Many women experience abdominal pain during their menstrual period, some of which are mild while others are very severe, also known as dysmenorrhea. Experts point out that dysmenorrhea is not a disease, but a symptom. Next, let's learn about the causes of menstrual cramps?
1. Endometriosis: Dysmenorrhea is characterized by secondary and progressive aggravation. The so-called progressive refers to pain that increases year by year with the worsening of local lesions. Mostly located in the lower abdomen and lumbosacral region, it can radiate to the vagina, perineum, anus, or thighs. It often begins 1-2 days before menstruation, with the most severe symptoms on the first day of menstruation, gradually decreasing thereafter, and disappearing when menstruation is clean.
2. Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease: Dysmenorrhea is characterized by a wide range of symptoms. Scar adhesions and pelvic congestion caused by chronic pelvic inflammation often lead to lower abdominal bloating, pain, and lumbosacral soreness, which worsen before and after menstruation. Dysmenorrhea is characterized by persistent pain in both upper abdomen, which can radiate to the waist and sometimes accompanied by a feeling of anal heaviness.
3. Adenomyosis: Dysmenorrhea is characterized by progressive worsening. Severe spasmodic colic. More common in multiparous women over 30 years old.
4. Submucosal fibroids of the uterus: Dysmenorrhea is characterized by the growth of fibroids towards the uterine mucosa, protruding from the uterine cavity and affecting the discharge of menstrual blood, which can cause abnormal uterine contractions and result in dysmenorrhea. Symptoms include lower abdominal distension, lower back pain, increased menstrual flow, and irregular menstrual cycles.
5. Chronic cervicitis: Dysmenorrhea is characterized by an increase in vaginal discharge. When the inflammation spreads along the uterosacral ligament to the pelvic cavity, it can cause dysmenorrhea, mainly manifested as pain in the lumbar and sacral regions, pelvic pain, etc. The pain worsens during menstruation, defecation, or sexual intercourse. Cervicitis caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other factors often leads to cervical canal obstruction or stenosis, causing retrograde flow of menstrual blood and resulting in dysmenorrhea.
6. Pelvic congestion syndrome: Dysmenorrhea is characterized by a wide range of chronic congestion related dysmenorrhea, accompanied by lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, menstrual breast pain, and other symptoms. The pain often worsens a few days before menstruation and subsides on the first or second day after menstruation, with a few cases of persistent pain. The pain worsens after the patient stands for a period of time and when running, jumping, or suddenly sitting down, and is heavier in the afternoon than in the morning. Commonly seen in women aged 25-40.
7. Reproductive tract malformation: Dysmenorrhea is characterized by mechanical obstruction such as excessive forward tilting of the uterine body and hymen obstruction, which hinders the flow of menstrual blood and accumulates blood, inducing abnormal contractions of the uterine smooth muscle and leading to dysmenorrhea. Usually, there is a gradually worsening periodic lower abdominal pain, and there may be gradually increasing lumps in the lower abdomen.
8. Cervical or uterine adhesions: Dysmenorrhea is characterized by poor menstrual flow caused by cervical or uterine adhesions, leading to dysmenorrhea. Commonly seen in repeated abortions, endometrial tuberculosis, etc.
