We talk about dysmenorrhea when we have painful menstruation that can also be accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea and migraines.
It is common among adolescents and approximately half of women suffer from it at some point in their lives. Any woman can suffer from it, although depending on the type of habits we wear, we may be more or less prone; For example, if you are a smoker, are overweight, or had menarche before the age of 11, you are more likely to have it.
There are two types of dysmenorrhea, primary and secondary.
Primary dysmenorrhea
- The pain is sharp and comes in the form of spasms. It usually appears one to two days before the arrival of menstruation and disappears just at the end of the first day.
- It is normal among adolescents and young women, and although symptoms decrease over time, it usually lasts until the onset of menopause.
- Taking anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, calms the pain, as well as leading a healthy lifestyle. It is advisable not to smoke, not to drink alcohol or caffeine during those days and to practice some type of exercise.
- It is convenient to go to the doctor, since he can prescribe some hormonal treatment, such as the contraceptive pill, which in many cases will help us to reduce the disorder caused by dysmenorrhea.
Secondary dysmenorrhea
- The pain is more continuous and appears about a week before the menstrual phase, and can remain throughout the cycle.
- Unlike primary dysmenorrhea, it usually appears at a later age, over 30 years of age, and as a consequence of some other organic problem. The most common diseases that can cause it are endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease among others. That is why it is essential to see a doctor to discover the cause and treat it.
