Supporting Your Loved One through Period Cramp

Many of us have female counterparts who would go missing during “the time of the month”. In fact, period cramp was noted to be the single most common causes for periodic or short-term sickness among young women. Hence, awareness of the support required by women during this cyclical nightmare becomes imperative.

Why Period Cramp Happens?

If no fertilisation takes place in the womb, prostaglandin, a hormone-like substance, will be released to initiate the shedding of the womb lining. As prostaglandin causes the womb to contract, blood flow to the womb lining can be inhibited, contributing to cramps. The lack of oxygen to the womb lining causes the tissues to break down and die, and is subsequently removed from the body through more contractions.

Besides causing pain, prostaglandin also causes headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which can be observed among women with more severe period cramp.

How to Support Loved Ones through Period Cramps?

1. Understand that She Needs Rest

One in five women suffer from period cramp that is severe enough to disrupt her daily routine. When she is in pain, chances are, she might also experience other discomforts, with prostaglandin as the culprit. Although she might still be headstrong towards accomplishing her plans for the day, allowing her room to rest and recover would be much appreciated.

2. Provide Her with Warmth

Handing her a hot water bottle or hot pad to be placed at the abdomen area helps to relief pain. Applying heat relaxes the abdomen muscle and increases the blood flow to the abdomen area to dilute prostaglandins.  Research had shown that hot pad (heated to 40 °C) was as effective as ibuprofen in reducing pain. Interestingly, drinking a glass of hot water works too.

3. Prepare Ginger Tea for Her

Ginger tea works wonders as it alleviates pain and nausea during period cramp by blocking the formation of prostaglandin. It also aids in expelling gas associated with bloating. The tea can be prepared using fresh or dried ginger roots, or preprocessed ginger teabags or powder. Some sources recommend drinking two to three cups of ginger tea when experiencing cramps to alleviate the symptoms of the cramps.

When is Period Cramp “Abnormal”?

Understanding how the body usually reacts during period cramp is important to know if she should be worried. Detecting a change in pain intensity during any given cycle, or if the pain is unusually severe and lasts more than a few days, would mean that she may require medical attention. If your loved one would like to visit a clinic to discuss more about her condition, do encourage her to make an appointment using GetDoc today.

References:

1. Occupational health role in absence caused by menstrual pain 
2. What’s to know about menstrual cramps? 
3. Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea)
4. Dysmenorrhea
5. Comparing the analgesic effect of heat pad containing iron chip and ibuprofren for primary dysmenorrhea: A randomised controlled trial 
6. Ginger tea to relieve constipation

If you would like to make an appointment with a obstetrician and gynaecologist: 

Find an obstetrician and gynaecologist in Malaysia, on GetDoc

Find an obstetrician and gynaecologist in Singapore, on GetDoc

Tags

• Menses
• menstruation
• Period
• Period cramp
• Woman's health