{"id":1602,"date":"2020-06-09T06:23:37","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T06:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blog.kayawell.com\/?p=1602"},"modified":"2020-06-10T07:08:46","modified_gmt":"2020-06-10T07:08:46","slug":"dysmenorrhea-overview-symptoms-causes-and-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/dysmenorrhea-overview-symptoms-causes-and-prevention","title":{"rendered":"Dysmenorrhea- Overview, Symptoms, Causes and Prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dysmenorrhea\n(Menstrual cramps) are throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen. Many\nwomen suffer from menstrual cramps just before and during menstrual periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For some\nwomen, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, menstrual cramps may be serious\nenough to interfere with the daily activities every month for a few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Menstrual\ncramps can be caused by conditions such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids.\nTreating the cause is the key to diminishing pain. Menstrual cramps not caused\nby another disease tend to decrease with age, and sometimes improve after\nbirth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\r\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\r\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\r\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\r\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/dysmenorrhea-overview-symptoms-causes-and-prevention\/#Symptoms\" title=\"Symptoms\">Symptoms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/dysmenorrhea-overview-symptoms-causes-and-prevention\/#Causes_of_Menstrual_Pain\" title=\"Causes of Menstrual Pain\">Causes of Menstrual Pain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/dysmenorrhea-overview-symptoms-causes-and-prevention\/#Risk_factors\" title=\"Risk factors\">Risk factors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/dysmenorrhea-overview-symptoms-causes-and-prevention\/#Complications\" title=\"Complications\">Complications<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/dysmenorrhea-overview-symptoms-causes-and-prevention\/#Prevention\" title=\"Prevention\">Prevention<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/dysmenorrhea-overview-symptoms-causes-and-prevention\/#Diet\" title=\"Diet\">Diet<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/dysmenorrhea-overview-symptoms-causes-and-prevention\/#Exercise\" title=\"Exercise\">Exercise<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Symptoms\"><\/span>Symptoms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Chances are,\nyou know all too well how it feels. You may have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Aching pain in your belly (sometimes severe)<\/li><li>Feeling of pressure in your belly<\/li><li>Hip pain, lower back pain and inner thighs<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When cramps\nare severe, symptoms may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Upset stomach, sometimes with vomiting<\/li><li>Loose stools<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When to call a doctor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your\nability to perform simple tasks each month interferes with menstrual\ndiscomfort, it might be time to speak to a gynaecologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Talk to your\ndoctor about your symptoms and if you experience any of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Continuing pain after IUD placement<\/li><li>At least three painful menstrual periods<\/li><li>Passing blood clots<\/li><li>Cramping accompanied by diarrhea and nausea<\/li><li>Pelvic pain when not menstruating<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Sudden\ncramping or pelvic pain may be indications of infection. An untreated infection\ncan cause scar tissue damaging the pelvic organs and leading to infertility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have\nsigns of infection seek medical attention urgently:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Fever<\/li><li>Severe pelvic pain<\/li><li>Foul-smelling vaginal discharge <\/li><li>Sudden pain particularly if you are pregnant<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Causes_of_Menstrual_Pain\"><\/span>Causes of Menstrual Pain<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Menstrual\ncramps are caused by contractions (tightening) of a chemical called\nprostaglandin in the uterus (which is a muscle). The uterus, in which a baby\ngrows, contracts during the menstrual cycle of a woman. During menstruation,\nthe uterus contracts more strongly. If the uterus contracts too hard, it may\nstrain against nearby blood vessels, cutting off the oxygen supply to the\nuterus muscle tissue. Pain results when a part of the muscle loses its oxygen\nsupply briefly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Risk_factors\"><\/span>Risk factors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You could\nface menstrual cramps if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>You bleed heavily during periods (menorrhagia)<\/li><li>You have irregular menstrual bleeding (metrorrhagia)<\/li><li>You have a family history of menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea)<\/li><li>You&#8217;re younger than age 30<\/li><li>You started puberty early, at age 11 or older<\/li><li>You smoke<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Complications\"><\/span>Complications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Severe\ndysmenorrhea can cause severe symptoms which impair the ability of a female to\nparticipate in her daily activities. Severe dysmenorrhea is a leading cause of\nfemales absence from work or school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prevention\"><\/span>Prevention<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Maintaining\na healthy diet and keeping up a regular exercise regimen can go a long way\ntoward preventing menstrual pain. A 2016 study of 250 women found significant\ndifferences between period pain in women who maintained a healthy lifestyle and\nthose who didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read on for specific diet and exercise tips.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diet\"><\/span>Diet<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A diet\ngeared to decreasing menstrual pain should generally be high in minimally\nprocessed foods, fibre, and plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Give these\nfoods a try:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Papaya is rich in vitamins.<\/li><li>Brown rice contains vitamin B-6 which can lower bloating levels.<\/li><li>Walnuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds are rich in manganese, which\neases cramps.<\/li><li>Olive oil and broccoli contain vitamin E.<\/li><li>Chicken, fish and green leafy vegetables contain iron which is\nlost during menstrual periods.<\/li><li>Flaxseed contains omega-3s with antioxidant properties, which\nreduce swelling and inflammation.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Boron<\/strong>: This mineral helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus. It\nalso reduces menstrual cramps: A 2015 study that looked at 113 university\nstudents found that boron reduced the intensity and length of menstrual pain.\nFoods with a high concentration of boron include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Avocados<\/li><li>Peanut Butter<\/li><li>Prunes<\/li><li>Chickpeas<\/li><li>Bananas<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also\ntake boron supplements if your diet doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t provide enough. However, you should\nconsult your doctor before taking boron supplements. Discover how boron helps\nthe brains and bones, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Water:\ndrinking water keeps your body from retaining water and helps to avoid painful\nbloating during menstruation. For cramps, warm or hot water is usually better,\nas hot fluids increase blood flow to your skin and may relax cramped muscles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also\neat foods made from water to increase your hydration, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Lettuce<\/li><li>Celery<\/li><li>Cucumbers<\/li><li>Watermelon<\/li><li>Berries, Including Strawberries, Blueberries, And Raspberries<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Calcium:\nThis mineral can help reduce menstrual muscle cramping. Foods high in calcium\ninclude:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Dairy Products<\/li><li>Sesame Seeds<\/li><li>Almonds<\/li><li>Leafy Green Vegetables<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Calcium is\nalso available in supplement form. But speak to your doctor before taking\nsupplements to find out if it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s safe for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exercise\"><\/span>Exercise<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You may not\nlike the idea of exercising immediately before or during your period. But\nexercise releases endorphins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is\neffective at reducing menstrual pain to the extent it may also eliminate or\nreduce the need for pain-relief medication. In place of more strenuous\nexercise, mild exercise such as walking may be helpful during your time span. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yoga is a\ngentle workout that often activates endorphins and helps avoid or lessen the\neffects of menstruation. Researchers found three different yoga poses \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Cobra,\nCat, and Fish \u00e2\u20ac\u201d significantly reduced intensity and duration of pain during\nmenstruation for young women ages 18 to 22.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overview Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual cramps) are throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen. Many women suffer from menstrual cramps just before and during menstrual periods. For some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, menstrual cramps may be serious enough to interfere with the daily activities every month for a few days. Menstrual cramps [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthcare"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1602"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1602\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}