Content

Moderate pain is observed in a significant number of women, which is the norm. However, the pain syndrome can vary in intensity. In some cases, there is a need to reduce pain during menstruation.

Causes of severe pain during menstruation

Pain during menstruation most often occurs in nulliparous women due to the anatomical features of the location of the uterus. If the pain syndrome is accompanied by dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting and leads to disability, they speak of algomenorrhea. Pathological symptoms indicate disturbances in various body systems.

Attention! Identification and treatment of the underlying disease that leads to pain during menstruation can reduce its intensity.

Pain during menstruation is a disorder of menstrual function. According to statistics, about 10% of women experience intense cramping pain during menstruation, which can be reduced by taking painkillers.

Pain syndrome can occur 12 hours before the next menstruation and last for several days. Sometimes the pain moves to the area of ​​the bladder, lower back, and rectum. The constant expectation of discomfort leads to psycho-emotional disorders, insomnia, depression and anxiety.

If algomenorrhea is unexpressed, the pain does not require relief with medications. Gynecologists emphasize that the initial degree of algomenorrhea becomes more severe over time. That is why, if there is pain during menstrual periods, it is necessary to conduct an appropriate examination.

Attention! After childbirth, minor pain during menstruation often goes away on its own.

If the pain syndrome is of moderate severity, the following accompanying symptoms are also observed:

• nausea;
• frequent urination;
• chills;
• general weakness.

A woman's performance may decrease. Pain can be reduced through preliminary examination and medication correction.

If algomenorrhea is severe, fainting, fever, and vomiting are noted. The woman loses her ability to work. Usually the pathology is associated with an inflammatory process or congenital anomalies of the genital organs.

Functional dysmenorrhea

Primary algomenorrhea (dysmenorrhea) occurs after the onset of the first menstruation for 3 years. It has been established that the pathology is characteristic of emotionally unstable representatives with an asthenic physique. Often the pain is accompanied by PMS.

Primary dysmenorrhea includes the following types:

1. Adrenergic. The failure of the hormonal system is caused by an increase in the production of dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline. Symptoms include intense headaches, constipation, fever, insomnia, pale skin, and rapid heartbeat.
2. Parasympathetic. An increase in the concentration of serotonin is noted in the cerebrospinal fluid. This causes a decrease in body temperature, heart rate, diarrhea, edema, and weight gain.

Primary algomenorrhea is a consequence of the following pathologies:

• connective tissue dysplasia (concomitant disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, scoliosis, flat feet, excessive joint flexibility);
• neurological disorders (decreased pain threshold, psychosis, emotional instability, changes in pain perception);
• underdevelopment, uterine kinks and malformations.

With abnormalities of the uterine body, the outflow of menstrual flow is difficult. Contractile activity increases, causing pain.

Acquired dysmenorrhea

Secondary algomenorrhea occurs in women who have given birth or the fairer sex after 30 years. This disorder occurs in approximately every 3 women and often occurs in moderate or severe form. Usually the pain syndrome is combined with heavy bleeding.

Depending on the predominance of characteristic features, several main groups are distinguished:

• bloating, hiccups, nausea or vomiting (autonomic symptoms);
• numbness of the arms or legs, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting (vegetative-vascular manifestations);
• increased irritability, depression, impaired perception of smell or taste (psycho-emotional disorders);
• skin itching, joint pain, weakness (endocrine and metabolic disorders).

Important! The occurrence of symptoms depends on the patient's medical history.

Often, women with acquired algomenorrhea experience pain during sexual intercourse, which may be due to the following pathologies:

• inflammation;
• adhesive process;
• benign or malignant tumors;
• varicose veins;
• pelvic neuritis;
• endometriosis.

Experts name the following factors that provoke pain during menstruation:

• use of an IUD;
• frequent intrauterine manipulations, abortions, leading to scar tissue deformation;
• postpartum complications;
• overwork, stress.

Important! To reduce severe discomfort during menstruation, therapy comes down not so much to pain relief, but to finding and eliminating the causes of the pathological condition.

