Menstrual cramps are not imaginary. Science has long since discovered what, according to estimates, causes almost every third woman and even every second girl to suffer month after month: prostaglandins are the name of the culprit.
54% of all women suffer from symptoms during their period, such as pain in the lower abdomen, back pain or reduced performance. It is not uncommon for menstruation to be accompanied by headaches or migraines, increased irritability, depressive feelings and weight gain. Approximately 10% of those affected have symptoms so severe that they are seriously restricted in their lifestyle for 1 to 3 days per month.
Sometimes from the first menstrual period
Period pain – known as dysmenorrhea in technical language – also affects very young girls. This is called “primary dysmenorrhea” when female teenagers complain during their menstruation of the typical symptoms such as abdominal pain and cramps, back pain, nausea to vomiting, irritability, fatigue and listlessness.
Culprit tissue hormones
Science has long since discovered what, according to estimates, causes almost one in three women and even one in two young girls to suffer month after month: prostaglandins are the name of the culprits. These tissue hormones cause the muscles of the uterus to contract during menstruation in order to expel the uterine lining – this leads to lower abdominal pain and cramps. In bad cases, the affected person even has to stay in bed.
Psychological factors
In addition to these physical causes of the reason, the psyche can also contribute to the discomfort. The fact of having become a woman from one day to the next often plunges schoolgirls between the ages of 9 and 13 into a roller coaster of emotions. Many do not even know what is happening in their bodies. Adolescent girls do read things about sexuality in youth magazines. But what actually happens to them and their bodies is often the subject of a frightening lack of knowledge about the menstrual cycle and periods. In many cases, information and education about these natural processes in a young girl’s body can help.
Like mother, like daughter?
Moreover, menstrual cramps seem to be passed down from mother to daughter, so to speak. In this context, a few carelessly uttered phrases in the style of “This period is going to kill me” can understandably frighten your daughter. In this way, you may be paving the way for your daughter to also experience her first period as a burden or even an illness.
Not only younger people are affected
But period pain can also occur later in life. In addition to stress, anger at work or sexual listlessness, this form is often caused by organic causes – such as endometriosis (a benign growth of the uterine lining), a narrowed cervical canal or a kinked cervix, benign ulcers or inflammation, for example after removal of an IUD. Your gynecologist will determine whether any of these conditions are present.
When to see a doctor?
You should see your gynecologist the first time you experience period pain and whenever there is a change in menstrual symptoms.