A large proportion of women suffer from severe pain during menstruation. Painful menstruation negatively affects women’s quality of life and interferes with their daily performance. In order to spend the menstrual period comfortably, many important points should be considered, from medication intake to healthy nutrition and exercise planning.
The uterus is an organ made of muscle tissue. During menstrual bleeding, it contracts a little to prevent excessive bleeding and to restrict blood loss, and these contractions are felt as pain in women. The intensity of these contractions can be too much for some women and they cannot tolerate this pain. There are some substances secreted locally in the uterus that trigger these contractions. Excessive secretion of these substances, especially on the first day of the menstrual period, causes pain in women. These pains, which are very severe on the first day, gradually decrease in the following days. Pain can be prevented with the use of drugs that affect the release mechanism of these substances.
Painkillers are usually the first choice in the treatment of menstrual pain. The painkillers also reduce bleeding to some extent, but this does not cause any harm. It is absolutely out of the question for painkillers to damage the ovaries or cause infertility. Women also believe that when they use painkillers, the dirty blood stays inside, which is nothing but an urban legend. It is recommended that women use medication instead of experiencing pain. When using painkillers, medication must be taken with a doctor’s recommendation. Taking medication with the advice of friends and acquaintances can cause unwanted effects on the body.
The first option for painkillers that can be used for menstrual pains is the paracetamol group. This group of drugs is preferred primarily because they can be easily used in patients with stomach complaints. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are another option and must be taken on a full stomach. Medicines to be used for menstrual pain should be taken before menstrual pain starts or when it has just started, while the pain is still low and should be used regularly even if there is no pain. Regular nutrition and changes in the foods consumed during menstruation can also be beneficial for reducing menstrual pain. A low-fat diet, increased intake of dairy products and vitamin supplements during menstruation can help reduce menstrual cramps.