How to get rid of period pain

To reduce the intensity of pain that occurs during menstruation, various methods of drug and non-drug therapy are used. Remedies for period pain include:

1. Sedatives. For manifestations of a neuropsychic nature, Relanium, Valerian tablets, and Trioxazine are prescribed.
2. NSAIDs. Medicines have a pronounced effect and are represented by such drugs as Ibuprofen, Ketanov and Nise.
3. Antispasmodics. You can reduce the pain that occurs during menstruation using No-shpa, Spazgan, Papaverine.
4. COOK. Birth control pills are often prescribed for primary algomenorrhea.
5. Natural progestins. This drug group includes the progesterone analogue Duphaston.
6. Vitamin and mineral complexes. In case of laboratory confirmed deficiency of vitamins, microelements and macroelements, the doctor prescribes appropriate medications.

Important! To reduce pain during menstruation, you need to visit a doctor to undergo an examination and prescribe appropriate treatment.

How to reduce period pain without pills

There are several basic ways to reduce pain during menstrual periods.

Exercises for period pain

It is known that intense exercise is not recommended during menstruation. However, some exercises help relieve abdominal pain during menstruation.

In the first follicular phase of the cycle, you can practice yoga, Bodyflex, which involves internal massage of the pelvic organs. The formed adhesions are dissolved and the maturation of the egg is stimulated.

Massage

It is possible to reduce discomfort through general and acupressure massage. If it is not possible to conduct treatment sessions before the onset of menstruation, you can independently massage the lower back using the Kuznetsov applicator.

Folk remedies for pain during menstruation

Traditional medicine is used as an auxiliary method to reduce the severity of pain. Gynecologists recommend using infusions from the following medicinal plants:

• elecampane root (2 tbsp three times a day);
• horsetail (50 ml every hour);
• a collection of centaury, knotweed grass, horsetail, cinquefoil (1 sip during the first day of the cycle);
• strawberry leaves (half a glass per day).

Attention! Before using folk remedies, you should consult a specialist.

What foods reduce pain during menstruation?

Eating the right foods has a beneficial effect on your general condition and can reduce discomfort during menstruation. Before the onset of critical days, it is recommended to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. Fatty foods, flour products, and smoked foods should be limited or completely excluded from your diet.

You need to drink at least 2 liters of mineral water per day. Peppermint teas have a good effect and help reduce pain.

How to lie down correctly during menstruation

To relieve pain, you need to lie on your side, with your legs bent and pulled towards your head. The “fetal position” helps reduce the intensity of pain.

Prevention of painful periods

Prevention of severe pain during menstruation includes timely examination and treatment of gynecological pathologies. In some cases, consultation with other specialists may be required. It should be remembered that, to a large extent, a woman’s condition during her period is determined by her lifestyle.

When to see a doctor

Despite popular belief, the presence of pain during menstruation is not always considered normal. A woman needs to see a doctor and identify the cause of her discomfort. This is associated with the risk of progression of the underlying disease and increased pain.

Important! An immediate visit to a doctor is required if the pain leads to decreased or incapacitated work and significantly affects the patient's quality of life.

Gynecologists argue that pain is not a disease, but a symptom indicating various pathological conditions developing in the body. That is why this sign cannot be ignored. Dysmenorrhea can accompany serious diseases of the reproductive system, which often lead to infertility and other complications.

To reduce the severity of pain, the use of medications is not always required. In some cases, it is enough to adjust your diet, physical activity and your regimen.

Conclusion

To reduce pain during menstruation, it is important to know the cause of the ailment. The use of medications and methods of traditional therapy is advisable after examination by a specialist.

Menstruation in itself is not a particularly pleasant physiological process. And if it is also accompanied by painful symptoms, as happens in 60% of women of reproductive age, the anticipation of these days is spent in horror from the upcoming sensations.

The thing is that during menstrual bleeding the body is cleansed of unnecessary substances, which is regulated by impulses passing through nerve cells. This may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations, but severe pain during menstruation is not normal. Under no circumstances should it be ignored.

