Dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea is a popular health challenge encountered by young women. It can be described as stitching cramps in the lower abdomen area experienced at the beginning of a menstrual cycle without any distinguishable pelvic infection. Secondary dysmenorrhea which refers to excruciating menses as a result of pelvic pathology like endometriosis.
Primary dysmenorrhea is ranked among the most frequent gynecological complications in menstruating young females. According to Andrew S. Coco, director of the obstetric unit at the Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital, the condition usually commences six to 12 months after menstruation, with the highest rates happening between late teenage years up to the early twenties. It is so frequent even though many women are unable to disclose this during clinical interviews, even after everyday normal activities are affected. The concern of absenteeism from classes or workplace is underrated. A study conducted on college students shows that 42% of the women reported absenteeism and loss of daily activities for a given monthly menstrual Cycle. Few risk factors are connected with more extreme cycles of dysmenorrhea such as smoking, obesity and alcohol consumption.
Primary dysmenorrhea symptoms include lower back or pelvic pain commencing six to 12 months after menstruation, lower back pain, vomiting, diarrhea nausea, headache and fatigue. Generally, the pain is experienced eight to 72 hours after the start of menses. Family history is important in helping distinguish primary from secondary dysmenorrhea. Patients with a family history of endometriosis are at a high risk of suffering from secondary dysmenorrhea. Most secondary conditions can be identified by getting information such as length of a cycle, intrauterine contraceptive devices and the consistency and of the pain. Typically, it is possible to distinguish dysmenorrhea from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) founded on the patient’s medical history.
The most suitable remedy in patients with dysmenorrhea is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). They work by preventing the production and release of prostaglandins, the hormones responsible for initiating uterine contractions. Response to these drugs takes 30 to 60 minutes on average. As individual reactions may differ, drug of a different class may be administered when pain persists. In severe and recurrent cases, a combination of oral contraceptives and NSAID is administered.
References
Bernardi, M., Lazzeri, L., Perelli, F., Reis, F. M., & Petraglia, F. (2017). Dysmenorrhea and related disorders. F1000Research, 6.
Saremi, A., Zamanian, M., Soltani, L., & Pooladi, A. (2018). Pelvic Splenosis Mimicking Endometriosis; Dysmenorrhea an Endometrioma-like Mass in Sonography. Sarem Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 2(3), 127-131.
Yang, M., Chen, X., Bo, L., Lao, L., Chen, J., Yu, S., … & Yang, J. (2017). Moxibustion for pain relief in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS One, 12(2), e0170952.