Periods suck, there is no doubt about it. They cause us to be bloated, irritable, and fatigued, but in some instances they can cause us some serious pain. Many young women deal with cramps at some point during their period, but what a lot of women don’t know is that it’s not normal to have that pain interfere with your daily activities. In my personal experience, there are a few days out of the month where I have to plan to stay home and do nothing, all because my period pain takes over my entire body - sometimes to the point where I can’t even walk without someone helping me. Although it feels like it sometimes, I know I’m not alone, so I wanted to clear the air and tell you everything there is to know about period pain and how you can control it! Starting at the basics, menstrual cramps are throbbing and cramping pains in your lower abdomen that can come 1-3 days before your period and peak around the 2nd or 3rd day of your period. Some women get cramps that they can barely feel, while others get cramps that are unbearable. The reason we get cramps is that when our uterine lining sheds, our uterus is contracting. These contractions are caused by hormonelike substances called prostaglandins, which cause pain and inflammation, triggering the uterus to contract. Did you know that your cramps could be more painful because you may have an underlying condition? Now, this may sound scary, but these conditions don’t affect your health too much. However, it is still important to see a doctor if your cramps are interfering with your day-to-day activities. Some of the symptoms that may indicate an underlying condition that you should look out for are dizziness, pain radiating in your lower back and upper thighs, nausea, sharp/stabbing pains, and migraines. Here are details on a few of these underlying conditions: Endometriosis Endometriosis is something we have been hearing more and more about in the media. Some people mistake their painful periods for having endometriosis, but did you know that it's a condition that needs to be surgically diagnosed? Endometriosis isn’t just a painful period. What happens when you have endometriosis is that the tissue that lines your uterus becomes implanted on the outside of your uterus. It begins growing along the outside of your uterus, and most commonly on your fallopian tubes. When you go in for surgery, your doctors are actually able to remove these growths, which could potentially reduce your pain greatly. Endometriosis is also genetic, so if someone in your family has it, it’s likely that you have it too if you are experiencing painful periods. This is the condition that I resonate most with because my sister has it. I personally haven’t gone into surgery yet, but based off of my symptoms, I’m on the same track as my sister. Personally, I feel sharp, stabbing pains in my lower abdomen and it hurts so bad that I need to grab onto something around me in order to keep myself up. Uterine Fibroids Uterine fibroids are another type of growth that can cause your periods to be painful, but these are inside of your uterus. They are noncancerous and grow along the wall of your uterus. They range from sizes that can’t be seen with the human eye, to large masses that may distort the uterus. Many women experience these at some point in their life, but they go undiagnosed because they often don’t show any symptoms. But if you are worried you may be showing symptoms, here’s what to look out for! If you’re experiencing periods that are lasting for more than a week, heavy periods, frequent urination, constipation, or backaches and leg pain, then you may want to ask your doctor about examining you for uterine fibroids! Cervical Stenosis Cervical stenosis may be something you are already aware of if you have spinal stenosis. Cervical stenosis isn’t as extreme as Endometriosis or Uterine fibroids because there aren’t any growths involved! This condition affects women that have a small cervix opening that affects the flow of their period. With this smaller opening, women feel a lot of pressure and pain in their lower abdomen because the normal flow of their period is being blocked. Some women are born with this condition, but some develop it over time! There are some medical procedures that can be done to help widen this opening, so talk to your doctor if this is something that you may be worried about! Ever since the beginning of humanity, women have been dealing with periods and have learned remedies that work for them! Some swear by exercise, some swear by medications, and some swear by herbal and topical remedies. Personally, exercise makes my cramps worse, but I have found a good combo of Midol, green tea, and a heating pad that works pretty nicely for me! There are many other remedies that I have read about and that have been suggested to me, so I’ll tell you all about them so you can find what works for you! Yoga I have tried yoga a little bit on my period, but I haven’t tried any stretches that target the tension in your lower abdomen, so I am excited to find a yoga routine that is perfect for my period! I have heard that people swear by this to reduce the pain in their lower back and upper thighs, as well as target their core to reduce their cramps. There are a ton of youtube videos that give virtual yoga classes that target period pain, so go and check them out! Essential Oils I use essential oils to reduce my migraines when I’m on my period and they work like a charm for me. Sage Oil is good to use if you need to reduce pain. If you’re looking to reduce inflammation, Rose Oil is best for you. Lavender Oil is probably one of the most versatile essential oils out there, but it is great to use in a diffuser to reduce your anxiety and irritability. Peppermint Oil is my personal go to for migraines - just massage 1-2 drops into your temples for some immediate relief! If you’re looking for something that works all around, try the Progessence Plus Oil from Young Living! It uses a mixture of different oils that help soothe pain and boost your mood! I highly encourage you to research find oils to incorporate into your daily routine that are specific to your needs, especially on your period, because they’re great natural healers! Medical Marijuana Now, I know this is a VERY controversial topic, but it’s 2020 and I am here openly talking about periods. With that said, I think it’s an important choice to throw in here, just in case there is someone out there that can really benefit from it. Medical marijuana has all sorts of health benefits when it comes to reducing pain. It is a great alternative to pharmaceuticals because it is only addictive in 10% of users. It’s a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent. It helps greatly in reducing migraines, back pain, and cramps themselves! I know many people who have benefitted from medical marijuana and reducing their period pain, but these are people with underlying conditions (including chronic pain, which can be caused by painful periods) that qualify for a medical card in their state. If this is something that interests you, talk with your doctor and visit a Qualified Medical Provider (QMP) in your area to discuss your options Medication This is typically everybody’s go to, but it’s still important to know about all of the options that help! I personally swear by Midol Complete, which can be bought in just about any drugstore imaginable. Many people also use Advil or Tylenol Extra Strength, but they don’t always do the job. Did you know that you can get a higher dosage of ibuprofen that is safe for you to use with a prescription from your doctor? I didn’t find this out until last year, so I’m sure that there are others out there that have no idea as well. Other prescriptions that you can get to help cramps, especially if you get them not just on your period, is birth control! I know bringing up the topic of birth control to your parents or healthcare provider can be scary if you're going on it for the first time, but there are lots of available options out there where you can get it on your own and online! Personally, I use The Pill Club. I love using them because I was connected with a doctor that I was able to send all of my symptoms to, and they were able to get me the right prescription shipped to my house! If you want to continue with taking medications, but they aren’t quite doing the trick, talk to your doctor about the pain you are having and see if you can get a prescription for these higher doses of ibuprofen or birth control! Do your research and talk to your doctor about what would best suit you. Now these are only a few of the many remedies out there, but some of them may be things you haven’t tried before, so take control and go try them if they seem right for you! On top of some of these remedies, I also still use a heating pad and drink hot tea regularly to soothe the pain, but that doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. I know I don’t typically discuss medical topics on here, but I’m glad I got the opportunity to give a little more insight into why we may have painful periods to all of you! It’s time to stop letting your period pain control you. Talk to your doctor and try new remedies! Find exactly what works for you and take control. You truly can conquer your period pain, it just takes some time, so in that time, stay happy and stay healthy! You are stronger than your period. xo, The Undergrad *all medical information was sourced from Mayo Clinic
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AUTHORCamille Baron is a 20 year old attending the University of Utah and is in her third year as a Strategic Communications major. She strives to educate college women like herself to achieve their full potential in all aspects of life. ARCHIVES
July 2020
CATEGORIESAll Business And Professional College Culture Education Health And Wellness Self Care Travel |