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WOMEN'S HEALTH
Periods:
HOW TO TURN A MONTHLY FOE INTO A FRIEND Dinah Olson
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s your “monthly friend” not very friendly? Do you wish she would quit stopping by every single month? Whatever you call that time of the month: Aunt Flo, Mother Nature, Strawberry Week, Shark Week, Girl Flu; it does not have to be such an unwelcome visitor. In both primary care and gynecologic specialty offices women often seek care because they are unable to function for one or more days every month due symptoms associated with their menstrual periods. They may have pain and or bleeding that interrupts school, work, athletic or social activities. Often patients have suffered for years without seeking help because they thought, or were told, that it is a normal part of being a woman. While the menstrual cycle is indeed a normal bodily function, disruption of your life is not. The idea that women should just learn to live with menstrual symptoms that interrupt their lives is outdated and dismissive.
Too painful? Are your periods painful? Do you find yourself stuck in bed clutching a heating pad or with your skin shriveling up from long hot baths? You have dysmenorrhea, which is the medical term for menstrual cramps that originate in the uterus. Sometimes pain may radiate into the back or down the legs. For some women the pain is a minor inconvenience. For others, symptoms are severe enough to result in the complete loss of one more days of functionality every single month.
March 2021
Why are some women more affected by menstrual pain than others? Research indicates prostaglandin levels may be elevated in women who suffer from primary dysmenorrhea. Prostaglandins are chemicals made by our own cells and are involved in the body’s inflammatory response and regulation of contraction and relaxation of muscles. This includes the very strong muscles that are contained in the uterus. It is important to distinguish between two main types of dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to the condition of painful periods without any known physical problem that may cause pelvic pain. Onset for most women is when ovulatory menstrual cycles begin, usually within six to 12 months of menarche (the very first menstrual period). Secondary dysmenorrhea refers to painful menses or pelvic pain due to pelvic pathology or a recognized medical condition. Those condition include pelvic infection, endometriosis, adenomyosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids or other pelvic structural abnormalities. By seeing your healthcare provider you can determine which category you fall into and what treatment approach is best for you.
Too heavy? Do you refer to your friend as Bloody Mary, Red Wedding, Code Red? Are you spending too much money on feminine hygiene products and replacing ruined clothing? Then you may suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). HMB is the medical
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