For some women, heavy bleeding, keel over cramps, and nasty PMS make life whole lot harder. About 95% of women experience some sort of issue once a month. Here is a list of the most common, and some solutions recently suggested by experts. As with anything else, check with your doctor before proceeding with any treatment
Virtually all women get cramps at one point or another, and these pains happen to be the most common reason for a woman to call in sick. The uterus is a muscle, and during your period it contracts, sometimes it can squeeze so hard that it actually blocks the arteries coming into it, just like in a heart attack, when the arteries are blocked, it causes pain.
What is Recommended
We all know that drugs like aspirin, and ibuprofen can help by short-circuiting the production of pain-causing chemicals called prostaglandins, but remember that extended use of high dosages of aspirin or NSAIDs may cause gastrointestinal troubles.
Omega-3 fats from fish oil however seem to block prostaglandin production, naturally. Research shows that women with low intakes of omega-3s have more painful periods.
Another way, tried and true is the good old heating pad. You can also try new nonprescription heat wraps, which last for eight hours and can be worn under your clothes.
Steer clear of salty foods, and drink lots of water. Severe bleeding
Heavy bleeding, also called menorrhagia affects about 2/3 of women. The average woman loses about three to four tablespoons per cycle; more than five tablespoons is considered heavy.)
What is Recommended
If you have a serious problem, your doctor might recommend NovaSure. NovaSure is a 5 minute procedure done in a gynecologist's office, that rids most women who go through with it, from ever having a period ever again. A 'wand' emitting energy is inserted into the uterus, and in most cases, it permanently removes the uterine lining. Getting pregnant afterwards however is known to be risky, so steer clear if you want more children.
There is also a pill that will skip your monthly menstrual cycle. The 365-day birth-control pill, called Lybrel. Lybrel has no placebo pills, so you just keep taking an active pill each day. There is also Seasonale and Seasonique with which you take 84 active pills in a row, resulting in 4 periods per year.
If skipping your period is not for you, the traditional pill is also known for easing heavy flow. The constant level of progesterone causes the endometrium to develop a much thinner lining, resulting in a lighter period.
Mirena, the intrauterine device secretes progestin on a daily basis, thinning the uterine lining so there's virtually nothing to shed when you get your period.
PMS
From headaches to breast tenderness, or big, unpleasant mood swings, premenstrual symptoms affect about 66% of menstruating women. Up to 8% of these women have changes severe enough to cause problems in their personal lives and daily routines, this is also known as PMDD.
What is Recommended
Research shows that calcium supplements ease symptoms. It may work by helping to even out hormone levels. Most women don't get enough calcium in their diets.
Though working out may be the last thing you want to do, daily exercise has proven mood boosting eddects. Do some brisk walking, weight lifting, or even yoga.
Yaz, a birth-control pill that's FDA-approved to treat PMDD. Clinical trials show it can cut symptoms by at least half, though the reasons are unclear.
Upset Stomach
Many women have diarrhea, gas, or constipation during their periods because the chemicals that cause cramping in your uterus, do the same in your bowels.
What is Recommended
Fiber can help keep GI issues under control. Eat cereal, fruit with the skin, and vegetables. Eat too much fiber and it could worsen diarrhea. For constipation, when you get the urge, go. Many women say that they hold it if they are in a public place.
Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory medicines can reduce cramping, but may irritate your stomach, so take them with food.
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12 comments:
Actually you're not supposed to take NSAIDs when you're bleeding because they act as blood thinners and can actually prolong the bleeding.
Also, you can't just walk into your doctor's office and decide you want endometrial ablation done because your period annoys you...there needs to be significant need (ie extremely heavy bleeding or severe menstrual issues) in order to warrant such a procedure. It has also been known to leave scar tissue in the uterine lining which contributes to infertility and increased chances of miscarriage.
I think I will listen to my Dr. before I listen to an anonymous poster on a forum. Having said that, my Doctor told me to take advil (ibuprofen) when I am on my period. I don't think she would tell me something that would endanger my health...
It's not endangering your health, it just makes you bleed more. If you don't believe me, look it up. It's the same reason you're not supposed to take those medications before having surgery...because they increase bleeding.
I get severe cramps and I can barely move that's why she tells me to take them.
tylenol is more for pain than ibuprofen.
That's right...which is why things like Midol are made with acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Hmm, The info posted here is recommended by the Journal of Gynecology. They mentioned nothing about the prolonging of a period, but maybe they presume that if the pain is severe enough, a little longer period might not bother some people as long as they get rid of the pain.
I'm sure your Dr prescribed what she thought was best for YOU anonymous. Everyone is different. If you are worried about blood thinning maybe it's something you should as her about. :)
It's a FACT that these drugs thin blood regardless of what that article says. That doesn't mean they don't do other things too and you're not going to bleed to death from your period if you take them. The point I'm trying to make is if you're already a heavy bleeder, taking these drugs is not going to help matters. Sure they may get rid of your cramps but you're likely going to bleed more so you should probably take something OTHER than an NSAID for cramps FIRST before resorting to NSAIDs.
this is probably why drs get people to take them daily to thin out their blood. i really don't think theres much point in arguing these facts you could always just look them up yourself really.
There is no point in arguing the facts, but it can be a safety issue for some people depending on their health status...some women become anemic while they are on their periods and taking something that will cause them to bleed even MORE is a health risk.
That's right, as with everything, ask your doctor before you proceed with anything. :)
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