Remedies For Menstral Cramps

A large number of young women, particularly teenagers, experience discomfort before and during their menstrual periods. When this pain is debilitating or severe, the condition is known as "dysmenorrhea." Even the normal "cramps" that some young women get when they are menstruating every month can sometimes be accompanied by headache, nauseau, vomiting, and uncomfortable bathroom episodes that we've come to describe with the name "Montezuma."

What can be done for these suffering young women? It turns out that there are quite a few options available. The simplest of these is exercise. Prostaglandins, a hormone stimulated by progesterone to cause the uterus to contract (progesterone is made by the ovaries), can be suppressed by exercise, partly due to the release of other counteractive hormones during all exercise. NSAID's, such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen Sodium, can deaden the pain caused by the contracting uterus, and are available over the counter in any drugstore. Sometimes just bed rest and relaxation techniques can be helpful as well. For more severe pain, doctors can prescribe stronger pain killers.

If these  remedies do not work, a patient should definitely seek the counsel of her physician, and have a thorough pelvic exam to rule out the possibility of a more serious cause of her painful periods. Primary dysmenorrhea is one thing, but secondary dysmenorrhea could be caused by an inflammation of the uterus, endometriosis, or other such possibly serious conditions. If left untreated, secondary dysmenorrhea could make the patient very ill. In general, painful periods have to be endured, but they should not be ignored.