Period cramps, medically referred to as dysmenorrhea, is among the many widespread and uncomfortable points skilled by girls throughout “that time” of the month.
According to obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Viktoria Ines Matibag, dysmenorrhea occurs as a result of the uterus contracts when the endometrial lining—which grows thicker to arrange for a being pregnant—is shed throughout menstruation.
Matibag mentioned dysmenorrhea has two sorts: major and secondary.
There is major dysmenorrhea, which occurs when the reason for painful menstrual cramps is a rise in prostaglandins, a bunch of lipids that our our bodies make at websites of tissue harm or an infection.
Matibag mentioned prostaglandins assist contract the uterine muscle mass, which might be “perceived as pain by the body.”
Meanwhile, secondary dysmenorrhea occurs when there are different medical circumstances that trigger painful menstrual cramps.
This contains pelvic endometriosis, adenomyosis, myomas, ovarian cysts, or pelvic congestion, amongst others.
Matibag mentioned that some girls expertise cramping not simply on menstruation days but additionally even earlier than or after the cycle.
“Menstruators with secondary dysmenorrhea may experience pelvic pain even without menses due to whichever medical condition they have,” she mentioned.
Among the at-home cures Matibag recommends are taking ache relievers across the clock like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, exercising for at the very least half-hour on most days of the week, and utilizing heat compresses within the pelvic area.
But she additionally suggested that when the interval ache is “debilitating enough to cause disruption in a menstruator’s daily life, they should seek [consultation] with an OBGYN.”
“When they have to skip school or work, can’t get out of bed to do activities of daily living, and pain medication [is] not working to lessen the pain, these are some reasons why they should seek consultation with a doctor,” she mentioned.
Severe interval ache is recognized by means of a fundamental work-up, which features a transvaginal or transrectal ultrasound to view the pelvic organs.
“If inconclusive and there is suspicion of deep infiltrating pelvic endometriosis or other abdominal conditions that causes the severe period pain, an MRI may be done,” she mentioned.
Moreover, therapy depends upon what the reason for the extreme interval cramps is.
“We can prescribe combined oral contraceptives containing estrogen and progesterone if you have primary dysmenorrhea, as this is known to relieve symptoms in around 90% of patients, through decreasing arachidonic acid, which is the precursor of prostaglandin, in the endometrium,” she mentioned.
“If the patient has endometriosis or adenomyosis, then we prescribe progestins like dienogest continuously to suppress menstruation to help the endometriotic lesions to heal,” she added.
These oral drugs can value from P800 to P2,000 monthly.
“There are other medical conditions that may also need surgical intervention if the OBGYN assesses that this is necessary,” she mentioned.
—MGP, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
