Ah, that period pain! Every month the menstrual cycle hits and gives us moderate to severe abdominal cramps. While we all have our own so-called home remedies to deal with PMS symptoms. But what if the pain of periods becomes unbearable at times? Well, ladies, this is an alarm for an underlying problem. Here, let’s talk about what causes severe period cramps.
Causes of severe period pain
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for menstrual cramps. A woman usually feels pain in the lower back, thighs and abdomen one to two days before or during menstruation. This pain can be mild or unbearably severe, interfering with their everyday activities. If your discomfort or pain is intense and doesn’t go away despite several attempts, something is wrong with you.
Health Shots spoke to Dr Shefali Tyagi, Consultant- Obstetrics & Gynecology, Motherhood Hospitals, Sarjapur, Bangalore to find out the causes of severe period cramps.
What causes severe cramps?
Tyagi says that various health conditions can be responsible for severe menstrual cramps such as:
1. Endometriosis: This is a chronic, non-cancerous condition in which endometrial cells grow outside the uterus.
2. Fibroids: These are non-cancerous growths that grow around the lining of the uterus.
3. PCOS: This is a hormonal disorder that affects your menstrual cycle.
4. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: This is a bacterial infection in the reproductive organs of women usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as gonorrhea.
5. Cervical stenosis: This condition occurs when the opening of your cervix narrows or closes.
6. Intrauterine device (IUD): This is a birth control device that is inserted into your uterus. They usually do no harm but can affect menstruation in some cases.
7. Secondary dysmenorrhea: Unlike primary dysmenorrhea, secondary dysmenorrhea can cause pain that lasts throughout the menstrual cycle. It can cause heavy flow in addition to intensifying menstrual pain.
How to know if your menstrual cramps are normal and not serious?
When you have menstrual cramps, your lower abdomen feels like it is throbbing, and the pain can radiate to your back and legs. Cramps usually start a day before your period starts and last for two to three days. “It comes with symptoms like fatigue, headache, dizziness, loose stools and nausea,” says Tyagi. But these cramps respond effectively to preventive measures like ibuprofen and other pain relievers. On the other hand, painful cramps are prolonged. May last for a long time and do not respond to painkillers. They interfere with your routine activities and are often accompanied by severe bleeding and clotting.”
take away
If you are experiencing severe cramps regularly, it is advisable to get it checked by a doctor to diagnose the underlying condition
