Do you have a period pain question you would like to ask our health experts? All answers are treated confidentially.
Advice Period Pain
Menstrual Cycle or Period or Bleed Each month the uterus prepares for pregnancy and an egg is released from the ovary. If the egg is not fertilised by a sperm the lining of the uterus (called the Endometrium) is not needed. Hormones start to change in the body and the current lining of the uterus breaks down. The lining of the uterus passes out through the vagina as a bleed or period. These periods are an essential part of a woman’s fertility; the pain is an unfortunate side effect for many. This cycle starts in puberty and happens each month unless the woman becomes pregnant. Periods end during the menopause. Advice Period Pain. Unlike most illnesses, period pain is going to recur frequently (monthly!!) throughout the majority of a woman life and so a good understanding of the process and how to manage the pain is crucial. Painful Periods or menstrual cramps are called Dysmenorrhoea. Dysmenorrhoea can be divided into Primary Dysmenorrhoea and Secondary Dysmenorrhoea This is the most common type of period pain and it usually affects women from the onset of their periods into their twenties. It describes period pain in an otherwise healthy woman. This type of period pain occurs in a normal uterus as it squeezes and contracts to expel the lining. If the egg is released during ovulation and then isn’t fertilized, hormones are released to signal to the uterus to get rid of this months lining as it isn’t needed. This hormone is called Prostaglandin and its release helps the uterus to contract. Although the cause of pain is not exactly known, it is thought that these mini contractions of the uterus affect its blood supply and this causes pain. Higher levels of the hormone Prostaglandin have been found in women who experience painful period whereas women who have little or no pain have been found to have lower levels of Prostaglandin. Advice Period Pain. Interestingly when a girl first starts having periods she may not experience pain as the pain usually accompanies periods caused by the ovulation process as described above and the first few periods may be menstrual bleeding without ovulation. Symptoms of period pain (Primary Dysmenorrhoea)
Advice Period Pain. Treatment for Primary Dysmenorrhoea The right treatment for you will depend on the severity of your symptoms and what works for you! Caffeine may make you more irritable and tense. Alcohol is a depressant and can make you feel more depressed though on the other hand it can have a relaxing and calming effect which some may find helpful. Eating a diet rich in iron will help those susceptible to anaemia. Red meat, fish, pulses and red wine are all good sources of iron. Try to relax! Stress can make any pain more difficult to cope with. Meditation, yoga or maybe just getting into a good film can help you relax and feel you can cope with the pain. Some people find that Lavender helps them to relax but be careful as Lavender can cause headaches in some people. Drink plenty of water to stop you becoming bloated! If you drink plenty of water your body doesn’t feel the need the hang onto it at all costs and just passes the majority through your system. Your own doctor will be able to advise you on which painkillers will be the most appropriate and beneficial for you. You should always get persistent pain checked out by your doctor and then you are sure that you have Primary Dysmenorrhoea and not another more serious condition such as Endometriosis. Paracetamol may help milder pain, though Aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen are generally more effective as they are said to have anti-prostaglandin effects. (Remember the higher your level of the Prostaglandin hormone, the higher the level of pain usually felt). The anti-inflammatory effect of Ibuprofen may reduce the amount of bleeding. The tablets tend to be more affective if taken throughout the day (as directed on the packet) rather than just when the pain gets bad. Although there isn’t much proof, there is a lot written about the benefits of certain vitamins to help period pain. Vitamin B6, Vitamin E and magnesium are said to help but if taken incorrectly can produce side effects. Again always check with your doctor…don’t assume that all vitamins are safe ‘complementary’ type treatments, they are tablets and you should always be properly advised by your doctor who knows your medical history. TENS can be bought from most pharmacies now and are re usable so each month you can use the TENS. (Though you will have to replace the sticky pads from time to time) A TENS unit is very small and can be worn under your clothes whilst you are out and about. The contraceptive pill reduces the level of Prostaglandin released by thinning the lining of the Uterus, thus making the period less painful and reducing the amount of bleeding.
