Most young ladies expect their periods
with mixed feelings. On one hand, the sexually active unmarried ladies are
happy because this is the only proof that pregnancy did not occur. On the other
hand, most of them are sad due to the excruciating pains they have
to go
through. This pain is best described by ladies who have had the ‘privilege’ of
experiencing it.
This brings us to the concept called
dysmenorrhoea.
what is dysmenorrhoea?
This is simply another medical jargon
used to describe painful menstruation. It usually
begins around the time that menstruation begins. Symptoms typically last less
than three days. The pain is usually in the pelvis or lower abdomen. Due to the pain, some ladies do not even go out of their rooms until after 2-3 days. Other
symptoms that may be experienced include back pain, diarrhea and nausea.
Dysmenorrhea
is divided into two, depending on the presence or absence of a cause. When a
cause cannot be found, it is called primary dysmenorrhea. If it has an
identifiable cause, medics call it secondary dysmenorrhea.
In young
women, painful periods often occur without an underlying problem (primary
dysmenorrhea).
In older
women it is more often due to underlying issues (secondary dysmenorrhea) such
as:
·
Fibroids,
·
Adenomyosis,
·
Endometriosis.
The commonest
cause of secondary dysmenorrhea is what is known as endometrosis.
Endometrosis
is an abnormal condition whereby the cells that are found in the womb, also
known as endometrial cells, also occur in other parts of the body (this should
not be the case, because every organ has its own function, and the cells there
are designed to carry out that function). This abnormality manifest each time
menstruation starts. How? As the womb is shedding those cells as blood, the
same thing occurs in every organ where the cells of the womb are abnormally
located. If they are in the nose, the person bleeds from the nose every month,
during menses. If they are in the umbilicus, same thing occurs.
It is more
common among those with heavy periods, irregular periods, whose periods started
before twelve years of age, or who have a low body weight.
Dysmenorrhea
occurs less often in those who exercise regularly and those who have children
early in life.
Treatment
may include the use of a heating pad. Medications that may help include painkillers
such as ibuprofen and piroxicam (feldene), hormonal birth control, and the Intra
Uterine Devices (IUDs) with progestogen. IUDs are devices that are inserted
into the womb to prevent pregnancy.
Dysmenorrhea
is estimated to occur in 20% to 90% of women of reproductive age. It is the
most common menstrual disorder. Typically it starts within a year of the first
menstrual period. When there is no underlying cause often the pain improves
with age or following having a child.
Although childbearing
is said to relieve dysmenorrhea, this does not always occur.
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