Stomach ache and menstruation: how to get over the pain?

Many women experience period-related discomforts known as dysmenorrhea. Among the various disorders a menstruating person may experience, there's period stomachache. Pain in the lower abdomen. How can I stop having uterine pain during my period?

Contents

Why does my stomach hurt during my period?
What are the different types of period pain?
How can I relieve stomach ache during my period?
Who should I talk to about painful tummy aches?

Why does my stomach hurt during my period?

The menstrual cycle is the source of many disorders, including menstrual symptoms. It's perfectly normal to feel a little pain and discomfort during your period. The menstrual cycle is a sea ofhormones that influence our bodies in many ways. The cause of stomach ache during menstruation is directly linked to the more or less strong contractions made by the uterus to expel the endometrium. These contractions are caused by an excess of a hormone called prostaglandin.

What are the different types of stomach pain during menstruation?

During menstruation, it's not uncommon to experience various types of pain. Many women wonder how to get rid of the pain in their lower abdomen during their period. To find solutions, it's important to identify and understand your period pain. Belly pain during periods is commonly referred to by the medical profession as dysmenorrhea.

Recurrent bloating

During the menstrual period, and especially just before it arrives, you may be prone to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and your stomach ache may be a symptom of bloating. This is because progesterone causes the digestive system to slow down, relax and stop doing its job. Progesterone can then lead to gas accumulation and constipation, often synonymous with a bloated belly at the time of menstruation. If bloating becomes chronic, we recommend you consult a doctor. Some signs that you may be suffering from bloating during your period:

a swollen abdomen
water retention
stomach pain
flatulence, gurgling in the digestive tract
an unpleasant smell when gas is expelled

more or less violent cramps

The menstrual cramps are the most common complaint of menstruating women. 80% of women suffer pain in the lower abdomen, back, legs and thighs at the time of their period. 15% of women suffering from uterine pain during menstruation are handicapped in their daily lives. These cramps are often associated with dizziness, diarrhoea, migraines or nausea during menstruation.

Dysmenorrhea, or menstrual cramps and spasms of the uterus, can appear as early as adolescence or adulthood. If pain appears in adulthood, it's a sign of an imbalance or underlying pathology.

Abdominal cramps during menstruation can be painful and violent, and have several causes:

If there is too high a peak in prostaglandins, leading to excessive uterine contractions.
If the cause of the pain is linked to a pathology such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS or uterine fibroids. In this case, it's important to consult a doctor.

How to relieve stomach ache during menstruation?

In some cases, menstrual pain can be unbearable, forcing menstruating women to change their activities or stay in bed. There are several methods available to relieve discomfort in the abdomen during menstruation. Beware, however, of self-medication: always seek the advice of a healthcare professional!

Taking medication

There are several medications on the market, available in pharmacies or on prescription, to relieve menstrual pain.
Doctors recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and ibuprofen as the first-line treatment. Some drugs, such as Antadys or Ponstyl, are specifically designed to treat abdominal pain during menstruation. Spasfon and Doliprane can also help reduce the spasms and uterine contractions of menstruation when the pain becomes generalized. Just be careful not to take aspirin, which will increase menstrual bleeding!
Some doctors will prescribe contraceptive pills to regulate hormones and control the menstrual cycle, blood flow and pelvic pain during periods.

Natural methods

For natural relief of period pain, you can also try the following natural methods.

Use a hot-water bottle or cherry-stone hot-water bottle to relieve abdominal pain.
Take a hot bath to relax
Get enoughsleep and rest during the day
Acupuncture and osteopathy can help limit period pain, especially for those with adhesions linked to endometriosis or gynaecological disease.
practice gentle sports such as yoga or walking
Limit consumption of coffee, tea and salt
Use an essential oil (or several!) adapted to uterine contractions during menstruation. Ask your pharmacist for advice!
Avoid stressfulsituations
Use appropriate sanitary protection to avoid adding to your discomfort.
Avoidtobacco and alcohol.

Who should you consult if you suffer from painful stomach pains?

If you experience chronic abdominal pain during your period, whether or not accompanied by heavy bleeding, it's advisable to make a diagnostic appointment with your GP, gynecologist or midwife, who will be able to diagnose your condition and suggest an appropriate treatment.
If the pain is frequent and increasing in intensity, you may be suffering from endometriosis, a fibroid or another disease. If you have dysmenorrhea but no period, you probably have a developing pregnancy. Your doctor or healthcare professional will prescribe a check-up to find the cause.

The FAQ of bellyache during menstruation

What causes stomach ache during periods?

Uterine pain during menstruation is linked to the hormonal variations our body undergoes. Its hormones will impact and create more or less violent cramps to expel menstrual blood. You may also experience bloating or constipation before your period, or diarrhea during it.