10 Ways to Cope with Menstrual Pains

Moyin Kalu

Menstrual pains are infamously known as dysmenorrhea or period pains.

These are painful sensations that affect many women before and during a menstrual period. These pains are similar to labor pains and can affect your lower abdomen, back, thighs and even your mood. For some women, they can be dull and bearable. For others, they can extremely excruciating, occasionally causing a fever, and in some cases, diarrhea.

No medical conclusion has been made as to why some women experience these pains, but there may be a variety of reason why such as; women under the ages of 20, having an over productive prostaglandin (the hormone that lines the womb for a baby) and a very stressful lifestyle.

Are you a victim to this unfriendly monthly visitor? Here are 10 ways you can cope with menstrual cramps:

1. Heat solution

Soak in a hot bath, or apply a hot water bottle to your abdomen, or wear you feel the most cramps. However, do not sleep with a heating pad to prevent burns. The warm heat would help to relax the contracting uterus and offer some relief.

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2. Over the counter medication

Panadol, Paracetamol, Buscopan, etc. can help to offer relief for the few days. These are safe to take for immediate relief, if the pain still persists please check with your doctor immediately.

3. Exercise or Orgasm

When a woman reaches orgasm, endorphins (the feel-good hormone) is released. Medical experts say that having sex during your period can work wonders for your cramps. Another way to boost those hormones is buy exercising; so, break a sweat and say good bye to those cramps.

4. Contraceptive pills

This, you would need your doctor’s approval. However, medical experts tell us that birth control pills can reduce menstrual cramps because of the extra estrogen being pumped into your system. You would still need your doctor’s approval before popping any pill.

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5. Improve your diet

Thus, may not offer immediate relief, but over time it would. Reducing fat and increasing vegetables in your diet may help ease monthly cramps. “A low-fat diet actually decreases overall levels of inflammation in the body,” says Aldo Palmieri MD, an ob/gyn at UCLA Health and professor of ob/gyn at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles. Take in more vegetables, less carbs. Reduce alcohol intake or cut it out completely, quit smoking.

6. Have a cup of Tea

There is no concrete evidence relating teas with menstrual cramps, but some herbal teas can help reduce pain. As long as you do not react to any ingredient in the teas, you can try them

7. Include Magnesium in your diet

Magnesium helps to regulate muscle and nerve functioning. It is found in many foods and as a supplement if you can’t get what you need from your diet. Experts who evaluated the evidence on magnesium call it a promising treatment for menstrual cramps. An ounce of dry almonds or one half cup of boiled spinach each has about 80 mg.