Menstrual Pain, Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is more frequent in young women because their hormone control circuits, which control the bleeding, are not yet fully developed.

The typical cramps are caused by the need to get rid of the outer layers of the uterine lining in order to make place for building up a new lining. To push all the dead tissue out of the uterus, the body needs to tighten and to cramp certain muscles in the uterus. For that purpose it emits prostaglandins, which are chemical compounds operating as pain mediators to start this process.

If the menstrual pain regularly comes without indications or ailments, it can be relieved with some effective remedies. It is not necessary to reach out for drug medication, as there are other helpful possibilities such as heat therapy or TENS therapy.

TENS is similar to acupuncture but it does not use needles. Instead it uses electric pulses. By placing electrodes on the skin, very mild electric pulses reach the nerves through the skin and influence the pain information that goes to the brain, as well as helps the body to produce the happiness hormones.