The symptoms of secondary dysmenorrhoea usually appear years after periods have started. Many women seek gynaecological advice for premenstrual syndrome which is the name given to a collection of symptoms associated with your period but may begin up to two weeks before the period actually starts. Gynaecological advice is often sought because premenstrual syndrome is made up of a mixture of both physical and emotional symptoms. · Mood swings Gynaecological advice for premenstrual syndrome really depends on what exactly affects you the most and in what ways. Most of the treatments are the same as those above for period pain. Although there is still no scientific evidence, evening primrose is thought to help some reduce the effects of premenstrual syndrome. Advice period pain. If you are struggling with the emotional symptoms go and seek gynaecological advice for premenstrual syndrome from your doctor or ask the howsme team to help. The emotional symptoms can be very difficult to cope with alone and those who are lucky enough not to suffer find it difficult to sympathise and not patronise. Endometriosis Howsme are a team of experts from a variety of professional backgrounds who can give you confidential online information and support. Whether you have a quick question or need to resolve complex issues howsme has the answers you need. We look forward to hearing from you. It is estimated that about 10 out of every 100 reproductive-aged women are living with endometriosis. Endometriosis can develop at any time between when a woman starts having periods right up until the menopause and her periods stop. Understanding endometriosis
It is not known why in some women endometrial implants occur outside the uterus but when these are stimulated to grow, shed and bleed as they do inside the uterus, pain and inflammation can occur. It is possible to have endometriosis without any symptoms but most women will experience at least some of the following symptoms
You may be referred for an ultrasound scan or more details MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or you may be advised to have a laparoscopy.
Warmth is usually a good start for milder pains. Either a soak in the bath or a hot water bottle (but be careful not to burn yourself they can get really hot!!). Curling up in bed with a cuppa and a good book can help you to relax and get some rest.
Period pain is the pain associated with a woman’s period or bleed and so we need to find out exactly what happens and so we know what is causing the pain.
If we know what is causing the pain we will be better equip to manage the symptoms.
Many woman experience some discomfort during their periods but as many as 1 in 10 say the pain they suffer affects their daily activities. As many as 90% of teenage girls suffer from painful periods.
Primary Dysmenorrhoea
Symptoms vary not only from woman to woman but also from period to period because there are so many things that affect period pain and other symptoms.
The most common symptom is an achy pain in the lower tummy. This pain can spread into the lower back and the top of the legs
· Cramping pain
· Some women get headaches
· Breast tenderness
· Feeling tired and fatigued
· Nausea
· Constipation or diarrhoea
These symptoms can be felt the day before the bleeding starts and go on for as long as 3-4 days. Though for most women the first 24 hours is the worst.
Warmth is usually a good start for milder pains. Either a soak in the bath or a hot water bottle (but be careful not to burn yourself they can get really hot!!). Curling up in bed with a cuppa and a good book can help you to relax and get some rest.
Though you may not really feel like it some exercise can help your body to release its own pain relieving chemicals and give you a feeling of well being. Swimming, cycling or any aerobic exercise can help. Even walking can ease the symptoms for some.
Try eating little and often and avoid big meals or getting really hungry. Eating fruit and vegetables and pasta and avoiding too much sugar, alcohol and caffeine may help.
Blood is lost during a period and this can contribute to some women can becoming anaemic. The symptoms of anaemia are tiredness and weakness and in severe cases breathlessness and dizziness.
Cutting down on your salt intake is important at any time but just before your period reducing the amount of salt you have will help stop fluid retention.
Gently massaging your lower tummy or asking someone else to carefully massage your lower back may reduce the pain.
Sex either on your own or with a partner can help to ease the pain! An orgasm will help your cramping muscles to relax and will release lots of feel good and relaxing chemicals into your body.
Advice Period Pain. If these more simple methods don’t help then go and talk to your doctor.
Advice Period Pain. You should always check with the Pharmacist that an ‘over the counter’ medication is right for you as there are people who should not take Ibuprofen.
Calcium supplements/tablets have been found to reduce water retention and help period pain. Calcium is also very important to maintain our bone density and so ask your doctor if you can take calcium.
