WHAT IS DYSMENORRHOEA?

Severe, painful spasms in the lower abdomen during menstruation, which affects normal day to day, activities. Some women may get pain before the onset of periods which subsides after flow starts whereas other get pain with onset of menstrual flow.

Dysmenorrhoea is of 2 types: Primary dysmenorrhea means that the woman has had painful periods ever since she started menstruating. Secondary dysmenorrhea means pain began years after periods started.

Dysmenorrhoea generally has no effect on a woman's fertility and is usually less severe after a woman has had a baby.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:

• Cramping and sometimes sharp pains in the lower abdomen, lower back and thighs.
• Nausea and vomiting (often).
• Diarrhoea (sometimes).

Severity of symptoms varies greatly from woman to woman, and from one cycle to the next in the same woman.

• Strong or prolonged contractions of the muscular wall of the uterus. These may be caused by concentration of prostaglandins. Research shows that women with dysmenorrhea produce and excrete more prostaglandins than those who don't have as much discomfort.
• Dilation of the cervix to allow passage of blood clots from the uterus to the vagina.
• Organic causes include:
• Pelvic infections.
• Endometriosis, especially if dysmenorrhea begins after age 20.
• Benign tumors of the uterus.
• Poor posture.
• An underdeveloped uterus.

RISK INCREASES WITH

• Use of caffeine.
• Stress. The degree of dysmenorrhea may vary according to general health or mental state. While emotional or psychological factors don't CAUSE the pain, they can worsen pain or cause some women to be less responsive to treatment.

HOW TO PREVENT

Ask your doctor to prescribe an anti-spasmodic that can be started with the first sign of menstrual flow. Homoeopathy is helpful in preventing.

DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES

• Telltale symptoms.
• History and examination, including a pelvic examination by a doctor.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

Severe pain that regularly interferes with normal activity.

PROBABLE OUTCOME

Symptoms can be controlled with treatment.

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

• Heat helps relieve pain. Use a heating pad or hot-water(check vis-à-vis ice bag) bottle on the abdomen or back, or take hot baths. Sit in a tub of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes as often as necessary.
• Reduce stress.

MEDICATION

• For minor discomfort, you may use non-prescription drugs such as paracetamol.
• Your doctor may prescribe: Antiprostaglandins, including non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs.

ACTIVITY

• No restrictions. When resting in bed, elevate your feet or bend your knees and lie on your side.
• Regular, vigorous exercise reduces discomfort of future periods.

DIET

No special diet.

CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR, IF

• You have symptoms of dysmenorrhea you cannot control by yourself.
• Your bleeding becomes excessive (you saturate a pad more frequently than once each hour).
• You develop signs of infection, such as fever, a general ill feeling, headache, dizziness or muscle aches.
• New, unexplained symptoms develop. Drugs used in treatment may produce side effects.