One in 10 women across the world admits their period pain is excruciating
While it's normal for people to say that pain with your period is part of being a woman, it isn’t true.
According to experts, painful periods can severely impact your daily functioning, and your health in the long run. Apart from being a sign of endometriosis—a disease where tissue normally found in the lining of your uterus grows elsewhere in your abdomen—it could also lead to mental health issues.
Statistics say seven in 10 women will experience period pain—often physically and mentally debilitating—for almost four solid years of their lives. Of these, an overwhelming 78 per cent have been told it is completely normal to have discomfort every month. One in 10 women across the world admits their period pain is excruciating, while 24 per cent describe it as an intense or sharp, stabbing feeling.
When should you see a doctor?
According to experts, you must not avoid going to a doctor and getting a full checkup done if you have noticed these three signs:
- Your periods become more painful, heavier, or irregular
- You have pain during sex or when peeing or pooing
- You are bleeding between periods
What causes debilitating menstrual pain?
Menstruation occurs when the uterus sheds its lining once a month. Some pain, cramping, and discomfort during menstrual periods are normal, but excessive pain that causes you to miss work or school is not. Certain medical conditions can cause it, including:
Premenstrual syndrome
PMS is a common condition that’s caused by hormonal changes in the body occurring 1 to 2 weeks before menstruation begins.
Endometriosis
It is a painful medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body, usually on the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or tissue lining the pelvis.
Fibroids
Fibroids are noncancerous tumours that can put pressure on the uterus or cause abnormal menstruation and pain, though they often don’t cause symptoms.
Adenomyosis
It is a rare condition in which the uterine lining grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, causing inflammation, pressure, and pain. It can also cause longer or heavier periods.
Cervical stenosis
Cervical stenosis is a rare condition in which the cervix is so small or narrow that it slows menstrual flow, causing an increase in pressure inside the uterus that causes pain.
Pelvic inflammatory disease
PID is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries often caused by sexually transmitted bacteria that cause inflammation of the reproductive organs and pain.
Ways to treat pain during periods
A few at-home treatments that can be helpful in relieving painful menstrual periods include:
- Using a heating pad
- Massaging your abdomen
- Taking a warm bath
- Regularly exercising
- Eating light and nutritious meals
- Practicing relaxation techniques or yoga
- Taking anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications
- Taking vitamins and supplements like vitamin B6, vitamin B1, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and magnesium
- Reducing your intake of salt, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar to prevent bloating
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