General Information
Dysmenorrhea ls declined as a menstrual condition oharacterz0d by severe and frequent menstrual cramps and pain associated with menstruation. It is typically a cramping spasmodic pain occasionally lasting tor several days and is a Common monthly experience for many women, with more than 50% being affected and as many as 10% being incapacitated for 1-3 days each month, Dysmenorrhea is classified into primary and secondary dysmenorrhea Primary dysmenorrhea begins in adolescence and usually occurs only in ovulatory cycles, which generally appear within the first year of menarche. Childbirth and advancing age often improve the problem. Primary dysmenorrhea occurs mainly in young women, particularly in their late teens or early twenties. he severity depends on factors such as the age at which periods began, length of periods, degree of bleeding, and practices such as smoking. Period pain is not determined by body weight, length of the menstrual cycle, and level of physical activity. Secondary dysmenorrhea usually begins in the third decade and underlying pathology such as endometriosis or pelvic congestion may be present. It usually occurs in older women, i.e., those in their thirties and forties. Secondary dysmenorrhea is often due to other pelvic medical problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), uterine fibroids, abnormal pregnancy (i.e., miscarriage, ectopic), infection tumors, or polyps In the pelvic cavity.
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea are:
- Cramping
- Central and low abdominal pain
- Sharp and severe exacerbations
- Pain that often radiates to the back and upper thighs
- Systemic symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fatigue and rarely, syncope and collapse and pain that usually precedes the onset of bleeding by several hours, and is most severe on the first day of menstruation, pain that usually lasts from a few hours to 1 day and seldom exceeds 2 to 3 days.
The symptoms of secondary dysmenorrhea are:
- Pain that occurs several days prior to the onset of menses and lasts throughout menses.
- A sensation of abdominal bloating.
- Dyspareunia
- Menorrhagia
Advice to the Customers
- Apply heating pads on the lower abdomen to help relieve the pain.
- To prevent water retention and bloating drink plenty of water avoiding salt and caffeine.
- Doing exercises regularly increases pelvic circulation and lessens the intensity of period pains.
- Consume a healthy diet, rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin B complex
- Rest and relaxation may alleviate the pain during menstrual periods
Prescription Advice
- Instruct the patient on the medication and how to use it properly, i.e. name of the medication, frequency of dosage, etc
- In cases where period pains are severe and causing much discomfort, instruct the patient to consult a physician.
- Discuss Advice to the Customers thoroughly for more information on the prevention and management of period pain.