There are many methods that can be used to reduce or relieve pain during menstruation, but you should initially consult a doctor and diagnose the presence of diseases of the reproductive system.

Types of menstrual pain

Menstruation can be accompanied by several unpleasant symptoms. Based on the location of the unpleasant sensations, they are divided into pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation and severe headaches. Each of the syndromes is difficult for the body to tolerate and unsettles you.

Menstrual migraines appear before menstruation. They are characterized by spasms of cerebral vessels, as a result of a sharp narrowing and expansion of which nerve receptors are affected. With migraines, throbbing headaches, nausea and other autonomic or neurological symptoms occur.

Abdominal pain during menstruation is called dysmenorrhea or algomenorrhea. It is divided into primary and secondary. Dysmenorrhea is also classified according to severity as mild, moderate and severe. Primary occurs with the onset of the menstrual cycle or some time after that. With age or (most often) after childbirth, it goes away on its own. Secondary algomenorrhea occurs at a more mature age due to gynecological diseases. Its manifestations are stronger than with the primary one. With mild dysmenorrhea, the pain is moderate and does not interfere with social activity. The average degree implies general weakness of the body, poor health. In the severe stage of dysmenorrhea, the pain is very severe, accompanied by vomiting and other unpleasant symptoms.

About migraine

As a result of an increase in testosterone levels in the blood, hormonal levels increase. Because of this, your health deteriorates significantly. Changes in the chemical composition of the blood affect the blood vessels of the brain, which can cause menstrual migraines.

Another factor that can provoke such a pain syndrome is a violation of the water-salt balance. Since cell shedding during menstruation is accompanied by heavy bleeding, the body begins to accumulate a lot of fluid in advance. Swelling of tissues appears, including the brain, resulting in severe headaches.

Menstrual migraine, also called cephalgic syndrome, is manifested primarily by long-term throbbing pain that is concentrated in one part of the head - most often the frontal, occipital or temporal. This may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, and general weakness. The body reacts painfully to external stimuli - light, sound, smell. Sometimes heart pain and pressure surges may occur.

Treatment of menstrual migraine

If you observe signs of cephalgic syndrome, you should undergo examination by a gynecologist and neurologist, who, based on the results of tests and diagnostics, will prescribe treatment. It may include taking vitamin complexes, hormonal medications, and homeopathy. Tablets such as Aspirin, Nurofen, Sumatriptan, Zolmitriptan, and Ketorol are good for relieving headaches during menstruation.

If a woman is prone to menstrual migraine, she needs to especially carefully monitor her lifestyle. It is recommended to spend a lot of time outdoors, enough time to sleep and rest. It is necessary to eat properly, because some foods can have a negative effect.

Symptoms of dysmenorrhea

The main symptoms of dysmenorrhea are general weakness of the body and abdominal pain during menstruation. They occur on the eve of the onset of menstrual bleeding or directly on that day. The pain is located in the uterine area and can radiate to the lower back, sacrum, groin, and external genitalia. The character can be cramping, pulling, sharp, dull. The severity of discomfort ranges from moderate to very intense.

Severe pain during menstruation is sometimes accompanied by dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting. Intestinal function is disrupted, resulting in constipation, bloating or diarrhea. You may feel sick or dizzy, have chills, the temperature rises to 37°, and tachycardia may occur. Severe pain or general weakness of the body sometimes leads to fainting.

In addition to poor physical well-being, dysmenorrhea causes emotional and mental disorders. The woman becomes irritable, distracted, restless. Memory may deteriorate and insomnia may appear. Performance decreases. Against the background of dysmenorrhea, a short-term depressive state may develop.

Causes of pain

If a woman experiences pain during menstruation, the reasons can be different - both physiological and as a consequence of diseases of the genitourinary system. Depending on this, dysmenorrhea is divided into primary and secondary.

Menstruation is the process of cleansing the body of unnecessary and harmful tissues located in the uterus. The sloughing endometrium produces hormones called prostaglandins, which are chemical substances. They lead to contraction of the muscles of the uterus, as a result of which the blood arteries are pinched, the blood supply to the tissues deteriorates, and pain receptors are stimulated. The more prostaglandins in the blood, the stronger the contractions and, accordingly, the pain.

