Tag: menstruation

Menstrual pain 月经痛

Painful menstrual periods are marked by lower abdominal pain and cramps. A woman may feel sharp pains that come and go, or dull, aching pains. Painful menstrual periods may also cause back pain.

Painful menstruation is the leading cause of lost time from school and work among women in their teens and 20s. Although some pain during menstruation is normal, excessive pain is not.

There are two general types of dysmenorrhea:

  1. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain that occurs in otherwise healthy women. This type of pain is not related to any specific problems with the uterus or other pelvic organs.
  2. Secondary dysmenorrhea is a menstrual main that is attributed to some underlying disease of structural abnormality within or outside the uterus.

Activity of the hormone prostaglandin, produced in the uterus, is thought to be a factor in primary dysmenorrhea. This hormone causes contractions in the uterus and levels tend to be much higher in women with severe menstrual pain than in women who experience mild or no menstrual pain.

Possible causes

  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  • Stress and anxiety;
  • Endometriosis; pelvic inflammatory disease; sexually transmitted diseases, fibroids, ovarian cysts and use of intrauterine devices.

Applied nutrition

Generally to ease pain and regulate hormonal release.

Menstrual bleeding 月经出血

Although it is a natural process, the symptoms can be reduced through a good diet, proper exercise and stress management.
The menstrual cycle is not the same for every woman. Optimally, menstrual flow occurs every 28 days and lasts about 4 days.

If one soaks a sanitary pad / tampon every hour for 6 consecutive hours, it is considered a very heavy period. A prolonged period lasts longer than 7 days.

Bleeding may be something to worry about if it occurs between periods, after intercourse, or if the prospect is over the age of 50, especially after menopause.

Possible causes

There are myriad possible causes including:

  • Anovulation (failure of ovaries to produce / release eggs);
  • Endometrial polyps / hyperplasia / cancer;
  • Uterine fibroids;
  • Abnormal thyroid or pituitary function;
  • Hormonal changes (e.g. menopause);
  • Pregnancy complications including miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy;
  • Ingestion of birth control pills or estrogens;
  • Use of certain drugs like steroids or blood thinners;
  • Use of an intrauterine device for birth control;
  • Recent trauma, surgery or other uterine procedure;
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease or other infection;
  • Stress, changes in diet or exercise routine, recent weight changes, travel or illness.

Applied nutrition

The main flow of thought is to compensate for the loss of nutrients through the blood and to balance hormonal release.