Transcutaneous Electronic Nerves Stimulation or TENS uses electrical stimulation to encourage your body to release its own pain relieving chemicals and the sensation of the tingling under the pads placed over the pain helps distract the brain from feeling the pain.
Ask the pharmacist or your doctor if a TENS is safe for you to use and then always follow the instructions.
If you are still troubled with severe period pain your doctor may prescribe the birth control or contraceptive pill because as well as preventing pregnancy it may relieve period pain.
Your doctor can also prescribe stronger painkillers and anti inflammatory tablets than are available at the chemist but these should only be taken in extreme cases and for short periods of time.
Advice Period Pain. Period pain tends to improve with age. The nerve endings that detect the pain in the Uterus degenerate over time. During the latter part of pregnancy the nerves disappear and following pregnancy only some of the nerves will regenerate.
Secondary Dysmenorrhoea
This type of period pain is due to an underlying disease of the uterus or surrounding area. It commonly affects women in their 30’s and 40’s. Some diseases of the uterus include endometriosis, fibroids or an infection. Cysts, polyps and adhesions can also cause pain in this area.
Advice Period Pain. You could have Secondary Dysmenorrhoea if the pattern of your period changes, for example
· If your periods become more painful
· If your periods start lasting longer
· If the pain lasts throughout your period
· You have bleeding between your periods
· If the bleeding becomes heavier
· Your periods become irregular
· Your periods last longer than they used to
· You get pain during sex
· You have a vaginal discharge
You need to visit your doctor for advice if you have said yes to any of the above
Advice Period Pain. Treatment for Secondary Dysmenorrhoea
The treatment will vary depending on the cause and should always be investigated fully by a doctor. The success of the treatment will depend upon the severity of the underlying condition.
Some other causes of pain in that area are
· Some sexually transmitted diseases
· Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
· Ovarian Cysts
· An Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD)
Gynaecological advice premenstrual syndrome OR Premenstrual Syndrome OR simply PMS
The physical symptoms are similar to those suffered at the time of your period
· Pain
· Constipation
· Tender breasts
· Weight gain and bloating
· Headaches
· Feeling tired and fatigued
· Acne
But will also include emotional symptoms such as
· Struggling to concentrate
· Depression
· Crying
· Anxiety
· Irritability
· A lack of interest in sex
· An inability to sleep
Smoking and its affect on period pain
As many as 50% more smokers complain of period pain than do non-smokers. Smoking appears to make the duration of the period slightly shorter and increases the incidence of secondary amenorrhoea (this is when your periods stop).
Women who smoke tend to go through the menopause earlier and gain less benefit from hormone replacement therapy.
Smoking can decrease your chances of becoming pregnant.
How can we help you?
Each month the uterus prepares for pregnancy and an egg is released from the ovary. If the egg is not fertilised by a sperm the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium) is not needed.
Hormones start to change in the body and the current lining of the uterus breaks down. The lining of the uterus passes out through the vagina as a bleed or period. These periods are an essential part of a woman's fertility.
If bits of the endometrium occur outside of the uterus they are known as endometrial implants and it is these that react to the monthly hormonal changes and cause endometriosis.
Identifying the symptoms of endometriosis
· Very heavy periods
· Spotting or bleeding between periods
· Very painful periods with cramps that are so severe they can limit normal activities
· Pain when passing urine and on bowel movements during the period
· These painful periods may get worse over the years
· Pain during intercourse
· Pain inserting and removing tampons
· Long-term lower back or abdominal pain
· Infertility. If you have been having regular unprotected sex for over twelve months and have failed to get pregnant, you may have endometriosis.
· Endometriosis is the third most common cause of infertility.
Diagnosing endometriosis
If you visit your doctor with some of these symptoms it is likely that you will need further physical examinations and tests to diagnose endometriosis.
This is the most reliable way of diagnosing endometriosis as a small camera is passed through the abdomen into the pelvic region to have a good look around and possibly take a small sample of the tissue for analysis in a laboratory to see if the tissue outside the uterus is endometrial tissue.