Severe pain during menstruation can occur due to various disorders, diseases, and inflammatory processes. They are then called secondary dysmenorrhea. Most often its cause is:

• endometriosis;
• sumbucous fibroid;
• fibroids;
• adenomyosis;
• ovarian cysts;
• genital infections;
• varicose veins of the pelvic veins.

Sometimes the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms can be affected by incorrect position, bending of the uterus, its too narrow neck and other malformations of the internal and external genital organs. Pain can be caused by an abortion or an intrauterine device. Low levels of progesterone or calcium can also cause you to feel unwell during your period. Menstrual pain can occur due to stress, nervous breakdowns, and emotional experiences.

Pills for menstruation

For dysmenorrhea, you can take one of several types of medications - painkillers, sedatives, hormonal medications. You should consult your doctor about each of these.

The most commonly prescribed pills for pain during menstruation are “No-shpa”, “Ibuprofen”, “Ketonal”, “Solpadein”, “Paracetamol”, “Tempalgin”, “Baralgin”. Injections of “Analgin” and “Papaverine” also help well. These drugs reduce prostaglandin levels, which reduces the intensity of contractions and, accordingly, pain.

If a woman is often nervous and pain occurs due to this, she should take sedatives. For example, “Valerian”, “Novo-Passit”.

Oral contraceptives on a hormonal basis help to significantly reduce or completely eliminate severe pain during menstruation. You should definitely consult your doctor about this.

Traditional methods for pain during menstruation

If you are bothered by pain during menstruation, how to get rid of it using folk remedies? Infusions and decoctions of herbs that have a diuretic effect - horsetail, bear ears, nettle - help well. An excellent remedy is oregano, the tea from which should be steeped for half an hour and drunk three times a day half an hour before meals. An infusion of raspberry leaves makes the muscles of the uterus more elastic, which also reduces pain.

Tea made from chamomile, peppermint, and valerian has not only an analgesic but also a calming effect, which is especially important for stress and nervous tension. Viburnum bark gives good results, 4 teaspoons of which can be poured into a glass of water, boiled for half an hour and strained. It is taken one tablespoon three times a day. Ginger tea with honey is recommended.

It should be remembered that if you have diseases of the genitourinary system, you should not use traditional methods. A doctor's consultation is required here.

Nutrition during menstruation

If pain occurs during menstruation, it is recommended to follow a diet. Bowel movements should occur in a timely manner so that it does not put pressure on the uterus, which is expanding these days. Preference should be given to vegetables, bran, unpolished rice, and buckwheat porridge.

Meat and liver will help restore the balance of protein and iron in the body. Lettuce, tomatoes, fermented milk products, due to the presence of calcium, potassium and magnesium, will reduce uterine tone. Olives, corn, and beans will improve your well-being thanks to vitamin E.

You should exclude foods that contain sodium, caffeine, and large amounts of salt. This affects the psycho-emotional state and the accumulation of fluid in the body.

Massage for pain

An excellent remedy for relieving pain during menstruation is acupressure. It involves pressing on a point located on the inside of the leg between the knee and ankle. You need to press for 1-2 minutes, on the left leg, and then on the right. Another option is a point located on the inner surface of the leg, four fingers up from the ankle. There are places on the tailbone and in the center of the back that, when pressed for ten seconds, also reduce pain.

You can stroke and massage the lower abdomen and lower back clockwise in a circular motion. This improves blood flow and reduces pain. Applying a heating pad, a warm dry towel, or a bottle of hot water to the stomach reduces the intensity of cramps.

Physical exercises to relieve pain

During menstrual bleeding, exercise is undesirable, and if it is painful, it is completely contraindicated. However, walking in the fresh air, doing yoga and simple exercises will only bring benefits.

Exercise:

1. Stand in a knee-elbow position, lower your head down. Stand in this position for two minutes.

2. Lie down on a flat surface. Bend your legs at the knees, resting your feet. Extend your arms along your body, palms down. The muscles should be as relaxed as possible. For two minutes, gently bending your stomach, take short breaths and exhales.

