What Causes Back Pain After Sleeping for a Short Time but Not After Sleeping for a Long Time

7 Reasons You Have Period Pain

Reviewed: January 5, 2018

What causes menstrual cramps? Most women ask this question at some time in their life. It seems that when it comes to that time of the month, mild cramps, bloating, and irritability — although nuisances — are all to be expected. However, crippling period pain, heavy bleeding, serious fatigue, and other symptoms that affect your quality of life are not.

With menstrual cramps, mild to intense abdominal cramping begins within 24 hours of the start of your period and continues for days. Symptoms of period pain include:

• Dull, constant ache
• Menstrual cramps that radiate to your lower back and thighs
• Throbbing or cramping pain in your uterus during the period

Some women also experience:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Loose bowels
• Nausea

But what causes cramps during your period? Menstrual cramps are generally categorized as "primary dysmenorrhea," which is caused by the elevated production of prostaglandins, hormones produced by the uterus that cause it to contract. When you have strong uterine contractions, the blood supply to the uterus is momentarily shut down, depriving the uterus muscle of oxygen and setting up the cycle of menstrual cramps and pain.  Some studies show that women with severe menstrual cramps have stronger uterine contractions than others do when giving birth.

According to Mayo Clinic, certain conditions such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease are associated with menstrual cramps. Endometriosis can cause fertility problems. Pelvic inflammatory disease can scar your fallopian tubes, which increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg implants outside your uterus. Other risk factors include use of an intrauterine device (IUD), uterine fibroid tumor, and sexually transmitted diseases.

If you have period pain, here are some home-care treatments to consider:

• Dietary supplementsSome findings report that natural dietary supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium may reduce period pain.
• Relaxation While emotional stress may increase your period pain, meditation and relaxation exercises can reduce their severity.
• Exercise Physical activity, particularly yoga, may ease the pain of menstrual cramps.
• Heat Try using a heating pad or microwaveable warm cozy on your abdomen during your period. Some find great period pain relief with a soak in a hot bath or shower.
• Stop smoking and avoid alcohol.Both substances have been found to make menstrual cramps much worse.

A study published in October 2017 in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies concluded that women who practiced yoga 30 minutes per day, two days a week, for 12 weeks at home had a significant improvement in menstrual pain and physical fitness over the control group. Another study, published in January 2017 in theJournal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, found that Hatha yoga practice was associated with a reduction in levels of chronic pelvic pain in women with endometriosis.

If your periods are causing you significant pain, consult your doctor, because menstrual pain can be a sign of a serious problem. Here are seven conditions known to cause painful menstrual cramps.

73

Endometriosis: A Common Cause of Severe Period Pain

Endometriosisis a gynecological condition in which endometrium-like tissue is found outside the uterus on other structures throughout the pelvis, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, pelvic floor, and in more severe cases, the bowel, diaphragm, liver, lungs, and even the brain.

According toKen R. Sinervo, MD, the medical director of the Center for Endometriosis Carein Atlanta, "We don't really know why endometriosis causes menstrual pain … [The pain] may have to do with where [the endometriosis] is located and how it presents."

Untreated endometriosis can lead to adhesions, chronic inflammation, chocolate cysts (cysts filled with blood), and internal bleeding — all of which can promptexcruciating pelvic pain. Endometriosis pain isn't limited to period pain that goes on 24/7," says Dr. Sinvero. "Many women also experience backache and other bowel symptoms, not to be confused with IBS," he added.

74

Adenomyosis: Painful Cramps and Sex

Adenomyosis is like endometriosis, except instead of the endometrium implanting itself outside of the uterus, it is found embedded deep within the uterine muscle. In women with adenomyosis, "the uterus acts like a bruised muscle," said Sinervo.Symptoms of adenomyosisinclude "painful central cramps and painful intercourse, which can hurt up until a day or two after." Adenomyosis is usually seen in women over age 30 who have already had children. "However," Sinervo added, "it has been seen in teenagers as well."

75

Uterine Fibroids: A Monthly Period Nightmare for Some

As many as three out of four women willdevelop uterine fibroids, but most will not experience any symptoms. Fibroids range in size from microscopic to large enough to distort the shape of the uterus.

"Uterine fibroids can turn monthly menses into a monthly nightmare by increasing not only the amount of bleeding, but the severity of period pain," saysLauren Streicher, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, and the author of Love Sex Again. "The reason behind the pain is that the uterus during the period must contract (cramp) to expel the large blood clots that often result from heavy bleeding," says Dr. Streicher. Fortunately, fibroids do not put women at increasedrisk of uterine cancerand very rarely become cancerous.

76

Copper IUD: Period Pain After Insertion vs. Cramps Later On

A copper IUD is a nonpermanent,nonhormonal form of birth controlthat can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years. The device, which is placed in the uterus by a licensed healthcare provider, works by continuously releasing copper, which immobilizes sperm and prevents egg implantation.

"A copper IUD, as opposed to a progestin IUD, can make menses heavier and more painful, particularly in the first few cycles after insertion," says Streicher. "But be aware — if you have had your copper IUD for years and suddenly develop severe period pain, look for another reason. Your IUD is unlikely to be the culprit."

77

Can Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Cause Menstrual Cramps?

Pelvic inflammatory diseaseis an infection of the female reproductive tract that is most commonly caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections. Left untreated, PID can cause inflammation, scarring, painful menstrual cramps, and infertility.

"[PID] most often occurs because sexually transmitted infections that cause PID can create scar tissue and adhesions in the pelvic region. Duringmenstruation,hormones influence the uterus and surrounding structures — including the scar tissue and adhesions — which can increase inflammation, bleeding, and pain," saysShilpi Agarwal, MD,a board-certified family medicine and integrative physician in Washington, DC, and acolumnist for Everyday Health. If caught early, PID can be treated with antibiotics, but antibiotics won't undo any structural damage caused by the infection. "Practice safe sex, and get tested frequently for any sexually transmitted infections, especially if you have severe period pain," Dr. Agarwal advises.

78

Uterine Defects: Structural Oddities That Can Lead to Menstrual Cramps and Infertility Too

While a female fetus is still in its mother's uterus, its own uterus develops from two structures known as Müllerian ducts. In some cases, the uterus does not form correctly, which can cause infertility, period pain, and painful intercourse. For women with structural anomalies — such as a bicornuate uterus (two uteri that lead to one cervix), septate uterus (normal uterus with a fibrous band of tissue bisecting it), unicornuate uterus (a uterus that develops from only one Müllerian duct), uterus didelphys (two uteri, two cervices, and a septum, or membrane, dividing the vaginal canal) — menstrual crampsstem from blockages and membranes dividing the uterus and vagina.

79

Period Pain Affects Half of All Women

Menstrual cramps that can't be explained by structural defect or a reproductive condition, also known as primary dysmenorrhea, occurs at some point in almost half of all menstruating women. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, these cramps are caused by increased or imbalanced levels of prostaglandins — hormone-like fatty acids that stimulate the uterus to contract during the period. Changes in prostaglandin levels can cause more intense and frequent uterine contractions, compressing nearby blood vessels and cutting off oxygen to the uterus, thus causing painful cramps and discomfort.

What Causes Back Pain After Sleeping for a Short Time but Not After Sleeping for a Long Time

Source: https://www.everydayhealth.com/pictures/reasons-your-period-might-painful/

Share this post