On any given day, millions of women suffer from their share of the more than two hundred symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and period pain. Many experience irritability, anxiety, stress, bloating, and headache, but the coup de grace for most is period cramps; gut wrenching, nauseating, menstrual cramps. If you require a monthly "time out" due to this persistent female nuisance, the following tips may bring you some relief.
THE ANATOMY OF A CRAMP
Menstrual cramps can vary in severity from mild, to moderate, to excruciating (dysmenorrhea). So, what is happening to your body, and why do they hurt so badly? The anatomy of a period cramp is such that, each month, the lining of your uterus prepares to carry a child. For most women, if conception does not occur, this lining is shed on a monthly basis or cycle. The uterus will then begin to release prostaglandins (mediators that regulate the contraction or relaxation of smooth muscle tissue), which creates the physiological effect of contractions.
This action cuts off the blood supply to the endometrial tissue, causing it to separate from the uterine wall and die. This succession of contractions is what most women recognize as painful period cramping. Once this occurs, the uterus will begin to push/expel the lining from your body, and then voila - your period starts. Ouch!
FINDING RELIEF FOR PERIOD CRAMPS
Some women have an increased susceptibility to the symptoms of PMS. Factors such as diet, stress, depression, lack of exercise, reproductive hormone levels, increased age, and family history, can all play a role. As a prominent symptom of PMS, menstrual cramping leaves many women desperate to find some relief. There are many methods used to minimize or alleviate the discomfort of cramps including medicinal, dietary, natural, or surgical intervention.
Over-the-counter Medications
For milder cramps, aspirin and acetaminophen should be sufficient. For more moderate cramping, medications that can lessen the production of prostaglandins such as ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil), naproxen sodium (Anaprox and Aleve), or ketoprofen (Orudis KT) have been proven effective.
Prescription Medications
For more severe cramping, a prescription such as rofecoxib or mefenamic acid may be necessary. Additionally, a low dosage of an oral contraceptive can be used to stop ovulation or the production of prostaglandin, which in turn reduces the severity of menstrual cramps over time.
Dietary Methods
Foods that exacerbate PMS symptoms and period cramping include those that contain a high caffeine content, sugars, salt, and dairy products. In some cultures, it is also believed that cold foods contribute to the severity of menstrual pain.
Equally, foods that help alleviate the symptoms of PMS and cramping include freshly squeezed Pineapple juice (for the bromelain, which is an enzyme that is a muscle relaxant), and Ginger, which has anti-inflammatory properties that can block the effects of prostaglandin.
Natural Methods
Because good nutrition is essential, a sustained healthy diet will serve to compliment all other treatments. Some of the natural things you can do to help treat the symptoms of PMS and menstrual cramps are:
Regular exercise including walking, yoga, and swimming
Taking vitamins such as B6 and E, calcium, and the minerals, zinc, and magnesium
Drinking teas that contain chamomile, raspberry leaf, juniper berries, and other herbs
Getting enough sleep
Receiving emotional reassurance from loved ones
Taking warm baths or applying heat packs to the abdomen or lower back
Surgical Intervention
When modest and traditional treatments have proven ineffective, or an underlying condition exists, surgical intervention may grant sufferers some relief. Endometrial ablation is a procedure that burns away the lining of the uterus with a heat-generating device. This may not be ideal for everyone, including those who wish to conceive in the future.
Whichever method you choose, know that you don't have to suffer unnecessarily. Understanding what is happening to your body and what you can do to control or lessen PMS symptoms is the key to relief. Consult with your physician should you experience abnormal or heavy bleeding, or if your cramping becomes unmanageable.
By Richard Lane
Any information, advice, recommendations, statements or otherwise contained herein, or in any other communication whether oral or in writing, is not intended to replace or to be a substitute for medical advice trained by a trained physician or healthcare practitioner.
