Dysmenorrhea is pain that precedes, accompanies or follows menstruation. More than half of women experience these period pains and can significantly affect their lives.
What is dysmenorrhea ?
These are the pains that can sometimes accompany periods. Symptoms include:
- Abdominal cramps
- Pain that may radiate into the lower back or inner thighs
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache or feeling unwell
- Diarrhea
- Chest pain
The origins of this pain can be numerous:
- Lack of oxygenation of the uterine muscle, due to the temporary increase in their contractibility.
- Endometriosis
- Blockage in the bony structures of the pelvis
These pains can be present before, during or after your menstruation but also at the time of ovulation in the middle of the cycle.
What are the factors favoring dysmenorrhea ?
There are factors contributing to the onset of menstrual pain, such as:
- Smoking
- Wearing a copper intrauterine device (IUD)
- Consumption of alcohol/coffee during menstruation
- Lack of physical activity
- Anxiety/stress
- Hormonal imbalance
- Thyroid deficiency
How can osteopathy relieve period pain ?
Osteopathy is a manual therapy consisting of correcting loss of mobility in the human body. Thus, by looking for the causes of this pain, he can, through gentle manipulations, improve the gynecological function. The aim of the manipulations is to allow better mobility of the uterus and give it more space so as not to hinder its contraction.
Finally, balancing techniques can be done on the lumbar, pelvis and on the nervous and vascular system.
Before osteopathic treatment, it is best to consult your gynecologist. This consultation makes it possible to exclude a medical cause for the pain which would require drug treatment.
Some tips to combat dysmenorrhea
Here are some tips to reduce period pain:
✔️ Warm.
By taking a hot bath or using a hot water bottle (water or dry) you will relax the muscles and calm the pain. The hot water bottle can be placed at the bottom of the abdomen or at the lumbar level.
✔️ Do light physical exercise.
Sport is a natural pain reliever, you activate your blood circulation and oxygenate your body.
✔️ Abdominal breathing exercises.
Just like sport, breathing exercises help relax inflamed and spasmed viscera.
⚠️ Do not hesitate to talk about it with your gynecologist, he will be able to advise you on a suitable method of contraception!
