Treatment for Dysmenorrhea | Painful Periods | Menstrual Cramps Relief | Dallas, Texas

This article originally appeared on http://obgynplano.com on September 29, 2011  Treatment for Dysmenorrhea | Painful Periods | Menstrual Cramps Relief | Dallas, TexasSevere Menstrual Cramps? A group of local Plano OBGYN doctors (http://obgynplano.com near Dallas,Texas) offer information about the causes of painful periods and promising treatment for dysmenorrhea.For some of us, those dreadful menstrual cramps are a sign that our period is lurking just around thebend, and then occur in sync with the first few days of our cycle. Like our mothers and grandmothersbefore us, this is just one of the beautiful and ugly parts of being a woman. But what does it mean whenyour pain becomes life changing, and alarming, causing the mere idea of getting up and out to send youinto a panic? You see your OBGYN. Painful periods, or dysmenorrhea as it is medically referred to, affects about 50% of women of post-pubescent age, and is most common in women during their early to mid-twenties. The occurrence of these severe menstrual cramps tapers off as a woman ages and most commonly disappears once a woman has reached her thirties. Dysmenorrhea is often used by a woman to describe her cramps as debilitating. Dysmenorrhea is further divided into two categories one being Primary Dysmenorrhea, and the other being Secondary Dysmenorrhea. Upon visiting with your OBGYN you will be diagnosed among one or the other. Of the 50% of women suffering from painful periods, 85% will be diagnosed with Primary Dysmenorrhea.Primary Dysmenorrhea is usually the diagnosis if your OBGYN is unable to find any internal obstructionor problem that may be causing painful periods and severe menstrual cramps. Primary dysmenorrheausually becomes a problem between 12 months and 2 years following a woman’s first cycle. The painfulmenstrual cramps usually begin a few hours prior to or just after the onset of menstruation. Pain is mostsevere during the first 2 days of the cycle. Characteristically the pain is described as spasmodic in natureand strongest over the lower abdomen and lower back. In severe cases the menstrual pain is also felt inthe thighs. The pain is most commonly referred to as “labor-like” and accompanied by nausea, diarrhea,fatigue, and headache. Symptoms that occasionally accompany these painful periods are anxiety anddizziness. Seldom do any symptoms persist beyond the third day of the cycle. Though PrimaryDysmenorrhea does not appear to be prevented by any amount of or lack of activity, a few activitiesseem to help with menstrual cramps relief:• Avoid stressful situations• Take a warm bath, or use a warm compress• Go for long slow paced walks• Avoid fatty foods• Participating in Yoga• Pain-relieving medications• Oral contraceptivesSecondary Dysmenorrhea will be the diagnoses if your OBGYN finds that the pain is caused by somesort of gynecological problem. Secondary Dysmenorrhea does not begin shortly after a woman’s firstcycle, but usually 3+ years following. The painful menstruation is likely to begin at the onset of the cycleand last throughout the entirety of menstruation. The occurrence of secondary painful periods requiresmedical attention and at times medical procedures in order to help with severe menstrual cramps relief.Unlike Primary Dysmenorrhea, medical treatments are often the only hope for relief from pain. The cause

of Secondary Dysmenorrhea will determine the proper treatment of it. A few of the procedures on themarket for the treatment for dysmenorrhea include:• Intrauterine Contraceptive (Mirena)• Oral Contraceptives (such as birth control pills)• Vitamin B supplements (For pain related to lack of nutrition)• Antibiotics (for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease—also referred to as PID—or an untreated STD)• Surgery (For a Cyst, or Fibroid Tumor)• Dilation & Curettage (Removal of small amount of uterine lining, often as a cancer precaution)• Hysterectomy (if the pain is caused by a malfunctioning reproductive organ)• Endometrial Ablation (Permanent removal of uterine lining to prevent further pain and/or limit bleeding)Treatment for dysmenorrhea varies according to severity of the issue and the problem causing the pain.The bottom line is if you are suffering from abnormally painful periods, it is of utmost importance that youcheck in with you OBGYN and discuss what is causing it, and your options for pain relief.

Treatment for Dysmenorrhea | Painful Periods | Menstrual Cramps Relief | Dallas, Texas

by Women's Specialists of Plano

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Treatment for Dysmenorrhea | Painful Periods | Menstrual Cramps Relief | Dallas, Texas Document Transcript