Written by: Promila Ghosh
What is Menstrual Pain?
Menstrual pains are often described as ‘unwanted pain’ that begin with the onset of menstruation or continue during the usual heavy flow of period for 3-5 days.
Cramps appear as a condition of throbbing or aching, having effects from extreme to low or mild to severe. Common symptoms might appear as mild discomfort to serious pain, captivating you to be bed-ridden with hot-bags. It is quite often suggested that younger women, mostly below 30, are the ones to be affected the most. Over half of the menstruators experiencing menstrual pain experience a terrible discomfort, yet, an average of 10% among them complain of being ‘temporarily disabled’.
Over the years, there have been some wild speculations and myths regarding menstrual pain. Some commonly listed ones are:
Myth 1: Menstrual pain feels ‘much like any other pain’
No, stop comparing period pain with the pain of bumping your head with a stone or falling down the stairs. The pain makes us menstruators suspend our daily chores and remain curled up in bed. Menstrual pain makes it difficult to concentrate on our daily work at times, causes anxiety and is highly unpleasant. Even more disturbing is the fact that very often, menstruators have no option other than enduring the pain.
Myth 2: Exercising induces greater pain
Most menstruators abstain from exercises during their period days. Well, you have been following the wrong schedule! Regular exercising can actually prove beneficial and help with even your worst periods. Dr Hall, a leading gynecologist, suggests, “Exercise is extremely beneficial to decrease menstrual flow.”
Myth 3: Eating citrus increases flow and increases chances of cramps
Your mothers and grandmothers might go on suggesting to stay aloof from citrus or sour substances during your heavy flow days, but oranges and other citrus fruits are great healers when it comes to regulating your mood. On one hand, your body gets supplied nutrients, and on the other, citrus reduces cramps and other PMS symptoms.
Myth 4: All menstrual cramps are caused due to diseases
Menstrual cramps are mostly known as dysmenorrhea. This painful sensation generally begins after ovulation, when the egg travels from the ovaries to the fallopian tube. While primary dysmenorrhea does not account to one’s medical history, secondary dysmenorrhea has its roots in medical problems such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids or pelvic inflammatory disease.
Myth 5: Frequent intake of hot fluids reduces camps and flow
Drinking warm water has proved to be an age-old home remedy against menstrual pains. Ginger tea, Peppermint tea can also work wonders. But frequenting warm drinks is not a very good decision. Take it when you are not at ease. Cut down carbonated beverages, caffeine containing beverages and alcohol.
Myth 6: All women experience the same menstrual pain
No, stop assuming that the pain you are going through might be the same as another menstruator’s. Each year, 5-10% women complain of extreme cases where menstrual pain is accompanied by an irregular bowel pattern, nausea, vomiting, headaches and bloating. The pain has a negative effect on their daily activities and hinders their schedule.
Myth 7: Premenstrual symptoms and menstrual cramps are all in your head
PMS is often described as a ‘combination of symptoms associated with menstruation’. Common symptoms include fatigue, anxiety, irritability and sudden feelings of sadness or grief. A study shows that over 90% women in the US experience at least one of the symptoms. PMS has an underlying cause — a sudden fall of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. PMS ranges from mild to extreme, varying from women to women.
Home Remedies To Relieve You
Unless you are not experiencing the ‘pain that can be dealt with any longer’, you can always opt for conventional means to get rid of your menstrual pain temporarily. Some of them are:
- Apply heat on your lower abdomen. A study conducted in 2012 suggests that healthy menstruators between the ages of 18-30 years had positive results when heat of about 40 degree centigrade was applied.
- Massage with essential oils for about 20 minutes.
- Supply Ayurvedic herbs, ginger, fennel seeds, cinnamon and chamomile tea in your diet.
- Try out warm turmeric milk as turmeric contains curcumin, which reduces the chances of PMS.
Myths around menstrual pain have existed for long now, and so have vague assumptions that have led to some popular circulated fallacies. It is time we educate ourselves of facts rather than fallacies.