3. Lying on a flat surface, on your back, place a book on your stomach. Slowly inhaling air through your nose, lift it, tense your muscles, and hold in this position for five seconds. Repeat the exercise for about two minutes.

Yoga poses:

1. Cobra pose. Slowly leaning face down, gradually lift your head up, and then your chest, without helping yourself with your hands. Then, using your hands, continue to lift your chest until back pain appears. Move your head back as far as possible, looking up. When lifting, inhale, when lowering, exhale. Then rest a little and repeat again.

2. Bow pose. Lie on your stomach, bend your back, bend your knees and grab your ankles with your hands. When bending, you need to inhale, and when releasing your legs, exhale. You can hold your breath and roll back and forth on your stomach.

When performing physical exercises during menstruation, the main thing is not to overdo it. If more discomfort occurs, you need to stop.

Many women experience pain during their periods. What to do about this? First of all, you should consult a doctor who will conduct an examination and identify the cause of the ailment. Based on this, treatment and measures that should be taken to eliminate pain will be determined.

Half of women of childbearing age experience pain during menstruation, which is associated with uterine contractions. Menstrual pain is scientifically called algomenorrhea; it is accompanied by other symptoms - nausea, dizziness, diarrhea and even fainting. While some women can endure this pain, in others the symptoms of algomenorrhea become more pronounced, interfering with normal life and sometimes even requiring medical intervention. If you suffer from very painful periods that prevent you from working, studying or doing your usual activities, consult a doctor, he will find the cause of the problem, make an accurate diagnosis, prescribe treatment and prescribe medications to relieve pain. If your condition during menstruation is acceptable, then you can relieve the pain yourself, using folk or medical remedies.

Reducing pain during menstruation without medications

Before you start using painkillers and other medications, you should try to relieve pain during menstruation using other, less harmful to the body, but no less effective methods.

Pain during menstruation is reduced by exposure to heat, but you need to be sure that you are completely healthy. For some diseases, heat only worsens a woman’s condition, so you can use this method only if you have recently undergone a full examination by a gynecologist. Take a hot shower or place a heating pad on your stomach - the heat will relax the muscles and relieve spasms, the pain will decrease and will not cause concern.

Massage during menstruation also allows you to relax your muscles and reduce pain. Lie on your back, make gentle massaging movements on your stomach in a circle, clockwise. This reduces the pressure on the abdominal cavity, resulting in less abdominal pain.

Many women find it helpful to rest in the fetal position: you need to lie on your side and pull your legs towards your stomach. In this position, the body relaxes, tension in the muscles decreases, the pain becomes noticeably weaker, but this method does not always work.

Strength exercises and prolonged aerobic exercise are contraindicated during menstruation, but light exercise and any physical activity, on the contrary, help with pain. It is advisable to walk, do squats, perform circular movements with the pelvis, you can start light cleaning, but do not lift or move heavy things. Some women find this exercise helpful: lie on your back near a wall and raise your legs up, leaning your buttocks against the wall, spread your legs out to the sides or bend your knees, thus relieving tension in the pelvic area. Don't do abdominal exercises during your period.

Breathing exercises also help well: place a book or any light object on your stomach, breathe through your nose and move your stomach in rhythm, lifting the book. Tighten your abdominal muscles and hold your breath for five seconds.

Sage is a natural salvation for menstruation!

• More details

To relieve pain during menstruation, you need to follow a diet, and you need to start it a week before your period. Avoid fatty, fried, high-calorie and other unhealthy foods, reduce the content of meat and dairy products in your diet, eat more vegetables, and choose fruits with caution - some fruits cause fermentation in the intestines, so you should eat them only before meals. You should eat more foods with fiber - grains, bread, bran, because during menstruation the uterus increases in size and puts pressure on the intestines, causing it to work worse, and fiber helps it cope with the load.

Iron losses in the body are replenished with liver and buckwheat porridge

Try to rest more during menstruation, do not expose yourself to physical and psychological stress, which can increase pain.

