Many women experience discomfort during menstruation; one such uneasiness is menstrual cramps. When a woman’s uterus linings are shedding, it’s normal to feel some minor discomfort but, if the cramps you’re experiencing are too intense and don’t let you follow through with your daily routine, then it isn’t normal.
Experiencing painful periods is also called dysmenorrhea, and it’s one of the most commonly reported menstrual disorders; you should consult a lady doctor. There are two types of painful periods:
- Primary dysmenorrhea is caused by prostaglandins (which naturally occurs in the body) and usually occurs after the first period.
- Secondary dysmenorrhea often stems from a reproductive disorder and occurs in later life stages.
What causes menstrual cramps?
Several factors can cause menstrual cramps, these are:
- Prostaglandins: cramps are caused by hormone-like lipids that make your uterus contract to shed the lining.
- Estrogen and progesterone: these hormones help regulate the menstrual cycle, and their fluctuation in your body can lead to cramps.
- Endometriosis: implantations of uterine tissue occur outside the uterus, most commonly on the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or pelvis lining.
- Uterine Fibroids: noncancerous growths in the uterine wall can cause pain.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease: sexually transmitted bacteria usually cause this infection of female reproductive organs.
- Cervical stenosis: women with small cervix openings experience painful uterine pressure due to hindered menstrual flow.
- Adenomyosis: occurs when the lining of your uterus grows into the muscular wall of your uterus.
Symptoms of menstrual cramps
A large number of painful symptoms accompany periods. Sometimes these symptoms occur shortly before your period starts, and usually, they go away during the first few days of your period.
Some of these symptoms include:
- Pain starts 1-3 days before your menstrual cycle, peaking 24 hours after the onset of your cycle, and finally subsiding in 2-3 days.
- Nausea
- Throbbing and intense pain in the lower abdomen
- Loose stools
- Pain in lower back and thighs
- Headache & dizziness
Why should you see a lady doctor?
You should consult with a lady doctor if you’re experiencing intense pain. Menstrual cramps are normal, but if they’re intense enough to disrupt your life every month and you’re unable to follow your daily routines, you should consult with an online lady doctor now.
If you feel your symptoms have progressively worsened, you should get that checked by a lady doctor; it may be an underlying condition or an onset of some condition.
And if you’re experiencing severe menstrual cramps after the age of 25, you should consult with an online lady doctor ASAP as it could be an urgent health concern that needs to be checked.
The takeaway
It’s normal to experience some pain or discomfort during your period, but severe or debilitating pain — or pain that interferes with your life — is not normal.
Period pain isn’t inevitable, but it’s unnecessary to accept painful periods. There’s no shame in consulting with a lady doctor regarding your reproductive health. You can consult with an online lady doctor now by clicking here to get yourself a diagnosis and treatment.
