Menstrual cramps are painful symptoms that affect many women before and after menstrual periods.
The pain, known as dysmenorrhea or period pain, varies from dull and irritating to severe and extreme. Menstrual cramps tend to begin after the ovaries release an egg.
You can also feel pain in the lower back and lower abdomen. In around 10% of menstrual women, the pain is severe enough to affect their daily lives for 1-3 days each month.
Pain that happens only with menstruation is known as primary dysmenorrhea. Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that is caused by a medical problem, such as:
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Pelvic inflammatory disorder
7 Things Your Period Pain Want To Tell You About Your Health:
A good half of the world has experienced the wonders of period pain. But this particular aspect of female experience is not only an annoyance. It may even signify various aspects of female fertility or even undelaying health problems. Some period pain is healthy, and the kind of cramps you’re having can also tell you more about your health. Knowing what period pain means can be tricky. It is because this is just the experience that you’re going to take to your primary care provider to find out what’s going on with your body.
1. You’re Having Uterus Contractions
This is the pain that we generally identify as menstrual pain. Clue states that there are common signs of pain in the days before and during menstruation. The cramping of the uterus causes the phenomenon as it starts to pulse to get rid of the uterine lining. However, the uterine tissue itself does not cause discomfort. The process of getting rid of the uterine lining causes discomfort. Scientists suspect that excess prostaglandins may cause cramps. These are hormone-like compounds that help the uterus to contract to discharge the uterine lining.
2. You Have Estrogen Migraines
Pain linked to your period doesn’t have to be in the lower half of your body. It can even impact your brain. If you have severe headaches or migraines around your period, they could be linked to your hormones. Many people with migraines claim a link between menstruation and migraine incidence. People often report changes in migraine experience during their reproductive lifetime related to first:
- Period
- Oral contraceptive use
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
Changes in estrogen levels are assumed to mediate these changes. And the use of extra estrogen (as hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy) can cause migraines worse. This is not usually seen as problematic. But Clue experts note that it is a smart idea to control the incidence of headaches and migraines in relation to your period. So that the doctor can help you find out if the hormones are causing a problem.
3. You’re Experiencing Ovulation
The Germans have a special name for this specific menstrual period of pain: mittelschmerz. And it’s connected to the ovulation window of your cycle, not the actual period. It can happen suddenly and subside in a matter of hours, or it may last for a few days. The cause of mittelschmerz is not well known. But it is suspected that fluid and blood released from the egg as it passes out of the ovary, can irritate the internal tissue throughout the rest of the abdomen. If you experience mittelschmerz, it may actually be a good hint as to where you’re in the menstrual cycle. But it’s not a good guide to replacing the actual birth control.
4. You have endometriosis
If your menstrual cramping is very painful, it may mean that you have a serious problem: endometriosis. It’s a normal (and under-diagnosed) cause of painful menstruation. People with Endometriosis experience endometrial tissue growth in other areas of the body. The tissue behaves much like the tissue inside the uterus, shedding and developing every month. This process may cause internal pain, scarring, or even infertility. The shedding period, up to and during menstrual periods, is sometimes exaggerating for women with endometriosis. This may often worsen with time. If the pain is severe and debilitating, you ought to see a doctor. There is currently no cure for endometriosis. But a variety of treatments are prescribed to manage it.
5. You Have Ovarian Cysts
Unexpected pain before or over a while can also indicate a problem with an ovarian cyst. There are two types of ovarian cysts:
- Follicular cysts that form on the ovary if it does not open and release the egg
- Corpus luteum cysts that form after the egg has been released and the follicle does not return to normal, instead of swelling with a bit of fluid and blood
A lot of women make at least one cyst a month. Ovarian cysts also do not cause many problems of their own. But they can cause period pain during the menstrual period. And if they have ruptured, they can cause pelvic pain at any stage in the cycle. The vast majority of cysts are viewed as normal, healthy outcomes of the ovulation process. But an increase in pain needs to be assessed by a medical professional.
6. You have an infection
Some menstrual pain is not really linked to periods at all. One possible culprit, which is accompanied by other signs but mainly causes really bad pelvic pain. It is a pelvic inflammatory disease, a reproductive system infection often triggered by an STD. The pelvic inflammatory disorder is not likely to be causing your terrible period pain if you do not have a fever, discharge, or painful urination. Still, if all of these symptoms show up, you need to go to your doctor as soon as you can.
7. You’ve got uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are relatively common, although not all women who have them have symptoms. Those who do, though, count among the difficulties unusually heavy and painful periods. Fibroids are non-cancer, but they can be very annoying. They grow around the uterus and are made up of muscle and tissue. Fibroids can cause more pain during menstruation due to different factors:
- They can increase the pressure on the uterine liner and cause more cramping,
- Their ability to have blood vessels means that they can also cause increased blood flow.
- They will press on nerves that cause pain in the pelvic region and lead to inflammation of the uterus, all of which is a prescription for agony.
The Bottom Line
Pain in period is a common problem that occurs during the time of the monthly period. Various medications may help manage the pain and discomfort that they can cause.
Menstrual cramps may not cause other medical complications. But they can interfere with education, work, and social activities.
However, some disorders associated with menstrual cramps may have complications. Endometriosis, for example, can cause complications with fertility. The pelvic inflammatory disorder can scar the fallopian tubes, increasing the risk of a fertilized egg being implanted outside the uterus (an ectopic pregnancy).
If symptoms are serious or occur at other times of the month, it is a good idea to see a doctor.
