Menstrual cramps

Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) are dull, throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen that generally occur immediately preceding a woman’s menstrual period and continues for 2-3 days, a few women may have them last longer. Menstrual cramps can cause severe discomfort that restricts a woman’s daily activity.

Menstrual cramps as classified into the following categories: primary dysmenorrhea, secondary dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea occurs in the absence of any other medical condition(s) that can potentially cause the pain. Primary dysmenorrhea most often occurs in younger women.

Secondary dysmenorrhea develops as the result of another medical condition a woman may be experiencing. Secondary dysmenorrhea commonly occurs in older women (30-45 years of age).

Here is a list of medical conditions that can cause Secondary dysmenorrhea:

• Endometriosis: uterine tissue that appears outside the uterus
• Fibroids: non-cancerous (benign) growths in the uterus
• Adenomyosis: uterine wall thickening
• Infections: infections in the reproductive organs
• Ectopic pregnancy: (pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus such as in the Fallopian tubes)
• IUD (intra-uterine device) used for birth control
• Ovarian cysts
• Narrow cervix: (cramps due to passing clots of blood and tissue through the cervix during menses)
• Retroverted uterus (tipped uterus)
• Stress

Primary dysmenorrhea produces a dull aching pain in the low back and pelvic region, often accompanied by bloating, weight gain, breast tenderness, head-aches, and irritability. The pain of primary dysmenorrhea usually intensifies with increasing age.

Secondary dysmenorrheal produces a dull aching pain that makes certain body parts tender to the touch. A woman may experience bloating that accumulates in the pelvic region as well as breasts during secondary dysmenorrhea.

Factors that predispose a woman to experience menstrual cramps:

• First period at an early age (younger than 11 years).
• Menstrual period greater than 5 days.
• Smokes Tobacco
• She has never been pregnant.
• Has family members who experience menstrual cramps

Menstrual Cramp symptoms include:

• Dull, throbbing or cramping pain in the lower abdomen
• Pain that radiates to the lower back and thighs
• Leg pain, radiating down the legs
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Bloating
• Irritability
• Fatigue or malaise
• Fainting spells (rare)
• Sweating
• Dizziness

During menstrual periods, a woman’s uterus contracts to help expel its lining. Hormone-like substances (prostaglandins) involved in pain and inflammation trigger the uterine muscle contractions. Higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with more severe menstrual cramps. Women who have high levels of prostaglandin experience more intense contractions of their uterus and more pain. Prostaglandins may also be responsible for vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches that accompany painful periods.

The best way to relieve painful menstrual cramps is to take an anti-inflammatory medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit the formation of prostaglandins and reduce pain and inflammation. Flanax Pain Reliever Tablets are available over-the-counter and without a prescription, and are effective at blocking the effects of prostaglandins.

Flanax Pain Reliever Tablets work better if taken before the start of menstruation and can be continued as long as needed. If additional pain relief is needed, the following strategies may help relieve menstrual cramps:

• Use of Heating pad over the affected area
• Massage to the affected area
• Exercising before the menstrual cycle, sometimes lessens the pain

Menstruation: Charting Your Cycle

The woman’s body produces various hormones within the blood, during the menstrual cycle. These hormones that are produced result in changes in body temperature, vaginal secretions, and pain. A woman can chart her menstrual cycle on a calendar to predict future menstrual periods. This gives a woman more control so she can plan her life around her menstrual periods and even begin to take anti-inflammatories such as Flanax Pain Reliever Tablets before the menstrual period begins to prevent the pain from occurring.

It is easy to chart a woman’s menstrual cycle on a calendar but it does require some work if a woman charts her menstrual cycle manually. A woman would simply mark the first day of a menstrual period on a calendar and then also note symptoms experienced on subsequent days of the calendar such as menstrual cramps, spotting, headache, nausea etc. Eventually a woman will see a pattern develop over time and a woman will know what to expect and when to expect these bothersome menstrual symptoms, giving her more control over her life.

Belmora LLC created Flanax Pain Reliever Tablets to not let pain stop anybody. We developed a “Flanax Menstrual Predictor” so woman can take control of her life. The Flanax Menstrual Predictor is a free electronic calendar you can use on our website below or download to your mobile phone.

Mothers and daughters have a special relationship. A daughter learns many things from her mother. As a daughter matures she will begin to experience menstruation. This may cause the daughter to get scared and confused as she will not recognize these changes to her body and may be too shy to tell her mother. As a result a daughter may experience unnecessary pain due to the menstrual cramps.

Belmora LLC recommends that mothers start having conversations about menstrual cycles to their daughters before the daughter begins to experience menstruation. This will help a daughter to not experience pain and eliminate the confusion and potential anxiety associated with the menstrual period.

Mother’s don’t need to be doctor’s or study women’s health intensely to begin the menstrual cycle conversation with their daughter. Belmora LLC recommends the conversation be brief, in a relaxed setting, use the information listed on the Flanax.com website as a guide, and try not to cram all information into one single conversation. This can be overwhelming for a young daughter.

Puberty usually occurs between the ages of 9 and 16, and your daughter will begin to experience changes in her reproductive organs, breast development, and her growth spurt. Puberty is also when the first menstruation begins. Let your daughter know that menstruating, or getting her period, is a natural, positive step toward becoming a woman. Encourage her to learn more about her anatomy, the menstrual cycle, and use Flanax Pain Reliever Tablets to stop the menstrual cramps.

Let your daughter know that you are there to help her during this time and that you can help her to reduce the pain of the menstrual period. This will give your daughter the confidence she needs during this time. We have created a short video below for mothers and daughters to watch and learn about the menstrual cycle and how to prevent pain during the menstrual cycle.