Dysmenorrhoea is a medical condition characterised by severe uterine pain during menstruation. While most women experience minor pain during menstruation, dysmenorrhoea is diagnosed when the pain is so severe as to limit normal activities, or require medication.

Dysmenorrhoea can feature different kinds of pain, including sharp, throbbing, dull, nauseating, burning, or shooting pain. It may precede menstruation by several days or may accompany it, and it usually subsides as menstruation tapers off. Dysmenorrhoea may coexist with excessively heavy blood loss, known asmenorrhagia.

Secondary dysmenorrhoea is diagnosed when symptoms are attributable to an underlying disease, disorder, or structural abnormality either within or outside the uterus. Primary dysmenorrhoea is diagnosed when none of these is detected.

Primary dysmenorrhoea

Pathophysiology

During a woman's menstrual cycle, the endometrium thickens in preparation for potential pregnancy. After ovulation, if the ovum is not fertilized and there is no pregnancy, the built-up uterine tissue is not needed and thus shed.

Molecular compounds called prostaglandins are released during menstruation due to destruction of the endometrial cells and the resultant release of their contents. Release of prostaglandins and other inflammatory mediators in the uterus cause the uterus to contract. These substances are thought to be a major factor in primary dysmenorrhoea. When the uterine muscles contract, they constrict the blood supply to the tissue of the endometrium, which in turn breaks down and dies. These uterine contractions continue as they squeeze the old, dead endometrial tissue through the cervix and out of the body through the vagina. These contractions, and the resulting temporary oxygen deprivation to nearby tissues, are responsible for the pain or "cramps" experienced during menstruation.

Compared with other women, females with primary dysmenorrhoea have increased activity of the uterine muscle with increased contractility and increased frequency of contractions.

Signs and symptoms

The main symptom of dysmenorrhoea is pain concentrated in the lower abdomen, in the umbilical region or the suprapubic region of the abdomen. It is also commonly felt in the right or left abdomen. It may radiate to the thighs and lower back. Other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, fainting, and fatigue. Symptoms of dysmenorrhoea often begin immediately following ovulation and can last until the end of menstruation. This is because dysmenorrhoea is often associated with changes in the body that occur with ovulation. The use of certain types of birth control pills can prevent the symptoms of dysmenorrhoea, because they stop ovulation from occurring.

Nutritional Help

Several nutritional supplements have been indicated as effective in treating dysmenorrhoea, including omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, vitamin E, zinc, thiamine (vitamin B₁) and baobab fruit powder (high in magnesium, iron, antioxidants, fibre and balance’s ph) .

Myosteopractic Help

Myosteopractic is able to release tension in the nerves that supply the functions of the reproductive system thereby significantly reducing pain. In addition, Myosteopractic has cross release techniques that are able to stimulate prostoglandins which help in regulating menstrual irregularities.