of PMS.
Ingredients
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (2 g)
1 cup of water (250 ml)
1 tablespoon of honey (25 g)
Preparation
Add half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder in a cup of boiling water and let the drink cool.
After 5 minutes, sweeten it with a spoonful of honey.
Consumption mode
Drink the infusion on an empty stomach, at least 3 times a week.
If you have pain, take it often for a week.
6.Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is a natural remedy against pains or discomfort of the stomach due to its floral compounds. Its intake in this case, can alleviate, to a large extent, the pains in ovaries.
The menstrual period is usually presented to women as uncomfortable and painful days, but if we follow some advice and attend to home remedies we will be able to take them more naturally and rest.
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