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Painful menstrual periods

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Menstruation - painful; Dysmenorrhea; Periods - painful; Cramps - menstrual; Menstrual cramps

Home Care:

The following steps may allow you to avoid prescription medications:

• Apply a heating pad to your lower abdomen (below your belly-button). Be careful NOT to fall asleep with it on.
• Take warm showers or baths.
• Drink warm beverages.
• Do light circular massage with your fingertips around your lower abdomen.
• Walk or exercise regularly, including pelvic rocking exercises.
• Follow a diet rich in complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, but low in salt, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.
• Eat light but frequent meals.
• Try over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen.
• Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.
• Try vitamin B-6, calcium, and magnesium supplements, especially if your pain is from PMS.
• Keep your legs elevated while lying down. Or lie on your side with knees bent.

If these self-care measures do not work, your doctor may prescribe medications such as:

• Stronger anti-inflammatories like diclofenac (Cataflam)
• Antidepressants
• Birth control pills
• Antibiotics
• Stronger pain relievers (even narcotics such as codeine, for brief periods)

Call your health care provider if:

Call your doctor right away if:

• You have a fever.
• Vaginal discharge is increased in amount or foul-smelling.
• Your pain is significant, your period is over one week late, and you have been sexually active.

Also call your doctor if:

• Your pain is severe or sudden.
• Self-care measures don't relieve your pain after 3 months.
• You pass blood clots or have other symptoms with the pain.
• Your pain occurs at times other than menstruation, begins more than 5 days prior to your period, or continues after your period is over.
• You have an IUD that was placed more than 3 months ago.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your doctor will examine you, paying close attention to your pelvis and abdomen, and ask questions about your medical history and current symptoms, such as:

• How old were you when your periods started?
• Have they always been painful? If not, when did the pain begin?
• When in your menstrual cycle do you experience the pain?
• Is the pain sharp, dull, intermittent, constant, aching, or cramping?
• Are you sexually active?
• Do you use birth control? What type?
• When was your last menstrual period?
• Was the flow of your last menstrual period a normal amount for you?
• Do your periods tend to be heavy or prolonged (lasting longer than 5 days)?
• Have you passed blood clots?
• Are your periods generally regular and predictable?
• Do you use tampons with menstruation?
• What have you done to try to relieve the discomfort? How effective was it?
• Does anything make the pain worse?
• Do you have any other symptoms?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• Blood tests including CBC
• Ultrasound
• Laparoscopy
• Cultures (may be taken to rule out sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea , primary syphilis , or chlamydia infections)

Birth control pills may be prescribed to alleviate menstrual pain . If not needed for birth control, they may be discontinued after 6 to 12 months. Many women note continued freedom from symptoms despite stopping the medication.

Surgery may be necessary for women who are unable to obtain adequate pain relief or pain control. Procedures may range from removal of cysts , polyps, adhesions , or fibroids to complete hysterectomy in cases of extreme endometriosis .

Prescription medications may be used for endometriosis. For pain caused by an IUD, removal of the IUD and alternative birth control methods may be needed.

Antibiotics are necessary for pelvic inflammatory disease .

References:

Mahutte NG. Medical management of endometriosis-associated pain. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am . 2003; 30(1): 133-150.

French L. Dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician . 2005; 71(2): 285-291.

Rakel D. Integrative Medicine . 1st edition. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2003:385.

• Review Date: 2/27/2006
• Reviewed By: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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