Herbal infusions and medicines for pain relief

Infusions of medicinal herbs relieve pain during menstruation.

Here are some effective and common recipes:

1. infusion of raspberry leaves: pour boiling water over a few teaspoons of raspberry leaves, let it brew for fifteen minutes, strain and drink little by little throughout the day;
2. infusion of mint, chamomile and valerian: mix herbs, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for half an hour, drink two tablespoons three times a day;
3. oregano infusion: leave for twenty minutes, drink throughout the day;
4. infusion of chamomile and lemon balm: pour boiling water over the herbs in a one to one ratio, leave for half an hour, drink before meals, you can do it both during and before menstruation.

If diet, massage, exercises and herbs do not help and the pain becomes unbearable, and you cannot get to a doctor urgently, then take an antispasmodic that will reduce the pain. Tablets no-spa, tempalgin, spasmalgon, nurofen, paracetamol are good for menstrual pain. If you experience such pain every time during your period and last more than one day, be sure to visit a doctor. It is also worth contacting a specialist if painkillers do not help.

Normally, every woman of reproductive age menstruates every 28-30 days. Moreover, they last no more 5-7 days, and blood loss is no more than 100 ml. There may be unpleasant sensations, such as a slight decrease in ability to work, fatigue, discomfort in the lower abdomen, irritability, and headache.

They are short-term in nature and disappear 1-2 days after the start of menstruation without the use of special medications. They do not affect a woman’s quality of life. These sensations are associated with changes in the concentration of female sex hormones in the body.

More than half of women experience severe menstrual pain every month. In medicine, this condition is called algodismenorrhea. In addition to pain during menstruation, with algodismenorrhea the following is noted:

1. Deterioration in general condition, decreased ability to work, weakness, muscle pain;
2. Severe irritability, even minor noise can make a woman angry;
3. Increased sensitivity to smells and tastes;
4. Discharge of a large amount of blood, menstruation lasts more than 7 days;
5. Feeling of heaviness in the stomach, nausea, even vomiting.

In this case, menstruation has a pathological course and requires drug therapy.

Finding out the cause of painful periods is key when choosing a remedy for menstrual pain. Only after a complete examination of the girl and identification of all causative factors can appropriate treatment be prescribed.

Menstrual pain in the lower abdomen can occur in young girls who are experiencing their periods for the first time. In this case, the unpleasant sensations are not associated with pathological processes in the genital organs. Normal for the second time the girl should not feel severe menstrual pain. Discomfort in the lower abdomen may be minor.

If a girl continues to have very painful menstruation or a woman who has never had pain during menstruation now has pain, the cause is a pathology in the reproductive organs or disorders of the nervous and endocrine system:

• Congenital pathologies of the uterus, due to which the outflow of menstrual blood is disrupted, it stagnates and causes pain. Such diseases include cervical atresia and its incorrect position.
• . As the endometrium grows, the number of nerve receptors also increases. Therefore, when the inner layer of the uterus is rejected, an irritating effect occurs on a larger number of pain endings.
• Precancerous diseases such as or. During menstruation, they are injured, causing pain.
• Inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs. The cause of painful periods in these pathologies is the presence.
• Disorders in the nervous system in which the pain sensitivity threshold is reduced.
• Hormonal imbalance. Violation of prostaglandin synthesis leads to spastic contractions of the uterine muscles, which leads to ischemia and pain.

Depending on the cause, the gynecologist selects the appropriate pain reliever for menstrual pain, which relieves the symptom and relieves the cause of the pain.

What to do and who to contact?

If a woman has severe menstrual pain, it is necessary to exercise regularly to reduce it. Physical activity helps keep the muscles of the female genital organs in good shape, which reduces pain. It is also necessary to eat a regular, balanced diet and avoid overeating. For severe pain that occurs every menstruation, it is mandatory to visiting a gynecologist.

To identify the cause of algodismenorrhea and prescribe appropriate treatment, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination:

1. Determination of the level of female sex hormones in the blood;
2. Visual examination by a gynecologist of the external genitalia and colcoscopy and cervicoscopy;
3. Bacterioscopy and bacteriology of a smear from the cervical canal;
4. (examination of the uterine cavity using a camera) with a biopsy if indicated;
5. X-ray of the pelvic organs with contrast.

