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What Causes Painful Menstrual Period?
Question: I have extreme pain at the beginning of my period. I have lower abdominal cramps. I have diarrhea. I have headaches. I feel weak and dizzy. My legs become extremely heavy and very sore and achy. I also feel an overall feeling of nausea and sickness throughout my body. This is very debilitating and I cannot work or do anything during this time. I usually take ibuprofen and that helps somewhat. But this has been happening for a couple of years now and seems to be getting worse. My periods are also very light.. however heavier on the first day and just spotting on the next day and a bit. They only last between 2-3 days. They come about every four weeks and seem to be pretty regular. Are there any possible causes and what can be done to help this. To add to the above query.. I am also 30 years old. I have not been sexually active in about nine years and have not had any children.
Brief Answer:
DETAILS ARE GIVEN BELOW.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us on Healthcare Magic.
Dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual period) is a most common medical condition in reproductive age group women.
It may be Primary or spasmodic type without any specific organic disease and Secondary type with underlying uterine/ pelvic pathology (like Fibroid, Ovarian cyst/ Adenomyosis, Endometriosis). Other least possible causes could be Pelvic or vaginal infection, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease etc.
Here, you need to undergo one pelvic ultrasound scan and Urine examination- routine & culture, blood sugar (PPBS), HB%, Complete Blood Count to pinpoint the diagnosis. Kindly, consult with your Gynecologist regarding this.
Some general guidelines should be followed to get effective result from current condition:
1) Improvement of general health and simple psychotherapy with explanation of the fact and assurance which helps to increase the pain threshold.
2) Bowel should be kept empty. Drink plenty of fluid/ water/ juice. Take healthy diet with more vegetables in small amount at least 6 times. ORS added water or Salt-Lemon water is quite useful to combat diarrhea and muscle cramp.
3) Total avoidance of tea/ coffee/ fast food/ salt from the second half of the cycle (after day 14 or Post Ovulation) till period is over.
4) Try to avoid mental stress, depression or upset by meditation or yoga. Light exercise is also useful in this condition. Maintain genital hygiene properly.
5) You can take anti spasmodic medicine like combined Mefenamic acid and Drotaverine 2 to 3 times daily till pain subsides. Antacid like Ranitidine is quite effective in empty stomach. Alternate hot and cold compression around back region is also useful.
6) If above measures fail to relieve menstrual cramp and debilitating state, then Combined Hormonal Pill from D1 of cycle will be more effective. For that, you need a complete prescription from your doctor.
Hope, this information is quite helpful to you. Kindly, close the discussion if you don't have any other query.
Wish your good health and take care yourself.
Regards,
Dr Soumen
For future query, you can directly approach me through
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=63326
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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