How Do We Reduce Menstrual Pain?

We all know that menstrual pain is a situation that women often encounter. Due to both hormonal and hereditary reasons, women are often in pain during these periods. Unfortunately, this situation negatively affects women's daily lives and causes them to be isolated from the social environment. For this reason, it is a situation that every woman desires to spend this period in the most comfortable way in terms of both individual and social psychology. So how can women spend this period in the lightest way? Of course, in addition to medical drugs, some precautions will also help to overcome this period both physiologically and psychologically. However, before all this, we will recognize menstrual pain, determine its causes and explain the methods of reducing the pain.

Keywords: Causes of Menstrual Pain, Menstrual Pain Symptoms, Methods for Reducing Menstrual Pain

What Causes Menstrual Pain?

During the menstrual period, contractions occur in the uterus for the controlled discharge of menstrual bleeding. For this reason, blood flow and oxygen to this area are also reduced. The most important cause of menstrual pain is the decrease in oxygen in the body. This pain is felt at slight intervals with contractions in the abdomen. Therefore, anything that will accelerate blood circulation is good for menstrual pain.

Although the cause of menstrual pain is generally known as a decrease in oxygen, it would be appropriate to briefly state here that some diseases also affect the severity of the pain. These diseases are generally:

• Cervical stenosis: In some women, the opening of the cervix is ​​so small that it interferes with menstrual flow. For this reason, this opening causes an increase in the pressure in the uterus, resulting in more severe pain.
• Endometriosis: It is called endometriosis when the tissue covering the uterus goes out of the uterus and develops and settles on the fallopian tubes, ovaries or other tissues covering the pelvis. It can also lead to the formation of chocolate cysts in the future. In addition to causing painful menstruation, endometriosis also causes pain during sexual intercourse.
• Uterine fibroids: Made up of muscle and fibrous tissue in the wall of the uterus, uterine fibroids are some tumors that are not cancerous but can be firm and large. Those with uterine fibroids may therefore experience more severe pain during menstruation.
• Adenomyosis: In this disease, the pain intensity can be observed more in the individual as the tissue covering the uterus starts to grow towards the muscle walls of the uterus.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease: This infection of the female reproductive organs is usually caused by sexually transmitted bacteria. For this reason, women can seriously feel menstrual pain.

As can be seen, the biggest cause of menstrual pain is the decrease in oxygen in the body, causing pain in the groin. Some diseases seen in women can also affect the severity of this pain, so women should see a specialist gynecologist as soon as they feel it.

So, how is this menstrual pain, which affects women's lives significantly, and what are its symptoms? We have briefly explained this issue in our article below.

Symptoms of Menstrual Pain

Some of the women may be seriously ill during this period and this pain affects their quality of life. However, some symptoms of pain observed in women in general are:

• Pain felt intensely in the lower abdomen.
• Some pains that started before the menstrual period and continued after.
• A feeling of heaviness in the body.
• Pain in the legs.
• Cramps felt in the lumbar region.
• Nausea.
• Dizziness and headaches.
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

As reported, most of the women are exposed to serious pain that affects their social life during this period, while some of them can get through this period quite lightly. For women who spend this period in a very painful way, not being able to enjoy life and accompanying mental breakdowns can also be experienced.

Ways to Reduce Menstrual Pain

It is a fact that women will be exposed to this type of pain as long as they have their period. However, there are some ways to relieve and treat this pain. These methods, which we will briefly explain below, are methods that women can apply on their own at home without taking any painkillers. Let's take a quick look at these methods:

• Hot water: Hot water is a substance that accelerates blood flow. For this reason, taking a hot shower or placing hot water bags on the abdomen is known as one of the most favorite applications of women in this period.
• Exercises for relaxation: Lie down on your bed and relax by relaxing your body. While doing this, be careful to take slow and deep breaths while focusing on your breathing. Since the body and muscles are tense due to aches and pains, relaxation exercises will relax you and greatly reduce your pain.
• A sporty life: A sporty life will make you feel painless and relax you as it triggers the release of endorphins.
• During this period, some foods to be taken in addition to these methods are also good for menstrual pain. These foods are as follows:
• Ginger: As it is known, ginger is one of the most important nutrients used in many diseases. However, it does not seem easy to consume alone due to its bitter taste. For this reason, consuming ginger tea by drinking it will make it easier for you to get this nutrient. Peel the ginger and throw it into the boiling water, add lemon and boil it for a minute or two more. If you wish, you can also add honey to sweeten it. Consuming three or four glasses of ginger tea a day will allow you to spend this period with milder pain.
• Basil: Basil is also a food that is good for menstrual pain and many pains along with it. It is a very important nutrient because it accelerates blood flow in the brain. This nutrient also increases concentration and increases brain speed in the individual. In addition, this nutrient is also good for menstrual pain as it accelerates blood flow. Women during menstruation can relax by drinking the tea of ​​this food. Boil the water and add the basil. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then consume. You will see that this basil tea will greatly reduce your aches and pains.
• Cinnamon: Another food that is good for menstrual pain is cinnamon. Consuming cinnamon and other foods mentioned above by drinking its tea will be good for your aches and pains felt during this period. Throw a spoonful of cinnamon into boiling water and after it dissolves, add honey to sweeten it, if desired. Consuming three to four glasses of this tea a day will also greatly reduce your menstrual pain.
• Sugarcane molasses: Sugarcane molasses is one of the foods that is good for many diseases. Especially during covid-19, this food is important in terms of keeping the immune system very strong. Sugarcane molasses is effective in soothing the uterine wall muscles by reducing blood clotting. In this way, the menstrual pains are greatly reduced in the individual and after a while it begins to be felt at all.
• Chamomile tea: Chamomile tea is an important food in reducing fatigue and calming the body. For this reason, chamomile tea that you will consume during your menstrual period will calm you greatly and help you get through this period more comfortably.
• Parsley: Parsley is one of the important foods that reduces menstrual pain. Consuming this food by drinking tea will greatly alleviate your pain. Add a few sprigs of parsley to 250ml of water and boil for 5 minutes. Consume after cooling. If you consume 2 cups of this tea a day, you will see that your pain will be greatly reduced.
• As a result, the methods to reduce menstrual pain at home are as we mentioned above. Some precautions to be taken and some foods to be consumed will help you get through this period easily. However, we would like to add that, despite all these methods we have mentioned, if you do not observe a decrease and relief in your pain, it will be the right decision for you to receive treatment under the control of a specialist gynecologist.