If you suspect endometriosis, varicose veins of the small pelvis or adhesions, you can use.

In case of any examination data, the question of how to get rid of menstrual pain should be resolved together with a gynecologist.

Non-drug ways to relieve pain

With moderate menstrual pain, a woman can relieve it on her own without the use of medications through exercise and massage.

A set of exercises to reduce menstrual pain:

• Lying on your back, on a hard surface, press your knees to your stomach and relax your abdominal muscles. It is necessary to remain in this state for 20 minutes.
• In the knee-elbow position, you need to lower your head as low as possible. At the same time, rotate your pelvis in different directions for 5 minutes. This exercise helps improve blood circulation in the pelvic organs and improve them.
• Exercise "butterfly". It is necessary to spread your legs and bring your feet together, bending your knees. For 5 minutes, flap your knees like a butterfly.
• If you have a large inflatable fitness ball at home, sit on it with your feet apart and swing back and forth or bounce slightly.

Massage of the lumbar and sacral region helps reduce pain during severe pain. The positive effect of it is due to the fact that nerves emerge from these segments of the spinal cord, which are responsible for the innervation of all female genital organs. Their stimulation helps to increase the tone of the uterus and improve blood circulation in it. The massage is performed with a clenched fist, using circular movements for several minutes. If there is no partner nearby, the fist can be replaced with a tennis ball.

Acupressure along the midline of the forehead, one centimeter below the hairline, also has a positive effect. You need to be careful with this manipulation.

Plays a significant role in reducing pain during menstruation a woman's mood and thoughts. It is necessary to think that the painful sensations have subsided or, if possible, be distracted by thoughts or actions that are opposite to the pain.

What to take for menstrual pain?

The following groups of drugs are used:

1. Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors. Considering that prostaglandins play a leading role in the development of pain, the use of this group of drugs is most appropriate. Another name for these drugs is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are peripherally acting analgesics. Representatives of this group are analgin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, paracetamol.
2. Antispasmodics. Pain also occurs due to the presence of spasms of the smooth muscles of the uterus and increased vascular tone. Antispasmodics combat these effects. This group of drugs includes papaverine, drotaverine and no-shpu.
3. Anticholinergics. Their mechanism of action is to block acetylcholine. This effect also helps combat spasm of the smooth muscles of the uterus. This group of drugs includes atropine and ipratropium bromide.
4. Sedatives. With severe menstrual pain, a woman experiences psychomotor agitation. Sedatives help reduce nervous tension, thereby relaxing muscles and reducing pain.

Tablets for menstrual pain are effective only when the syndrome is mild. For severe pain, it is more advisable to prescribe medications in the form of vaginal suppositories, injections or droppers.

It is necessary to take medications 2-3 days before the expected menstruation, and also only on the 1st day of menstruation. To achieve the effect, you need to take 3 such courses.

Also mandatory in the medicinal treatment of painful menstruation is the treatment of the underlying disease that led to the pain syndrome.

How to prevent severe menstrual pain?

To prevent severe menstrual pain, a woman needs to lead an active lifestyle and exercise. If there is no time or opportunity to visit the gym, any woman at a convenient time can do a set of exercises that were developed by the American gynecologist Kegel. In addition, it is recommended to follow general measures:

• Give up bad habits, as they affect hormonal levels, blood vessels and muscles of the genital organs;
• Eat a balanced diet, food should contain sufficient amounts of vitamins and protein;
• Do not overexert yourself, devote enough time to rest and sleep;
• When diseases of the reproductive system are detected, they must be treated carefully;
• Take hormonal contraceptives only after agreement with the gynecologist, and also take breaks when taking them;
• Sexual life should be moderately active, having sex with a condom.

Taking medications on your own without consulting a gynecologist, which every second girl does with severe menstrual pain, is strictly prohibited. This is fraught with the development of severe complications up to.

