Dysmenorrhea is defined as the occurrence of painful cramps during menstruation. Abdominal pain during monthly periods is a natural phenomenon. Some amount of abdominal pain, abdominal cramps and discomfort are a common occurrence across women of all age groups. Abdominal pain & cramps are experienced more during the first day or two of the periods and subside towards the end of the periods.
Causes Of Stomach Pain During Menstruation
- Changes in hormone levels during the onset of periods cause abdominal pain
- Contraction of the uterus during the menstrual flow cause abdominal pain
- Some other reasons like indigestion, constipation, and bloating may cause abdominal pain
- Some women are also sensitive to food during periods, which may cause abdominal pain.
Home Remedies for Dysmenorrhea
Following home remedies can help relieve abdominal pain during menstrual cycle days:
- Regular exercises like yoga and stretching help ease pain during menstrual period
- Use a heating pad on your abdomen for half an hour or less to help relax the muscles in the stomach
- Soak a small towel in warm water, remove excess water and place the towel on the lower abdomen gives good relief during periods
- Lightly massage your abdomen, lower back area with finger tips to get relief from pain in periods
- Take a warm water bath or warm water shower twice a day to alleviate abdominal pain
- While sleeping on your back, ensure that your legs remain in raised position to get relief from stomach ache during periods
- If sleeping sideways, lie down with your knees tucked in towards your stomach.
- Take rest, if required, to help relieve abdominal pain
- Drink a cup of chamomile or lavender tea to lessen pain of abdominal cramps.
- Drink warm ginger root tea, warm milk, or soup to reduce cramps
- Avoid caffeine, smoking, alcohol during periods
- Drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are usually prescribed by doctors for relief from abdominal pain during periods
- Oral contraceptives also stop ovulation and get rid of cramps
- If you are overweight, please work towards reducing weight.
Please consult your physician if painful cramps persist & severe abdominal pain during periods becomes unbearable or irritating.
I cannot bear abdomen pain during menstruation. It is not only my stomach, in fact the whole body pains. Is there any way to reduce this and what are the things that I can do to reduce it.
Take rest as it may help in relieving pain both abdominal as well as body ache. Alternately drink a cup of chamomile tea twice in a day. It calms the nerves and reduces cramps in abdomen. Avoid too much of tea, coffee and other caffeinated products. Try some relaxing exercises such as yoga and meditation. A gentle body massage is also beneficial during this period.