Menstrual Cycle Problems – How to Ease Menstrual Cramps

Many women experience menstrual cycle problems associated with menstruation. During the menstrual cycle most women experience minor physical or mood changes as well as positive changes that may include increased sexual desire, feelings of affection and self confidence.

Some women reported that making love right before or during menstruation helps to relief cramps. Menstruation changes a woman’s natural production of vaginal lubrication and it is always a safe practice to use lubricant during sexual interaction or self pleasure for safe and more comfortable vaginal stimulation.

Women may experience several negative symptoms cause by menstrual cycle problems before or during menstruation and the best way to minimize these symptoms is to focus on proper diet, moderate exercise and sleep pattern. Increasing fluid intake and food rich in fiber can help with constipation that occurs sometime before or during menstruation. Avoiding foods high in salt help to reduce bloating cause by water retention and taking food supplement such as calcium, magnesium and B vitamins can also help to reduce bloating and cramps.

There are several menstrual cycle problems affecting women and these may include premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome is a symptom of physical and emotional discomfort that can occur before each menstrual cycle. Physical discomfort may include bloating, breast swelling, constipation, and pain. Emotional discomfort may include irritability, tension, depression, anxiety, fatigue, mood swings, low or high sex drive, and feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is a painful menstruation. There are two types and these are primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea.

• Primary dysmenorrhea is a menstrual cramp that occurs during menstruation. The cramps are caused by overproduction of prostaglandins which is a hormone that induces uterus contractions. Women experience symptoms which may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, and nervousness.

• Secondary dysmenorrhea may occur before or during menstruation and is often associated with lower abdominal pain, back pain and pain to the thigh. Women may experience some of the symptoms similar to primary dysmenorrhea.

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. There are two types and these are primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea.

• Primary amenorrhea is the failure to begin to menstruate at puberty. This may be caused by problems with reproductive organs, imbalance hormone, poor health, or an imperforate hymen.

• Secondary amenorrhea is the disruption of an existing menstrual cycle along with the absence of menstruation for three months or more. This is common for women during pregnancy and breast feeding as well as women who just begun menstruating and women approaching menopause.

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

Toxic shock syndrome is a disease that causes a person to go into shock which may occur during menstruation. Toxic shock syndrome is caused by toxins produced by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and some of the symptoms may include fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, red skin flush, headaches and low blood pressure. Some of the factors that increase the risk of TSS may include the use of tampons that are left in place for long period of time, skin infections, and surgical wound which may also cause infection.

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