The difference between menstrual pain and “acute abdomen”

Do not confuse menstrual pain with the clinical picture of an acute abdomen, since if the symptoms are incorrectly interpreted, there is a risk of untimely provision of necessary medical care, which can lead to death. There are also differences in treatment between painful menstruation and acute abdominal pain. This proves the fact that only a doctor should deal with the question of how to relieve menstrual pain.

During menstruation, pain appears within a day or on the first day along with the onset of bleeding. Pain in acute abdomen occurs regardless of the onset of menstruation. Therefore, if sharp pain in the lower abdomen appears on the second, third or fourth day of menstruation, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Also distinctive features of an acute abdomen are:

1. The muscles of the abdominal wall are tense; when touching the abdomen, the patient feels pain with even greater force;
2. The woman turns pale, cold sweat appears;
3. Consciousness is disturbed, orientation in space and time is lost, a stunned state ensues;
4. From the first minutes, vomiting is accompanied by pain, which is not typical for painful menstruation;
5. In some cases, hiccups appear that cannot be stopped by anything;
6. Taking analgesics, antispasmodics and sedatives does not alleviate the woman’s condition.

If these symptoms appear, you should suspect that the woman has an acute abdomen, call an ambulance and take her to the hospital, where doctors, using additional examination methods, will find out the cause of the pain and prescribe appropriate treatment.

How to relieve pain during menstruation, doing it in such a way that in the shortest possible period of time you will be back on track. Critical days may come as planned, but not always on a day off. That is why painful periods can become a serious obstacle to work and active pastime. If you don't want to suffer and spend hours lying in bed, use our tips on how to reduce period pain.

Five effective ways

As a rule, severe pain overtakes a woman in the first hours after the start of menstruation. They are cramping in nature, or appear as a dull aching pain in the lower abdomen. One way or another, it’s not very pleasant. Here are some effective ways to get rid of pain during menstruation, the use of which will not require you a lot of time, effort or special means.

Heat treatment. This method should be practiced only if you are confident in your health and the complete absence of gynecological diseases. So, you can take a warm shower, bath (don't forget to use a tampon) or apply a heating pad to your stomach. Heat has a relaxing effect on smooth muscles, relieves spasms and thereby significantly alleviates your condition. Please note that the procedure should not last longer than 15 minutes.

Light massage. Another effective method of how to relieve pain during menstruation without the use of medications. So, in the abdominal area, you should carefully perform circular movements in a clockwise direction. This will reduce cramping and help soothe pain.

Adopting the fetal position. Curl up into a fetal position. Otherwise, bend your legs to your stomach and try to fall asleep for a while. Oddly enough, this method helps many women.

Exercise. If the pain is tolerable, you can do a couple of light exercises that will relieve discomfort. You need to try to do each one up to 10 times, then rest a little and repeat.

Exercise 1: Cross your legs cross-legged, and then smoothly move your knees in and out.
Exercise 2: Kneel with your hands on the floor. Then perform rotational movements with your pelvis in a circle.

Special diet. About a week to ten days before the start of menstruation, doctors recommend giving up “heavy”, fatty and spicy foods, giving preference to light plant foods. You should also limit your consumption of large amounts of tea, coffee and carbonated drinks.

Each of the above methods, or a combination of them, will certainly help you get rid of pain during menstruation. If the above methods do not work, drug treatment should be added.

Effective medicines

Tablets will help you feel better quickly. These are the well-known drugs “Spazgan”, “Spazmalgon” and “No-shpa” - they will relieve spasms, the root cause of pain. Also possible saviors will be medications belonging to the group of anti-inflammatory drugs, namely Ketanov, Nise, Ibuprofen or Butadione.

When taking painkillers during menstruation, you should never exceed their dosage. As a rule, one pill and 15-20 minutes are enough to feel good again. As a last resort, you can take the pill again an hour or an hour and a half after taking the first one. No more needed. The pain that accompanies the onset of menstruation should go away. If not, then very severe discomfort may be a signal that you have gynecological diseases. Then you should consult a doctor for examination and selection of appropriate treatment.