Treatment of Period Pain

Pain is the most common symptom to accompany disease. Many women, and their doctors, believe some period pain is normal. However, it may be common (approximately 60% of women) but it is not normal. Ruth Trickey in her book, Women, Hormones & the Menstrual Cycle, highlights the 2 important questions to ask yourself: Does it bother you enough to want/need to do something about it? Are you happy with the treatments you are using? Women have 12-13 periods each year and if she has pain for 2 or 3 days of these, it adds up to about a month of pain every year.

There are 2 types of period pain:
Primary Dysmenorrhea: where the uterus is healthy but behaving abnormally. The contractions are too strong and too frequent; between the contractions the uterus is not relaxing properly but is constantly tense restricting blood flow through the muscle.

Secondary Dysmenorrhea: where the pain is secondary to or caused by an underlying condition such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease: PID.

Symptoms

Period pain varies enormously from woman to woman and from period to period. Usually it is described as a constant, dull, dragging or heavy ache with spasms of cramping pains. It is located in the centre of the lower abdomen, occasionally radiating to the back or down the thighs. Many women describe the sensation as though “everything will fall out”. It may start prior to the period but usually starts with the flow of blood, intensifying as the period becomes heavier or when there are clots. Sometimes there is nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or headaches with it. Often women are constipated prior to their period which will exacerbate the pain as will irritable bowel. The bowel and uterus share a similar nerve supply so spasms in one system will inflame the other.

Causes

1. Inflammatory prostaglandin excess causes inflammation, irritation and constriction of tissues. Women with period pain have been shown to have higher levels of inflammatory PG (fried oils and animal fats) and low levels of anti-inflammatory PG (Omega 3 oils)

2. Hormonal imbalance: relative oestrogen excess to progesterone. At the end of the cycle, progesterone can drop off too early and oestrogen can be too high which is inflammatory and causes excessive contraction of the uterus

3. Genitourinary infection - subclinical PID should be ruled out or treated accordingly with antibiotics

4. Nutrient deficiencies: magnesium primarily is required to relax spasming muscles including the uterus

5. Endometriosis or adenmyosis

6. Stress causes inflammation, tension in the muscles as well as the uterus exacerbating period pain

7. Strenuous physical activity during menstruation increases muscle contraction and tension; regular exercise is associated with a lower risk as exercise decreases rate of oestrogen production and insulin resistance as well as relieving stress and tension

8. Caffeine, junk food and alcohol consumption increase inflammatory chemicals in the body and leech nutrients out of the body

9. Constipation and irritable bowel will exacerbate period pain and vica versa.

Diagnosis is via exclusion of other conditions. A pelvic examination may be performed by your doctor. It is important to seek advice if the pain changes, suddenly begins for the first time, is one-sided only, occurs with pregnancy, usual pain controls are no longer adequate, new symptoms accompany it eg. vomiting, diarrhea, pain worsens at the end of period, occurs with pressure, bowel motions or sexual activity, a fever or discharge accompany it.

Natural Therapist’s Approach:

Self-Healing
Dietary and lifestyle changes are necessary for successful treatment of period pain. Extensive information and resources are given to help you alter your diet to healthier options and rebalance your hormones.

Hormonal regulation is achieved using specific herbal medicines individually prescribed which work directly on the reproductive organs, the pituitary axis and the adrenals to rebalance the hormones as well as tone and relax the excessive contractions of the uterus.

Using the work of Christiane Northrup, author of Women’s Bodies Women’s Wisdom, the emotional connections to Period Pain are discussed to address any underlying issues.

Article written by Claudette Wadsworth
www.claudettewadsworth.com.au

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