The pain is not in your head! Even though your doctor may have led you to believe so.... Menstrual cramps are the result of a rise in prostaglandin right before menstruation which triggers muscle contractions in your uterus to expel the lining through your cervix. The prostaglandins are necessary for menstruation...but when in excess, these contractions can cause pain and inflammation. It can also be due to other conditions:
1) Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is a common condition thatβs caused by hormonal changes in the body occurring 1 to 2 weeks before menstruation begins. Symptoms typically go away after bleeding begins.
2) Endometriosis. This is a painful medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body, usually on the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or tissue lining the pelvis.
3) Fibroids in the uterus. Fibroids are noncancerous tumors that can put pressure on the uterus or cause abnormal menstruation and pain
4) Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries often caused by sexually transmitted bacteria that cause inflammation of the reproductive organs and pain.
5) Adenomyosis. This is a rare condition in which the uterine lining grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, causing inflammation, pressure, and pain. It can also cause longer or heavier periods.
6) Cervical stenosis. Cervical stenosis is a rare condition in which the cervix is so small or narrow that it slows menstrual flow, causing an increase of pressure inside the uterus that causes pain.
ππ½ Things you can try for making cramps more bearable: 1) Magnesium -- a nutrient important for hormonal health 2) B-vitamins -- important for stress management, crucial in so many pathways in the body including hormones! 3) Omega 3s - have an anti-inflammatory effect and can potentially help lower the intensity of cramps. ππ½ Pro-tip: do a sugar and processed food detox for 30 days. I would say 80-90% of women will have a pain-free menstrual cycle following that detox!
ππ½ A game-changer for many women has been to switch from pads and tampons to menstrual cups or cloth napkins.
Comment below with your favorite tool to lower period pain!
Most of all.... don't suffer in silence. Menstrual pain is common but not normal. Find a doctor willing to support you to figuring out why you're in pain and helping you get rid of it.