How to Prevent Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual Cramps
Three weeks out of each month you feel great. But then comes your period, and with it, those awful cramps. You try to ignore them and go about your daily business, but the pain and discomfort continue to divert your attention. For most women, menstrual cramps last no more than one or two days each month. But this can seen endless when you’re trying to function normally. And the congestive, bloating-type symptoms that often accompany these cramps may only compound the problem.
“Primary menstrual cramps are hereditary,” says Phyllis Frey, A.R.N.P., A nurse practitioner at Bellegrove OB-GYN, Inc., in Bellevue, Washington. “There is no specific cause determined. It just seem that during your period, your uterus cramps up and your sensitivity to that cramping is pretty acute,”she explains.
“Sometimes, primary cramps will lessen after giving birth ,”says Harold Zimmer, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist in Bellevue, Washington. “We are not sure why this is , But it could be that stretching out of the cervix during delivery reduces the pulling against it that can occur when that uterus contracts or cramps up,” he adds.
“Secondary menstrual cramps, on the other hand, are caused by some underlying condition, such as pelvic infection, pelvic congestion, or pelvic varicose veins,” says Zimmer. “They are usually a little worse than primary cramps, depending on how significant the underlying condition is,” he adds.
In either case, menstrual cramps are usually the result of a protaglandin excess. Prostaglandin is a hoemone produced by the uterine lining that mediates many processes within the body. It can bring on headaches , intestinal cramps, and labor, according to Zimmer. while secondary cramps are usually treated by curing the underlying condition primary cramps are largely self-treatable with over-the-counter medication and some basic comfort measures. Here are some suggestion;
Take ibuprofen or aspirin.
“These medications help to lower the level of prostaglandins, which can lessen or alleviate the craps,”says Zimmer. “These drugs also cost much less than those that a doctor would prescribe for cramps,” adds frey.
Hold a heating pad to the cramped area.
“The heat will relax the muscles and soften the pain of the cramping,” says Frey.”It works best it you can lie down at the same time,” she says.
Maintain a regular aerobic exercise program.
“This doesn’t mean you have to exercise through an episode of cramps. Keeping up a regular exercise or fitness program the rest of the month seem to make these episodes less intense when they do occur,” says Frey. “Exercising also increases pelvic circulation which helps to clear out the excess prostaglandins a little faster,” adds Zimmer.
Take a hot bath.
“Just as with a heating pad, a hot bath relaxes the muscles and increases circulation to the pelvic area,” says Zimmer. It can also relieve some of the lower back pain that can accompany cramps.
Do some pelvic-tiit exercises.
“Getting down on all fours, bringing the elbows to the ground, and rocking back and forth tends to help some women,”with a retroverted uterus [one the is more swollen and puts more pressure on the back],” he adds.
Take to your doctor about birth control pills.
“Birth control pills help to suppress ovulation , which lessens the severity of menstrual cramps,”says Zimmer.”It is really not certain why they help so much ,” adds Frey.”It could be that by lessening the flow and length of a woman’s period, the cramps are lessened as well,” she continues. Birth control pills are not without side effects, however, and certain women should not use them , so be sure to discuss them thoroughly with your doctor.
Please Help Us spread the word... THANKS!