Painful periods treatment

Dyspareunia

Dyspareunia is the medical term for the painful intercourse marked by persistent and recurrent genital pain that occurs just before, during or after the intercourse. Dyspareunia is usually very distressful for the women, and according to some researches, one of five women faces this problem.

Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for the painful periods. Problems during the menstruation can be various. Some women may have excessive menstrual flow; some stoppage of menstrual flow, but many women have painful menstruation and menstrual cramps. Other problems that may also occur are faintness, returns, insomnia, fever, gaining weight, as well as infection.

Dysmenorrhea can be divided into two groups: primary and secondary. Primary does not occur because of some other medical condition, but appears independently. Most women are affected by this kind of dysmenorrhea. On the other side, secondary dysmenorrhea is usually caused by other illnesses, such as endometriosis and fibroids.

Home treatment of dysmenorrhea

It is not always necessary to go and visit a doctor when menstrual period is painful. There are some things that a woman can do alone at her house to relieve the pain without taking any medicines. For example, if a woman takes a heating pad and places it on her lower abdomen, it can be very effective in lessening the pain. It is very important to stay awake while doing this. Furthermore, the pain in the lower abdomen can be reduced by the circular massage in that area.

Drinking warm beverages and eating light meals frequently can be very beneficial also for a woman with dysmenorrhea. It is recommended to avoid salt and sugar in the diet, as well as alcohol and coffee. Moreover, the diet has to contain a lot of fruits and vegetable, as well as whole grains, because this food is rich in complex carbohydrates.

Of the supplements, vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium are the most effective. If a woman with painful period is lying, it is advisable to raise her legs, or to lie on the side while bending her knees, because it can decrease the pain. Warm baths may also help. In case when the pain is strong, ibuprofen is one of the over-the-counter drugs that much helps.

Medications for dysmenorrhea

In the case when pain is severe, accompanied with fever and foul-smelling vaginal discharge, and when the home treatment is not effective in relieving the pain, it is important to visit the doctor who will prescribe some medication. Usually, antibiotics and antidepressants are prescribed, but sometimes, contraceptive pills can be very good in the treatment of dysmenorrhea also.

Meclofenamate, an anti-inflammatory drug, and codeine, a pain reliever, are also very effective in reducing the pain. To diagnose dysmenorrhea, certain tests have to be performed, such as blood test with CBC cultures, laparoscopy and ultrasound. In some serious cases, even a surgery is necessary, for example, to remove cysts, polyps, adhesions, endometriosis, or fibroids, or a complete hysterectomy.