Cramps During Period

For some women, menstrual cycle is associated with so much pain that it becomes impossible for them to carry on with their daily activities. The unbearable pain and cramping during period leaves them completely exhausted. Why do women get cramps during period? This is a question a lot of women have asked themselves.

Causes of Menstrual Cramps

Cramps during menstrual cycle are caused due to the contraction of uterus. In case of some women, these cramps are mild and therefore, manageable, but some women might suffer from the problem of painful cramps during their menstrual period. During the menstrual cycle, the uterus tightens and relaxes allowing blood to leave your uterus. The uterine lining releases special chemicals called "prostaglandins" which have the ability to increase the intensity of the contractions. High levels of prostaglandins can cause severe muscle cramps, along with nausea and lightheadedness. When these intense contractions cut the supply of blood to the uterus, oxygen is unable to reach the related muscles which causes severe pain. This condition related to painful and difficult periods is known as Dysmenorrhea.

Severe Menstrual Cramps

There are essentially two major types of severe menstrual cramps. These are classified into primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. Due to primary dysmenorrhea, you might experience cramping pain in the lower abdomen. You might start experiencing cramps before period and the pain may last for 2-4 days and might be accompanied by lower back pain.

Secondary Dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, is caused due to a medical condition such as endometriosis. Endometriosis is a medical condition related to abnormal location of the uterus tissues such as the fallopian tube and the side walls of the ovaries. Pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroid tumors and intrauterine devices could also lead to severe cramps.

Leg Cramps: During menstruation, on account of losing so much blood, a woman might get low on essential minerals and vitamins. Due to dehydration and deficiency of iron and magnesium, a woman might suffer from severe leg cramps. Leg cramps occur due to contractions of the muscles. The lack of certain key minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium makes it difficult to regulate the activities of the nerves and the muscles. Therefore, the thigh, calf and foot muscles might contract causing severe pain.

Back Cramps: Stomach cramps that may occur during period are caused due to release of prostaglandins. The same hormonal changes cause back cramps as well. Just as prostaglandins induce uterine contractions that lead to abdominal cramping, they affect the other parts such as the back as well. Lower back muscles also get affected by these hormonal changes. Dehydration, vitamin and mineral deficiency can also affect the lower back muscles and lead to contractions.

Remedies for Menstrual Cramps

In case you suffer from severe cramps during your period, you need to find out the cause of these cramps. Women who suffer from secondary dysmenorrhea must consult a doctor. You need to make all possible efforts to relax. Massaging your lower back might help. You must drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. This will take care of leg cramps and back cramps to some extent. Avoid standing for long periods in case you suffer from back pain during periods. Hot compress might give you relief.

You could also try out aromatherapy or acupressure for getting rid of cramps. It would be a good idea to go for walks or do some light exercises if you feel strong enough. Try not to think too much about the pain. Listening to light music and keeping yourself busy might help. In case you are in severe pain due to menstrual cramps, you can also use anti-inflammatory drugs. To avoid any vitamin deficiency, you could take multivitamin during your menstrual cycle. Certain herbal teas are known to have a soothing effect in case of cramps, so you could seek advice from a herbalist. Eat well and include pineapple, ginger root and calcium rich foods in your diet to ease your discomfort.

If you often suffer from severe cramps during your period and you are finding it hard to tackle the pain, you must consult a gynecologist. Try to stay relaxed and use these remedies to tackle the problem of cramps during menstrual period.