Period Pain
Dysmenorrhoea is the medical expression for period pain. It is derived from an ancient Greek expression and literally means “difficult monthly flow”. You can suffer from period pain from your early teen, right up to the menopause. Period pains are often worse in adolescence and tend to improve as women get older. Many women notice their periods are less painful after they have had a baby. Most women experience some discomfort during menstruation, especially on the first day of the menstrual flow when at its heaviest, but in approximately 5-10% of women the symptoms of period pain are severe enough to interfere with the quality of life, disrupting daily routines and missing work or study. If your mother suffered from period pains, unfortunately you are more likely to suffer, and your daughter too.
Period Pain – the symptoms
The 2 most commons symptoms of period pain
- A constant lower abdominal pain which radiates through the back
- An intermittent cramping pain
For some people this can be accompanied by
- Headache
- Nausea
- Fainting episodes and light-headedness
- Constant urge to pass urine
- Diarrhoea/constipation
- Feeling of lethargy/tiredness
- Irritability
- Sweating
Period pain – What can you do?
There are many things you can do to help yourself at the onset of period pains, such as;
- Take a pain reliever that is available over the counter (OTC) such as Alka-Seltzer
- Curling on a sofa with a hot water bottle/self heating patches or heat packs
- Having a long hot soak in a bath with aromatherapy oils will help relax both your body and mind
- Massaging the back and stomach can be extremely effective for any women
- Wear looser fitting clothing in a couple of days prior to and during your period to make yourself more comfortable
- Exercise helps to relax the muscles and improve the blood supply to the pelvic area
Other general health Tips
- Choose high fibre foods
- Eat plenty of salads and vegetables
- If you eat red meat, make sure it is lean – eat more chicken and fish
- Cut down on sugary foods, chocolate, cakes and biscuits
- Reduce the amount of salt in your diet to help avoid that bloated feeling of water retention
- Drink pure fruit juices or mineral water, rather than a sugary drink
- Eat regularly, every two or three hours
- Stop or reduce the amount you smoke
- Try to cut down on alcoholic drinks
If pain persists visit your GP for a check up
