Painful periods

Savitri dreads having her periods. She gets intense pain and sometimes has to take time off from work. She wants some relief and wonders if she is the only one who suffers so much. She has discussed this problem with her friends and has found that many of them have varying levels of discomfort during their periods.

More than half of women experience some pain during their menstrual periods, at least for 1-2 days each month. Usually, the pain is mild. Sometimes, however, the pain is severe enough to keep them from their normal activities. This pain is called dysmenorrhoea. Painful periods are the leading cause of women missing work and school.

Why are periods painful?

The uterus is made up of muscle fibres and like any muscle, will contract and relax. During the periods, the lining of the uterus produces a substance called prostaglandins. These prostaglandins cause the uterus to contract. When the uterus contracts, it produces a cramping pain. As the period continues, prostaglandin levels drop. This is why pain tends to lessen after the first few days of the period.

Types of dysmenorrhoea

There are two types of dysmenorrhoea:

Primary dysmenorrhoea is pelvic pain that is primarily due to the period. Women with primary dysmenorrhea may have cramps or pain in the lower abdomen or lower back and a pulling feeling in the inner thighs. If the pain is severe, there may be nausea and vomiting. Primary dysmenorrhea often begins soon after a girl begins having menstrual periods. Some cycles may be more painful than others.  As a woman gets older, her periods often become less painful. Some women may experience lessening of the pain after childbirth.

Secondary dysmenorrhoea is menstrual pain that has another cause in addition to menstruation. With secondary dysmenorrhoea, pain often begins earlier in the menstrual cycle. It usually lasts longer than normal cramps. It may begin some days before the period starts, it may get worse with the period, or it may persist after the period ends.