Menstrual cramps are characterized by intense pain in the lower abdominal area that can appear the days before the arrival of the rule and during it.
They are more common in young girls, especially those who have just menarched, and the intensity of pain usually decreases with age. There are those who simply consider PMS a simple nuisance and for those who become a much more important disorder that prevents them from carrying out their daily lives normally. In addition to abdominal pain, there are other symptoms that accompany menstrual cramps:
- muscle pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- -Loss of appetite
- -Anxiety or nervousness
- Increased urge to urinate
- Dizziness
Factors that increase menstrual cramps
Although any woman can suffer from these ailments, it is true that there are a number of factors that can make us more prone to them:
- Having an irregular menstruation
- Suffer menorrhagia, very abundant rules
- Having menarche very soon, around 10 years of age
- Being in adolescence
- Smoking, drinking alcohol and not doing any type of physical exercise increase the chances of having menstrual cramps
Why do menstrual cramps occur?
Every month the body prepares to be fertilized and if this does not happen, the inner layer that covers the uterus comes off and is expelled in the form of menstruation. Prostaglandins are substances that are responsible for causing the contractions necessary for this detachment of the endometrium. The higher the level of prostaglandins in our body, the more cramps we will suffer.
Remedies for menstrual cramps
- Taking anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and paracetamol will reduce the pain of cramps.
- Applying heat to the abdominal area with an electric blanket, for example, will provide relief.
- Exercising during menstruation will be of great help to alleviate cramps in addition to avoiding other symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome.
- Eat foods rich in vitamins such as fruit and vegetables, along with fish, whole grains and nuts.
- If the cramps are very strong, we should go to our doctor to prescribe the most effective and see if the pain may be caused by other causes:
- pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids or endometriosis among others.
