Abdominal cramps during menstruation in women are considered normal. However, the intensity of the pain may vary. According to research, about 50% of women experience pain during periods, of which, the intensity of pain in 10% of these women is unbearable. But besides the abdominal cramps and pain in the lower abdomen, things and back, women face many other problems prior to and during menstruation. Therefore, here is what you need to know about the causes of pain and some other problems that are common to menstruation.
Why Do Women Experience Pain During Their Periods?
A hormone known as Prostaglandin, which is secreted in the cells near the uterus, is believed to be responsible for the pain during menstruation. During the menstrual cycle, there are rapid contractions in the uterine wall and when the muscles of the uterus contract, they cause obstruction in the blood supply to the internal tissues of the uterus. While this happens, sometimes the oxygen supply in the uterus is not sufficient for a while. At this time, the uterine tissues release Prostaglandin, causing pain. The state of pain during menstruation is called Dysmenorrhea,which is classified into two categories.
- Primary Dysmenorrhea
In this case, the pain is caused by the contraction in the uterus during menstruation. In this process, some hormones are released in the uterus which causes pain. Also, these hormones are also responsible for the pain during childbirth.
- Secondary Dysmenorrhea
Here, the reason for pain is due to certain medical problems like a fibroid. Fibroids are tumors that begin to form on the wall of the uterus. In addition, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, adenomyosis and cervical stenosis can also cause pain during menstruation.
Other Problems Faced During Menstruation
- Breast pain before and during periods
Research has shown that about 70% of girls and women feel heaviness and pain in their breasts before or during the cycle, which is considered normal. Both the hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are believed to be responsible for this. These hormones increase the size of the duct and lactating glands in the breasts.
At the same time, some researchers suggest that the amount of prolactin or the breastfeeding hormone increases during this period, which causes pain. Apart from the fluctuating levels of the hormones, there can be other reasons too that can be responsible for causing pain in the breasts. These include an imbalance in the number of fatty acids in the tissues of the body, leading to affecting the sensitivity of the supportive tissue present in the breast hormones, lack of nutrition in the body, wrongful eating habits and stress. - Increased clotting in the blood
Blood clotting during menstruation is considered normal, but if the amount of blood clots is relatively high and their size starts to increase, then it can be a sign of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), thyroid enlargement, or any other serious problem. In this case, contact a gynecologist immediately. - Feeling diarrhetic or nauseous during periods
According to research, about 73% of women experience diarrhea, vomiting and nausea during menstruation. Many females also complain about bloating during this time. Usually, hormonal activities and changes are considered responsible for all these conditions and particularly for problems like bloating, progesterone hormone is believed to be responsible. - Affected digestion
When the amount of prostaglandin, the hormone secreted in the uterus during menstruation increases, it begins to affect the nerves due to which the muscles start shrinking. This can impact one's digestive process.
Besides this, one must remember that pain or cramps during menstruation and certain other normal symptoms before the beginning of the cycle i.e during Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are normal. But if you experience prolonged bleeding, excess and unbearable pain, or any discomfort while menstruating, contact a gynecologist immediately.
