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Gynecology regular pain can also be a disease
For many women, severe menstrual pain is not uncommon. Often, simple home remedies such as a hot water bottle or tea made from chamomile flowers help to relieve the pain. However, anyone who suffers from nasty abdominal cramps every month for days should be medically examined. Because the symptoms may be caused by a so-called "endometriosis". While this is a benign condition, treatment may not be able to cause a number of serious problems.
Almost every woman knows about regular complaints
Period pain (dysmenorrhea) is one of the most common menstrual symptoms that almost every woman has ever had. The pelvic pain can vary greatly pronounced. "In some women, they are rather dull, in others stinging or convulsive," said Christian Albring, president of the professional association of gynecologists, in an interview with the news agency "dpa". Some of these radiate, so it comes in addition to back or flank pain, as well as other symptoms such as nausea or cardiovascular weakness occur frequently. While one woman suffers only at the beginning of the period, others persist in the entire menstrual period, others have no problems at all.
Periodic pain can also be a hidden disorder. Picture: animaflora - fotolia Do not use copper spiral or copper chain
Although the pain during the period can be very restrictive and distressing for the affected women, in most cases they have no disease value. Instead, they are caused by certain hormones (prostaglandins) that control the menstrual cycle. To treat the pain, there is no panacea - it can be quite different, what women on their days as pleasant or uncomfortable. "For some women, it helps to make the days a bit calmer, cancel evening appointments after work, maybe go to bed earlier," says Albring. However, women who suffer from severe menstrual pain and pronounced bleeding are recommended to abstain from contraception to a copper spiral or copper chain, the expert continued. More rational in this case are hormonal contraceptives. Some of these could even help against the symptoms during menstruation.
In addition, there are a variety of ways to make the complaints a little more bearable. Many women are already helping heat by put a hot water bottle or a grain pillow on the lower abdomen or take a hot bath. Alternatively, a special thermal patches from the pharmacy can be used, which stores a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius for eight to ten hours, adds Imke Düdder from the Apothekerkammer in Westfalen-Lippe.
Lady's mantle tea provides warmth from the inside
Also exercise in the form of swimming, jogging, cycling or similar. can be very helpful to activate the circulation of the pelvis and thus to relieve cramps. Soothing warmth "from within" also offers a healing tea for which, for example, the leaves of mugwort, lady's mantle, yarrow or chamomile are particularly well suited. Anyone who focuses on naturopathy with regular pain can be helped by the homeopathic remedies Lachesis, Sepia and Pulsatilla. Likewise, Schuessler salts have been proven in painful cramping during menstrual period. Here, among others, the salt no. 1 (calcium fluoratum) and no. 13 (potassium arsenicosum) into consideration.
If the symptoms do not improve despite all attempts, an analgesic (eg diclofenac or ibuprofen) can also be taken. Here, according to Imke Düdder, however, should first be discussed with a doctor. This also applies if the pain suddenly becomes stronger, persists for a longer period or suddenly occurs independently of the menstrual period. For some women can hide behind the cramps and the widespread female disease endometriosis. This is usually a benign condition in which a "wild-growing" uterine lining (endometrium) settles outside the uterus and bleeds as the cycle progresses. In principle, any area may be affected, but often endometrial foci form in the lower abdominal or pelvic area, on the ovaries and fallopian tubes, in the peritoneum and in the wall of the uterus (adenomyosis). Over time, the displaced or "dislocated" tissue continues to spread, which can lead to cysts, adhesions and even infertility, said the gynecologist and president of the European Endometriosis League, Stefan Renner.
Diagnosis on average only after seven years
Since the pain initially occurs only during the bleeding, the women's disease often goes unrecognized. Only later do the symptoms last longer and are accompanied by pain in the back and during intercourse, spotting and spotting. Less frequently (in endometriosis in the bladder) there is blood in the urine and problems with urination and (in the case of a herd in the intestine) blood in the stool. According to the experts European Endometriosis League, every tenth woman in Germany is affected - yet many gynecologists would dismiss the symptoms, warns Renner. As a result, it takes on average seven years, until the disease is diagnosed, adds the physician.
Therefore, on the website of the league, women with regular symptoms can test themselves for the possibility of endometriosis. In addition, the "Endo-Test" can provide a good preparation for a subsequent visit to the gynecologist. "So you're not surprised by the questions, if you go with his suspicion to the doctor," says Renner. Because as the disease e.g. may also mean painful intercourse or conspicuous bowel movements, the physician must also ask some intimate questions. (No)