Treatment for endometriosis
Unfortunately although endometriosis can be treated it cannot be cured. The treatment therefore concentrates on trying to control the symptoms.
Because endometriosis is linked to menstrual periods the symptoms tend to be better controlled during pregnancy or after the menopause when a woman no longer has periods.
The treatment aims to utilise hormones via tablets or injections to trick the body into a pregnancy like state and therefore avoid periods altogether.
The right treatment for you will depend on the severity of your symptoms and what works for you! These are the treatments for period pains that may help endometriosis.
Though you may not really feel like it some exercise can help your body to release its own pain relieving chemicals and give you a feeling of well being. Swimming, cycling or any aerobic exercise can help. Even walking can ease the symptoms for some.
Try eating little and often and avoid big meals or getting really hungry. Eating fruit and vegetables and pasta and avoiding too much sugar, alcohol and caffeine may help. Caffeine may make you more irritable and tense.
Alcohol is a depressant and can make you feel more depressed though on the other hand it can have a relaxing and calming effect which some may find helpful.
Blood is lost during a period and this can contribute to some women can becoming anaemic. The symptoms of anaemia are tiredness and weakness and in severe cases breathlessness and dizziness.
Gently massaging your lower tummy or asking someone else to carefully massage your lower back may reduce the pain.
Eating a diet rich in iron will help those susceptible to anaemia. Red meat, fish, pulses and red wine are all good sources of iron.
Cutting down on your salt intake is important at any time but just before your period reducing the amount of salt you have will help stop fluid retention.
Try to relax! Stress can make any pain more difficult to cope with. Meditation, yoga or maybe just getting into a good film can help you relax and feel you can cope with the pain. Some people find that lavender helps them to relax but be careful as lavender can cause headaches in some people.
Drink plenty of water to stop you becoming bloated! If you drink plenty of water your body doesn’t feel the need the hang onto it at all costs and just passes the majority through your system.
Sex either on your own or with a partner can help to ease the pain! An orgasm will help your cramping muscles to relax and will release lots of feel good and relaxing chemicals into your body.
Endometriosis and infertility
It is still unknown exactly why endometriosis can cause infertility. There are many different theories as to whether it affects the uterus lining preventing the egg implanting or whether it interferes with the transporting of the egg from the ovary to the uterus or whether it actually affects the egg itself. Sometimes surgery to remove the endometrial implants helps but for other women IVF (in-vitro fertilization) is required. For other women the symptoms are not quite as severe and can be managed in much the same way as menstrual cramps. Some may experience infertility whilst others are able to get pregnant and control their symptoms. If it has time to settle into fabric or a piece of furniture, you're in for a real challenge. The method needed to clean the bloodstain will depend upon the material that has marked. Listed below is a comprehensive record of how to clean bloodstains from a variety of materials. How to clean blood stains from fabric. How to clean blood stains from washable fabric, you should rinse the fabric in cold water to get out as much blood as fresh bloodstains can usually be cleaned by laundering in cold water. Remember to use cold water. Do not use warm water or hot water as this will cook the proteins in the blood and set the stain. Thoroughly clean the bloodstains. Make a solution one quarter of warm water, a tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent or dish liquid, and a tablespoon of ammonia. Soak your fabric in this mixture for a few hours; continue as long as the stain is disappearing you can soak the item over night if necessary. How to clean blood stains from non-washable fabric. Start to clean the bloodstain as soon as possible. Sponge the stain with cold water by using a damp pad of suitable material. Start at the centre of the stain working to the edges. This should clean the stain easily if the blood has not dried. How to clean blood stains from leather and suede. How to clean blood stains from leather and suede materials, this can be especially challenging due to the unique texture of these materials. They must be handled carefully. Mix some water with a mild soap or natural soap flakes, create suds then gently apply the suds to the stain. It is advisable to use a sponge or piece of foam. Take your time, apply the suds lightly, do not soak the whole area and be careful not to spread the stain. Once you have removed the stain, wipe the area dry with a clean cloth. Apply