Painful menstruation
Why does it hurt when I have my period?
Many women experience pain during their period. Some pains are normal, while others are a sign of something unusual that needs to be dealt with.
The pain you feel during your period is caused by your hormones causing changes in your body. They’re said to be normal and frequent, but there are tips to help you avoid too much pain. The highest advice is to pace yourself, take time for yourself and rest.
You should also know that although many girls experience pain during their periods, it should be taken seriously. Your pain does not make you weak, and you have the right to talk about it.
What can I do if I’m in pain?
There are many ways of getting better during this time. Generally speaking, drinking lots of water, getting fresh air, doing breathing exercises, meditating, dancing, writing or drawing, or seeing someone you love can help you feel better. Self-love is also very important. If you feel loved and good in your head, it will help you to cope more easily with physical pain and it may even disappear. It’s all connected!
Don’t hesitate to talk about your pain, find out about your cycle and listen to your body. In general, the more you know about your cycle, the more your pain will improve.
What should I do if I have stomach pains?
If your pain is in your stomach, lower stomach, back or thighs, it could be due to :
- the detachment of the endometrium (the lining of your uterus that turns to blood every month)
- and the contraction of the muscle of the uterus (to let the “blood” flow out).
Don’t worry, there are tricks you can use to ease the pain:
- Drink plenty of water and hot herbal teas without sugar, and avoid coffee, tea and milk.
- Watch what you eat: eat more fruit and vegetables
- Take a hot shower. You’ll find that the warmth on your tummy will do you a lot of good.
- Put something warm on your tummy (hot water bottle, warm towel, small bag of warm sand…)
- Do some physical exercise: walking, stretching, swimming, etc.
- Take time out to relax
- Take painkillers when you’re in too much pain (but ask your doctor or midwife first).
If your pain is too severe, I advise you to see a gynecologist or midwife to check that everything is fine and to find solutions.
What should I do if I have headaches?
If you have headaches, they may be linked to hormonal changes, diet, fatigue or stress…
There are also solutions to relieve them:
- Sleep,
- Put a cold towel where it hurts,
- Drink plenty of water or hot tea, avoiding coffee, tea and milk.
- Eat more fruit and vegetables
- Do a relaxing activity like yoga
- Take painkillers from time to time (but ask your doctor or midwife first).
If you have a headache very often, see a doctor to help you get better.
What should I do if I have digestive problems?
In some cases, during their menstruation, girls have digestive problems. Sometimes you’re constipated, sometimes you’re bloated, or some days you have diarrhea or gas… It happens to some women during their period, but there’s nothing to worry about.
To feel better, you can:
- Eat less
- Drink lots of water and herbal teas
- Avoid anything too oily, salty or sweet
- Avoid milk and yogurt
- Eat fruit and vegetables (especially if you’re constipated)
- And do a bit of sport
If the problems continue for several days, go and see a doctor, who will help you find a solution.
What should I do if my breasts hurt?
It’s also possible that your breasts hurt before or during your period. There’s nothing to worry about as long as they’re not too strong and stop after your period.
If your breasts are hard and warm, or if you have pain in just one part of your breast, you should see a doctor.
For relief you can :
- Gently massage your breasts with a natural oil
- Put a cold towel where it hurts
- Drink water or a hot herbal tea, avoiding coffee, tea and milk
- Eat more fruit, vegetables and cereals
- Avoid red meat
- Do a relaxing activity such as yoga or gymnastics
- Wear a bra
- Take painkillers (in consultation with your doctor)
Some pains are not normal…
People say that pain is normal during menstruation, but this is not always the case. It may be that behind your pain lies a disease such as endometriosis. This is a benign, complex disease that is difficult to diagnose. It takes an estimated seven years to diagnose it, even though it affects 10% of women worldwide.
Endometriosis is when the endometrium develops outside the uterus. At the time of menstruation, the pain is therefore greater because there is bleeding in several places.
If you have extreme pain, or one of your friends has very strong pain, I recommend that you see a gynecologist as these could be signs of endometriosis. Some gynecologists know very little about the disease and may tell you “it’s normal to feel pain during your period”, in which case don’t hesitate to change gynecologist and go and see another one. If you need advice, don’t hesitate to contact a Lydia midwife on 800 00 96 96 or on Whatsapp on +221 78 193 93 93 or +221 78 312 26 26.
It’s a pain that’s more difficult to treat than others, but there are small things you can do to relieve endometriosis:
- Stop eating foods such as dairy products (yogurt, cheese, milk, etc.)
- Stop taking food and drinks out of the fridge or freezer.
- Drink ginger as an infusion or juice (with very little sugar).
In any case, if you experience pain during your period, a consultation with your gynecologist or midwife can help you to understand yourself better.
Sources : Gaëlle Baldassari, Jack Parker, Aïssatou Ndahté Cisse, Ana Roy – Mademoiselle Caroline & Rachael Amber