Dealing with pain during your period

One home remedy to help relieve period pain is to place a hot water bottle or heat pad on your abdomen. — dpa

Menstruation – more commonly referred to as a woman’s period – is vaginal bleeding that occurs monthly.

Painful periods are referred to medically as “dysmenorrhoea”.

When your pre-teen or teenage daughter starts menstruating, she may experience period pains every month.

Lower abdomen cramps, lower backache, nausea, bloating or headache are all common symptoms of dysmenorrhoea, and she may have difficulty dealing with these symptoms.

Period pains are most likely caused by an excess of the hormone-like substances called prostaglandins produced by the uterus.

These prostaglandins cause a woman’s uterus muscles to tighten and relax in order to expel its lining every month, and this often results in pain.

Period pains usually occur when one starts bleeding and can last for two or three days – sometimes, even longer.

It is commonly believed that period pains will diminish as the girl grows older or after she has a child.

There’s also something known as secondary dysmenorrhoea.

This is caused by another medical condition, such as pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis.

If your daughter suffers from heavy menstrual flow or irregular bleeding, it’s best to schedule a proper check-up with a specialist.

Period pains are different from what is known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

PMS is a condition that affects a woman’s physical and emotional well-being, typically just before getting her period.

Your child may feel moody, easily- angered or just overwhelmed by emotion during this time, but that’s natural.

The simplest way for your child to manage her period pains is with painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.

If ordinary painkillers do not help, ask your doctor for a stronger painkiller, such as naproxen.

Make sure your daughter is eating a healthy diet rich in greens, fibre and vitamins, and is always well-hydrated, getting enough sleep and keeping fit.

She may not feel like exercising when she gets her period, but staying active can actually reduce the pain.

So do encourage moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as walking or jogging, which improves blood circulation and releases endorphins.

Some common home remedies include placing a heat pad or hot water bottle on the tummy (wrap a towel around the pad or bottle so that she doesn’t hurt herself), or taking a warm shower/bath to help her relax.

Some women enjoy massages (with essential oils) and other relaxation methods such as yoga and Pilates.

Acupuncture and acupressure may also be effective.

Your child may find herbal remedies such as chamomile tea, ginger and cinnamon helpful too.

However, it’s always best to check with a doctor before trying anything extraordinary.

All said, period pains are natural, common, and can be managed effectively with medication and home remedies.

Every individual is different, so find out what works best for your child, and chances are she will be better prepared to deal with her monthly periods and not dread them!

However, if your child experiences a sudden increase in her usual levels of pain, or if you notice anything abnormal, it’s always best to speak to a doctor to rule out anything serious.

Dr H Krishna Kumar is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, and Past President of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia. This article is courtesy of the Malaysian Paediatric Association’s Positive Parenting programme in collaboration with expert partners. For further information, please email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.