Dysmenorrhoea

Background

Period pain is usually like a cramp in the lower part of your abdomen. Most women suffer it to some extent
but about 7 per cent are badly affected. It may start some days before your period or as you start bleeding.
Girls and young women usually find it affects them in the first two days, whereas older women find it gets
worse during their period.

You may find you also get sickness and diarrhoea, headache, pain travelling down your legs, tiredness
and mood changes.

There are two kinds:

• Primary ‘spasmodic’ dysmenorrhoea: cramping pain typically affecting teenage girls,
  starts within a year of the first period.

• Secondary dysmenorrhoea: period pain often associated with a disease condition such as fibroids, pelvic infection,   narrowing of the cervix, endometriosis, an IUD (contraceptive coil).

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose the condition correctly your GP may ask questions about the pain and its relationship to
PMS and other problems. You may have a pelvic examination. If your GP – or you – is unsure or treatment
has failed, you may be referred to a gynaecologist for further examination and possibly tests such as an
ultrasound scan or laparoscopy.

Treatment

Try simple home remedies such as:

• heat (hot bath and/or hot water bottle);
• massaging your abdomen round and round;
• exercise (fast walking, cycling, swimming, dancing);
• avoid tension-inducing food and drink including salt, sugar, tea, coffee and alcohol;
• try vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil;
• take an over the counter painkiller.

Medical treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea may include drugs to stop the production of the chemicals
believed to cause period pain. These are less effective in secondary. Other options are the oral
contraceptive pill, progestogens, either by mouth or as an IUD.

(The Mirena coil slowly releases a progestogen directly into the womb), or sometimes other hormonal treatments.

If period pain is linked to other conditions, these need to be treated. It is important to seek help if you
do have concerns.

CAM TREATMENT

The following treatments may be beneficial:

• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Craniosacral therapy
• Herbal therapy
• Homeopathy

 

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