Younger women are more often affected, and the intensity of the symptoms usually decreases from around 20 to 30 years of age. The birth of a child can also lead to the pain during menstruation being less pronounced than before.
Where does this pain come from and how can it be relieved?
Basically, a distinction is made between primary and secondary period pain.
Primary menstrual pain
If the contraction of the uterus during menstruation causes pain, this is referred to as primary period pain. This is caused by prostaglandins, so-called messenger substances that cause the uterus to contract. This is necessary in order to shed the previously built up uterine lining in the event of non-fertilization. At the beginning of menstruation, the pain is usually worse because the prostaglandin level is also higher at this time. By the end of the bleeding, it decreases again and the pain becomes less severe.
Primary menstrual pain is more common in younger women with heavy bleeding. Stress or family history can also contribute to increased menstrual pain.
Secondary menstrual pain
Secondary period pain is not caused by menstruation itself, but by benign growths in the uterus. The period only triggers these or makes them worse.
Reasons for secondary menstrual pain can be endometriosis, where parts of the uterine lining are located outside the uterus, or various methods of contraception, such as the IUD.
The typical symptoms during menstruation
There are pains that, when they occur shortly before or during menstruation, are quite typical of the female cycle and can be directly linked to the impending bleeding.
· Abdominal cramps
· Back pain
· Chest pain
· Headache
· Nausea
Pain and cramps in the abdomen
One of the most common symptoms during menstruation is pulling pain in the abdomen. This manifests itself differently in every woman. From pain in fits and starts like contractions to constant cramps over several
Triggered by strong contractions of the uterus, they can also affect the digestive tract and cause diarrhea.
Few
When the pain moves into the back
Back pain can also occur during your period. It is often the result of tension that radiates into the back due to uterine contractions.
Most of the time, the symptoms only affect the lower back, although the pain can spread in a belt-like manner.
TIP: Heat helps. Treat yourself to a warm bubble bath and then place a hot water bottle on your back, this will help your muscles to relax.
Tension in the chest
Tension pain in the chest occurs after a few
However, this water retention does not only affect the breasts, it can occur throughout the body and women can weigh up to four kilos more during this time due to the water.
Once menstruation has started, the water retention disappears within a few
Headaches and migraines
Researchers have found a connection between the female cycle and migraine attacks in women. The reason for this, as with most other menstrual problems, is hormonal fluctuations.
Doctors distinguish between two different forms of migraine in the female cycle: menstrual migraine, which only occurs shortly before, during and after bleeding, and menstruation-associated migraine, which can occur at any time of the month but is also associated with the cycle.
Unlike the symptoms described so far, the hormone estrogen is most likely responsible for headaches and migraines. Migraine attacks usually occur when estrogen levels suddenly drop sharply during menstruation, which also affects serotonin levels. Serotonin is a messenger substance that causes feelings of happiness. If serotonin levels in the body drop, the areas in the brain also become more sensitive to pain stimuli.
Hormone-induced nausea
Severe headaches are often accompanied by nausea. However, some women experience this unpleasant symptom even without a headache.
Nausea and, in some cases, vomiting is usually only short-lived and can be made more bearable with simple home remedies.
For example, a hot water bottle and ginger tea can help calm the stomach and get the hormonal nausea under control.
Period pain – when to see a doctor?
Since every woman reacts very differently to the influence of hormones and for some women, especially at the onset of puberty and towards menopause, hormones go crazy, it is very difficult to determine a guideline.
Sudden changes in your cycle, unusually heavy bleeding or unusual symptoms should always be checked by a doctor.
What can you do about menstrual pain?
If the symptoms are mild and everyday, such as moderate abdominal pain, headaches or chest tension, home remedies can often relieve the symptoms.
Warm sitz baths, hot water bottles or teas with lemon balm, ginger or St. John's wort promote relaxation and relieve pain.
If symptoms are more severe, you should definitely consult a doctor. In many cases, taking painkillers containing the active ingredients paracetamol or ibuprofen also helps.
If menstrual cramps are very severe, targeted hormone therapy can also provide relief.
Premenstrual syndrome – what is behind it
Almost everyone has heard of it before – PMS, premenstrual syndrome. In medicine, this term encompasses all the symptoms caused by menstruation.
It does not matter whether the symptoms are mental, such as mood swings, or physical complaints, such as pain, nausea and diarrhea.
PMS describes any symptoms that occur during the menstrual cycle due to hormonal fluctuations.
Young girls are often prescribed the pill to stabilize their hormone levels. The hormones it contains help to minimize symptoms and at the same time serve as protection against unwanted pregnancy. Taking the pill also regulates the cycle and menstruation occurs regularly.
Sources
Deximed Apotheken.de Menstrual pain
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