Primary dysmenorrhea is caused by excess prostaglandins, resulting in extreme pain and cramping during menstruation. Natural remedies like heating pads and vitamin C can help, while prescription medications can lower prostaglandin levels. Up to 50% of women may suffer from primary dysmenorrhea, with symptoms lasting for about three days.
Primary dysmenorrhea is a type of menstruation specifically triggered by excess prostaglandins and characterized by extreme pain and cramping. Prostaglandins are present in every woman who menstruates. These chemical compounds, which act like hormones, are needed to make the uterus contract slightly so that the blood-filled uterine lining can be shed every 28 days as part of the menstrual cycle. When too many prostaglandins are produced, the contractions and cramps are so strong that they cause discomfort and intense pain resulting in primary dysmenorrhea. This type of dysmenorrhea is distinct from secondary dysmenorrhea, which is caused by disease or trauma in the pelvic region.
Doctors have not fully discovered what causes the uterus to produce the overabundance of prostaglandins responsible for primary dysmenorrhea. In addition to contributing to back and stomach pain, the condition can also reduce or stop circulation to most of the blood vessels that serve the uterus. Additional side effects associated with primary dysmenorrhea include vomiting, headache, and fainting. Diarrhea and a general sense of exhaustion are also possible.
There are natural and pharmaceutical remedies to relieve the pain of primary dysmenorrhea. Some women use heating pads to relieve cramps in the lower back and pelvic region. Others employ vitamin C from foods such as grapefruit, oranges, or red and yellow peppers to relieve pain. Those who prefer supplemental vitamin C typically aim for at least 1,000 mg per day a few days before their period and throughout its duration. Other vitamins that nutritionists recommend for primary dysmenorrhea relief include vitamin E and vitamin B6.
Prescription medications are available that are designed to stem dysmenorrhea by lowering the body’s prostaglandin levels and balancing the hormones in the body. Birth control pills or injections, for example, are often prescribed to reduce prostaglandin production. To relieve severe pain, the prescription drug naproxen sodium is often used. Anti-inflammatory substances such as aspirin or ibuprofen-containing tablets are the most common drugstore drugs that can be purchased without a prescription for moderate pain relief.
Some medical centers estimate that up to 50 percent of all women may suffer from primary dysmenorrhea, with about 10 percent experiencing excruciating levels of suffering. Symptoms frequently begin during the teenage years and can last until menopause for some women. Those with recurring bouts of dysmenorrhea have the condition for about three days at a time. Sometimes blood clots are transmitted during dysmenorrhea. Doctors say primary dysmenorrhea is linked only to menstrual cycles in which ovulation occurred.
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