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Women know it well: i menstrual cramps they come back with cyclicality monthly and make themselves heard. However, if for some the symptoms it does not cause particular problems and it can be alleviated by following good habits or undertaking therapies (such as a magnesium-based supplement) when indicated by your gynecologist, for others the situation is different.
In some cases, in fact, menstrual pain they can be debilitating and compromising everyday activities. This is the case of secondary dysmenorrhea (medical term which indicates the pains associated with the arrival of menstruation) and where the symptoms are actually linked to real pathologies.
So what to do to calm menstrual pain, but above all what are the triggering causes? These and other questions are answered by the Doctor Elisabetta Colonese, Surgeon, specialized in Gynecology and Obstetrics, couple infertility therapy.
What are they due to
“Menstrual pains (dysmenorrhea), they may have anatomical causes, paraphysiological and pathological. Specifically, primary dysmenorrhea has paraphysiological causes (ed. Linked to conditions that do not fall within the parameters of “normality” but which at the same time do not represent a pathology), while secondary dysmenorrhea it is linked to the presence of some pathologies such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, vaginal infections.
Primary dysmenorrhea is more common in very young girls, while secondary dysmenorrhea is more common in women between the ages of 30 and 40. At the base of both dysmenorrhea there is always a contraction mechanism of the uterus promoted by prostaglandins, ie molecules associated with inflammation ».
When the contractions are very intense, the prostaglandins go to narrow blood vessels which irrigate the uterus by depriving it of oxygen for a short period of time. In the absence of oxygen, the uterine tissue releases some chemical substances which cause the onset of pain typical of dysmenorrhea and also other substances including the prostaglandins themselves, which further stimulate muscle contraction and increase the sensation of pain.
How to counter them
«Generally they are prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, which block the production of prostaglandins. They are also indicated therapies with magnesium, which I usually have my patients take 5 days before and during their period, but in severe cases even for longer periods. Ok also to therapies with the palmitoylethanolamide, a natural anti-inflammatory which I take for 3 consecutive months, every day. If these drugs do not have an effect, codeine and naproxen can be prescribed, or the patient can be proposed to take the drug. estrogen-progestogen pill which gives excellent results in case of dysmenorrhea ».
Magnesium is a mineral involved in various reactions that take place in our body. In fact, its adequate intake is associated with a lower risk of development of osteoporosis in women. In addition, it supports the immune system and contributes to the proper functioning of the nervous system. Also, according to several studies, the intake of magnesium it would improve the symptoms related to PMS.
How to act to calm them down
«Good rules to put in place for calm menstrual pains they are: avoiding smoking, exercising, placing something hot on the stomach (for example a hot water bottle), doing a circular massage on the lower part of the stomach, practicing yoga and pilates ».
Contrary to what one might think, sport (in particular some activities) brings many benefits to the body and mind, even in case of menstrual pain. Yoga, for example, promotes digestion, improves balance, posture and flexibility of the body. Also, it helps manage emotions better and promotes a state of relaxation that can last over time if practiced some exercises regularly.
Pain before the arrival of your period or during
«Among the typical symptoms of menstrual pain there is a crampy pain, where moments of greater suffering alternate with those of lesser intensity. Pain can also be associated, in severe cases, with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, intense sweating, diarrhea, and it can even extend to the back and legs. In the case of primary dysmenorrhea the pains generally begin 1-2 days before your period and last 12-62 hours. Secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, involves pains that can begin long before the menstrual cycle and that can last even longer. The pains may also not be associated with the symptoms described above, precisely because at the base there is an anatomical or pathological pathology that causes a increased uterine contraction and greater pelvic inflammation, as can occur in the case of uterine fibroids or endometriosis ».
Typically, as the years go by and with the first pregnancy, the dysmenorrhea relieves somewhat. In fact, gestation stretches and destroys some nerve fibers of the uterine tissue in its physiological distension.
Painful ovulation
«Painful ovulation has several hypotheses behind. The most accredited are: either that the follicle stretches the ovarian surface causing pain, or that there is an abdominal irritation of the follicular fluid (what is inside the bursting follicle) mixed with the blood of the peritoneum (the sheet that covers the belly organs). Another hypothesis sees the cause of painful ovulation contraction of the fallopian tubes. Painful ovulation can last a few minutes, as well as 48 hours. And then very common in terms of suffering from it is on average 1 in 5 women.
Things to do in this case: it starts with natural methods eg mauve, chamomile, hot water bottle, a suitable diet which includes the exclusion of tea, chocolate, dairy products, yeasts. If all these precautions do not work, we move on totaking the pill which does not ovulate, so the problem is rooted at the base.
In the case of primary dysmenorrhea, I recommend a visit with an attached transvaginal ultrasound. In the case of secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, in addition to the visit with ultrasound, I recommend associating – depending on the case – examinations such as hysteroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, laparoscopy to investigate any pathologies that may be behind it “concludes the expert.
As we have seen, menstrual pains are very common and can sometimes give a hard time also due to their intensity. In case of less intense pain can be remedied following some precautions, otherwise it is good to contact your gynecologist to ask for a personalized consultation.
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