Dymenorrhea, most girls have experienced it and feel it is normal, but it seems that the degree of dysmenorrhea is not exactly the same every time.
For example, once or twice, the pain is particularly severe.
Or maybe, I’ve never had pain before, and suddenly one day it started to hurt silently.
What’s going on here? Is it bad health, or is it sick?
Sisters who are suffering from dysmenorrhea, you can see if you have these characteristics when you have dysmenorrhea:
● Never, or rarely, had dysmenorrhea before, and only started dysmenorrhea after age 25;
● Dysmenorrhea is progressively worse, that is, it is more painful each time;
● Dysmenorrhea is so severe that even NSAIDs such as ibuprofen will not help;
● The pain started before menstruation and peaked a few days after menstruation. The pain seriously affected life, accompanied by abdominal distension, lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms.
These features all suggest secondary dysmenorrhea[1].
Seeing this, some people may ask: What is secondary dysmenorrhea? What if I have secondary dysmenorrhea?
Dymenorrhea is divided into primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea.
Primary dysmenorrhea is dysmenorrhea without disease and usually occurs within 6-24 months of or after menarche.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is caused by organic disease, usually occurs several years after menarche, and is more dangerous than primary dysmenorrhea [2].
Symptoms associated with secondary dysmenorrhea may indicate some disease, such as:
● Endometriosis;
● Adenomyosis;
So if your dysmenorrhea occurs many years after menarche, and you are suffering every time you have your period, you must go to the obstetrics and gynecology department in time to ask a doctor about it. Check to find out the cause.
In addition to disease factors, secondary dysmenorrhea may also be related to the IUD. The main adverse reactions of the IUD are menorrhagia and secondary pain [2].
There are also secondary dysmenorrhea, which are related to some congenital malformations such as hymen atresia and cervical stenosis, but dysmenorrhea caused by congenital malformations is generally diagnosed in the 1-2 cycle after menarche Discover.
First, don’t be nervous.
Occasionally, dysmenorrhea worsens, or sudden dysmenorrhea, as long as the pain does not seriously affect the quality of life, or even to the point of cold sweat and fainting, you can relax.
Because it may be caused by the cold environment or the stimulation of mental stress[3].
At this point we can do the following:
Tips for menstrual cramps
Oral NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, generally relieve most pain;
Put a warm baby or a hot water bottle on the tummy through clothes;
Relieve emotional stress and don’t make yourself too anxious;
Moderate exercise, such as stretching, yoga, walking;
Don’t overwork and get enough sleep.
Secondly, after menstruation, you should also pay attention to adjusting your diet, work and rest and mood, exercise regularly, and then pay attention to observe the next menstrual situation.
But seek immediate medical attention or a gynecologist if:
● Severe lower abdominal pain during menstruation, accompanied by paleness, cold sweats, and even fainting.
● Severe menstrual pain with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In addition, if you have these symptoms, it is recommended to see a gynecologist as soon as possible:
● Dysmenorrhea gradually worsens, often starts before menstruation, symptoms worsen 1-2 days after menstruation, pain lasts for the entire menstrual period, and sometimes the dysmenorrhea does not end after menstruation;
● Dysmenorrhea with lower abdomenPain, bloating, backache, pain during intercourse, and even irregular abdominal pain during non-menstrual period;
● Dysmenorrhea seriously affects normal work and life, and painkillers cannot completely relieve it;
● Dysmenorrhea is accompanied by heavy menstrual flow, and the total menstrual volume is more than 80ml. Intuitively speaking, it means that the amount of menstrual blood is very large every day of the menstrual period, and it can stop in about 1 to 2 hours. Saturate the entire sanitary napkin.
But having said so much, please don’t scare yourself, let alone give yourself a conclusion of “secondary dysmenorrhea”. If you have abnormal dysmenorrhea, you must go to the hospital in time Check and let a doctor diagnose.
Because secondary dysmenorrhea is usually related to organic lesions, its diagnosis is mainly through pelvic examination and related auxiliary examinations, such as B-ultrasound, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and Biochemical tests, etc., can find the corresponding cause.
If you are diagnosed with secondary dysmenorrhea, you can get rid of dysmenorrhea as soon as possible by following the doctor’s advice and treating the primary disease.
Menstruation is a “barometer” of women’s health. I hope you don’t ignore the pain of menstruation and take good care of your body.
Reviewer
Liu Haifang| Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University
References
[1] Yu Qi, Deng Shan. Xiehe Gynecological Endocrinology Manual. Beijing: People’s Health Publishing House, 2018.
[2] Xu Congjian, Hua Keqin. Practical Obstetrics and Gynecology (4th Edition) [M]. People’s Health Publishing House, 2018.
[3]Cao Zeyi. Chinese Obstetrics and Gynecology[M]. People’s Health Publishing House, 2014.
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