Periods feel like a normal part of life for many women, but for some they come with painful ramifications. Dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia are two conditions that can make periods even more difficult. Let’s unpack what these conditions are, what causes them and how they can be treated.
What is Dysmenorrhea?
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for painful periods. A few other symptoms along with painful menstrual cramps are nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue. Many women experience painful cramps but for others it can be intense and disrupt daily life. The pain usually begins in the lower belly and can last anywhere from a couple of hours to a few days.
Dysmenorrhea is classified into two main types:
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Primary Dysmenorrhea: this is the most prevalent kind of dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is known as the cramps that come in a few days before your period or just as you start bleeding. This pain is caused by prostaglandins made in the lining of the uterus which causes the uterine muscles to contract.
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Secondary Dysmenorrhea: This variety is caused by pre-existing conditions that affect the uterus, such as endometriosis, fibroids or other health problems. Pain from secondary dysmenorrhea usually begins earlier in your menstrual cycle and lasts longer than typical menstrual cramps.
How to Manage Dysmenorrhea?
If you’d like to manage your period pain without medication, there are plenty of natural remedies that might help:
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Heat: A heating pad or hot water bottle applied to the abdomen can help relax the muscles and reduce cramping.
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Exercise: This may seem counterintuitive, but light activities such as walking or stretching can help relieve period cramps by increasing circulation.
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Herbal Teas: Ginger, chamomile, or cinnamon tea can reduce inflammation and cramping.
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Eating Well: An anti-inflammatory diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help reduce inflammation. Cutting back on caffeine, salty foods and sugar can also alleviate cramps.
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Acupuncture: This traditional practice can help balance energy flow and reduce inflammation. Many women have reported relief from period pain through acupuncture.
Diets rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce inflammation and ease cramps.
If natural remedies fall short, medications can manage the pain:
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Pain Medications: Nonprescription over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen (or brufen) or naproxen can ease both pain and inflammation.
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Birth control - Hormonal contraceptives can regulate periods and thereby reduce pain.
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Prescription Painkillers: For more intense pain, visit your doctor as they may prescribe stronger pain medications, but these will typically only be short-term prescriptions.
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IUDs: A hormonal IUD can help ease both the bleeding and cramping some women experience.
What is Menorrhagia?
Women with heavy menstrual bleeding are said to be suffering from menorrhagia. It’s not simply a little more blood — it’s when a period extends longer than 7 days or a woman loses over 80 milliliters during her period. This is hazardous to your health as it may result in fatigue, iron deficiency and bad health. Roughly 1 in 5 women deal with menorrhagia at some time in their lives.
Menorrhagia typically is not life-threatening but it can cause complications, particularly when the loss of blood leads to anemia. Anemia occurs when your body lacks enough red blood cells, which can lead to fatigue, dizziness and shortness of breath. If you’re gradually losing too much blood, it can impact your overall health.
What Causes Menorrhagia?
Several factors can contribute to heavy periods:
- Hormonal Imbalances: If the balance between estrogen and progesterone is incorrect, uterine lining buildup can happen, which can cause heavy bleeding.
- Uterine fibroids: Non-cancerous growths in the uterus that can lead to heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Polyps: These small growths on the cervix or inside the uterus may also cause heavy bleeding.
- Endometriosis: This condition occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing pain and heavy bleeding.
- Other Health Problems: Thyroid problems, blood clotting disorders, or pelvic infections can also contribute to menorrhagia.
How to Manage Menorrhagia?
Though there’s no known cure for menorrhagia, there are menorrhagia treatment options available to manage symptoms:
- Hormonal Treatments: Birth control pills or hormonal IUDs help control bleeding and reduce heavy periods.
- D&C (Dilation and Curettage): A minor procedure used to scrape the uterine lining to minimize bleeding.
- Endometrial Ablation: This procedure destroys the lining of the uterus to stop heavy bleeding.
- Hysterectomy: In serious cases hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) may need to be considered.
- Iron Supplements: If you are anemic as a result of losing blood, your physician may prescribe iron supplements to help increase your red blood cell count.
Managing Period Challenges
Dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia can both make your periods much more difficult to track. While both can affect a woman’s life, it is possible to treat them — with natural remedies, medications and, in some cases, surgery. If your daily life is affected because of your menstrual cycle, it’s a good idea to discuss this with your healthcare provider. They can help you determine the cause of those symptoms and recommend the right treatment plan for you to lead a better life.
Sources :
Health Psychology Research - Quantifying the Impact of Dysmenorrhea Symptoms
Arch Public Health - Association among dysmenorrhea
NCBI - Menorrhagia
The Lancet - Prevalence of heavy menstrual bleeding
