Calming Menstrual Cramps
It’s that time of the month again and you’re cramping something furious. Sitting in bed all day isn’t the best solution. And putting a heating pad on your stomach is so 1980’s. Why do women have to deal with this pain?! Ugh!
Primary dysmenorrhea is known as the cramping pain in the lower abdomen that occurs before or during menstruation, in the absence of another medical condition like endometriosis. The condition is estimated to be present in 40 to 50 percent of young women.
In one study of college women, 42 percent of the study subjects reported absenteeism or loss of activity on at least one occasion, with a small percentage of women who missed work or school for a given monthly menstrual cycle. Dysmenorrhea accounted for 600 million lost work hours and $2 billion in lost productivity annually, according to one older study.
Women with primary dysmenorrhea have increased production of endometrial prostaglandin, resulting in increased uterine tone and stronger, more frequent uterine contractions. The condition is triggered by endometrial sloughing. The disintegrating endometrial cells release uterine prostaglandins as menstruation begins. The uterine prostaglandins stimulates contractions and nerve endings, which equals cramps.
The condition is treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications with the addition of oral contraceptive pills if needed. These medications work to block the production and release of prostaglandins that are responsible for pesky cramps.
Some natural alternatives include magnesium and ginger. Women saw a decline in symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea after taking magnesium for six months, according to a Europe PMC study. And one gynecological study found taking ginger resulted in reduced pain intensity for women with dysmenorrhea.
I recently started taking magnesium citrate and it does have a calming effect in that I wasn’t overly crampy (yes, that may not be a word). I don’t usually take ginger because I thought it has been known to increase blood flow as a stimulant, but maybe a little in moderation is fine. But I encourage you to find a natural solution that works for you.
