Here, we talk about what might be causing your period pain and provide 13 home remedies you can try to stop it. Whatever your situation, a doctor can help you understand why you get painful cramps every month. Some of the most common causes of painful periods are:. Also known as premenstrual syndrome, PMS affects 90 percent of menstruating women. PMS starts a few days before your period begins and continues into the first day or two of menstruation. Doctors think PMS is caused by estrogen and progesterone levels dipping before the beginning of each period.
PMS has many symptoms including fatigue, irritability and menstrual cramps. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a more severe form of PMS that affects about five percent of menstruating women.
Uterine fibroids are benign growths that may develop in the uterine lining. They usually appear during childbearing years and often shrink or go away completely after menopause.
These include age, African American ancestry, having a family history of fibroids and being overweight. Since fibroids grow in the uterine lining, they can cause heavy periods and painful menstrual cramps. A cyst is a usually harmless sac of fluid that forms in or on your body. Ovarian cysts develop in the ovaries, typically during ovulation. Many women develop at least one small cyst every month that naturally fades.
However, some women have multiple or large ovarian cysts which can cause pain or complications. In these cases, medical treatment might be needed to manage the cysts. Ovarian cysts can also be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS. This is a condition where a hormone imbalance causes many small, harmless cysts to grow in the ovaries. This can cause painful periods, difficulty getting pregnant, insulin resistance and other health concerns.
Symptoms of PCOS include irregular periods, excess hair on the face and body, weight gain, difficulty losing weight, acne and thinning hair on the head. Manufacturers have created some products specifically for menstrual cramps.
These combine NSAIDs and antiprostaglandins, and they can reduce cramping in the uterus, lighten the flow of blood, and relieve discomfort.
In some cases, a doctor may prescribe hormonal birth control pills to prevent ovulation and reduce the severity of menstrual cramps. These pills work by thinning the lining of the uterus, where the prostaglandins form, which can reduce cramping and bleeding.
Other types of hormonal birth control, including some intrauterine devices IUDs , vaginal rings, patches, and injections can all help decrease cramping. If the cramps are due to an underlying medical condition, such as endometriosis or fibroids, a doctor may recommend surgery to remove the unwanted tissue.
Here, learn more about the options for birth control pills. Yoga or acupuncture may help, but more research is necessary to confirm their benefits. Some natural remedies that may provide relief are:. Various herbal teas and other herbal remedies may help manage symptoms, although research has not yet proven that they can help. A review concluded that chamomile tea has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, sedative, and antianxiety properties that may make it useful in treating premenstrual syndrome PMS , including cramps.
A review from concluded that treatment with Chinese herbal medicines might help reduce menstrual cramps. The herbs varied but included Chinese angelica root, Szechuan lovage root, and red and white peony roots.
However, the authors noted that the evidence was low quality and that there was not enough information about adverse effects. A small study found that people who took Pycnogenol, the registered trademark brand name for French maritime pine bark extract, for 3 months alongside birth control pills had less pain and fewer days of bleeding compared with those who used only birth control pills.
At least one small study has found that fennel extract may help reduce menstrual pain. Other research found that it did not reduce pain but that the severity of bleeding was less when people took fennel drops for up to two menstrual cycles. If over-the-counter options aren't easing your menstrual cramps, you may want to consider an alternative treatment.
Find out what essential oils can…. During menstruation, hormone-like chemicals called prostaglandins trigger the uterus to contract to help your body get rid of the uterine lining. Cramps are a common symptom of a UTI. In addition to cramps, you may also feel pressure…. Cramps are a pain, but a heating pad may help. Here are 10 options, including electrical, microwaveable, and more.
Period cramps are very common, but sometimes they can interfere with your daily life. Fortunately, many home remedies and self-care measures can help…. Severe menstrual cramps can affect your daily life. We'll break down how to tell the difference between typical and severe cramps, go over what can…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Second-hand smoke has also been shown to increase menstrual cramps Exercise can likely help in easing cramps, at least in part by increasing blood flow to the abdomen.
A recent meta-analysis of 11 trials found that exercise, including aerobic exercise, stretching, and yoga, is likely to help decrease the intensity of menstrual pain, and may also shorten its duration Exercise can also help in reducing stress, which can contribute to pain. If doing yoga , you might try focusing on poses that stretch and stimulate the abdomen, like the cobra, cat and fish poses There is anecdotal evidence that sex and orgasms can help with menstrual cramp relief.
Subjects of sex research pioneers Masters and Johnson reported using masturbation to relieve their cramps, and a survey of American women found that 1 in 10 reported the same Talking about your cramps with a parent, friend, or healthcare provider seems to bring a lot of comfort for people.
Other coping strategies people use are staying in bed, watching television, and other distractions like special foods, drinks, and exercise Having a trusted friend or partner give you an abdominal or back massage with a good-smelling oil lavender, perhaps? If your cramps are bad enough that they are not eased by a typical painkiller, and if they affect your ability to work, study or do any other everyday activities, it is best to talk to a healthcare provider.
You should also see your healthcare provider if your cramping is suddenly or unusually severe, or lasts more than a few days. Severe menstrual cramps or chronic pelvic pain could be a symptom of a health conditions like endometriosis or adenomyosis. The pain experienced by people with endometriosis is different from normal menstrual cramping. Advocating for yourself about pain can be tough, but will help you to feel heard and to get the treatment you need.
Tracking pain with Clue throughout the cycle for several cycles will help you determine which symptoms, if any, recur at specific times. Article was originally published on March 18, Are vaginal fluids really all that different? In this article, we explain how to identify vaginal discharge, arousal fluid, and cervical fluid.
Science is evolving each day on how coronavirus affects pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum. When you subscribe to Clue Plus, you don't only get new features: you also fund important research, support data privacy, Clue Birth Control. Close main menu Homepage Encyclopedia.
Menstrual Cycle. Birth Control. About Clue.
0コメント