some leather dressing, saddle soap or suede dressing to the area. How to clean blood stains from fur, this method is the same whether the fur is real or synthetic. Start by adsorbing any excess blood from the item using a suitable absorbent material. Then using a cloth damped with a mixture of a mild detergent and a few drops of ammonia stroke the stain, do soak the area. Finally rinse using another cloth dipped in cold water, stroking the fur in the direction that it lays. Dry naturally away from direct heat. How to clean blood stains from jewellery, if the items are made of gold, copper or vinyl; simply wash the items in soapy water. However, if the items are silver they should be washed in hot soapy water, then rinse in hot water and wipe dry with a soft clean cloth to prevent tarnish. Be careful and only gently blot the stain if you are too aggressive, you'll only rub the blood more deeply into the carpets fibres, rather than remove it. I f you still unable to clean the stain, you might have to turn to ammonia. Use a cloth to gently rub the ammonia and water mixture (1 tablespoon ammonia to 1 cup water) onto the surface. Do not use ammonia on wool carpets. Place an absorbent pad over the damp area to soak up some of the moisture and let the carpet dry on it’s naturally. To use salt to clean blood stains use cold water to damp the stain and then rub salt into the area, rubbing the fabric together will get the most out of this method. When the bloodstain has gone wash the item. A quick and simple method to clean small blood stains.
In conclusion
Endometriosis is a condition that can vary widely from woman to woman. In some, the symptoms are severe and other problems such as infertility can happen as a result.
If you would like some answers or support about managing your breathlessness, please ask for individual confidential advice our experts are online now.
How to remove blood stains
The best way to clean bloodstains, or any stain for that matter, is to deal with it right away. Once the bloodstain has become established it will be more difficult to clean the bloodstain. Clean the bloodstain as soon as possible and it is less likely to ruin the marked item.
If the stain has dried on to the fabric, start by rinsing the fabric in cold water to get out some of the excess blood leaving you with a smaller amount of stain to deal with.
So here's how to remove those ugly and annoyingly stubborn blood stains.
Firstly, you will remove a bloodstain based on where it is. Blue jeans require a different cleaning method than jewellery, for example. So let's take on the most common victims of pesky bloodstains and discover how to make them spotless.
Blood is one of the most difficult substances to remove once it has stained a fabric, surface, or laundry.
However, stain removal can be accomplished with some help, usually with everyday items that can be found around the house.
If a bloodstain is taken care of right way, it can be more easily removed. However off the garment first using cold water before laundering it in a warm wash.
Rinse the fabric well and re inspect the stained area take extra care to remove all traces of the ammonia from the item.
If the stain is still present try a laundry product specially manufactured to treat such stains. Follow the products instructions and then launder. Or apply a good bit of liquid laundry detergent and work it in with your fingers or a soft brush such as an old toothbrush.
Rinse the fabric well and then launder.
Check for the bloodstain again before drying in the dryer.
How to clean blood stains from fur.
How to clean blood stains from jewellery.
How to clean blood stains from grout.
How to clean blood stains from grout; wipe the area with a cloth or sponge dipped in cold water. Then use a small brush (old toothbrush) or course cloth dipped into baking soda or a powdered cleaner and scrub the grout until the area is clean. Rinse the area and dry thoroughly.
How to clean blood stains from carpets.
How to clean bloodstains from carpets can be more challenging. While the blood is still wet blot it up using towels, any suitable fabric or paper towels. It is often advisable to purchase a specially manufactured product.
Salt can be used to clean bloodstains.
Small areas of blood stains such as a drop on a collar from a spot or pimple can be removed by applying a small amount of spit (saliva) to the area, rub the stain clean and then rinse the area with cold water. This works as the enzymes in saliva break down the proteins in the blood and help to clean the item. This can only be used on small areas and on fabric not items such as carpets.
Another quick and simple method to clean small blood stains.
Fresh bloodstains can be cleaned from fabric using an ice cube. Rub the ice cube over the bloodstain, as the ice cube starts to melt the stain should start to disappear then launder the item.
Updated: 15th September 2009
Do you have a period pain question you would like to ask our health experts? All answers are treated confidentially.
