Why does it hurt when we menstruate?
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Just prior to the cycle starting, the body releases prostaglandins that should cause small muscular contractions of the uterus and stimulate it to shed the lining. Unfortunately, sometimes the contractions get too strong, and you feel cramps. This is the usual cause for cramps in young women. There are other causes, like fibroids and cystic ovaries- but those are more common in older women. There are medications you can take, anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants, that can help calm things down and eliminate the pain. Cramps are not something you simply have to suffer, at any rate. If you have severe cramps, the kind that make you ill or such, sometimes a course of low dose birth control pill is in order. Normally cramps ease off after you have a baby, probably because the muscles have been stretched to capacity and are a bit laxer, and the contractions are not as strong. Until then, just try over the counter things like Motrin(Ibuprofen), Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Aleve), or the traditional things like Pamprin or Midol. For less severe cramps, a heating pad or one of those stick on heating patches will work as well. Ease up on the caffeine prior to the start, drink more liquids, and avoid foods that cause gase as well- all will help some too. Women do not have to suffer, and cramps do not have to be tolerated. Menstruation does not have to mean pain.
During your period, the muscles in and around your uterus are working extra hard to get the blood out, thus causing the cramps. That's why using a heating pad or taking a hot bath helps with the cramps- the heat makes your muscles relax and not cramp as much.
This happens due to the shedding of the uterine lining that was there in preparation for the implantation of an embryo. This is what you see during your menstruation. At the same time, the uterine muscles would contract to help expel the shed tissue. This contraction is also important as it constricts the blood vessels interlinking the muscular fibres, to aid in stopping the bleeding.
All these activities going on within the uterus can be experienced at varying degrees by different women. Some don't feel anything at all, some feel just a dull pain. Some of us feel almost incapicitated by the pain.
Try using a hot water bottle to help with pain relief, along with menstrual panadol. Get enough rest, keep to your exercise routine as per normal, and drink lots of clear fluids while keeping clear of any caffeinated products.
your ovarys are shedding there lining when u have a cycle. you cramp because it needs to squeeze it all out sorry for the image but thats what we do every month..good luck and get midol it works heavenly
Because your Uterus is contracting to expel the endometrial lining, just like if you were in labor.
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