Coping with Period Pains and Other Menstrual Syndromes

Women from all over the world cope with diverse menstrual syndromes that cannot be avoided, while having their monthly period either at home or at work.

Generally. working women tend to be less vocal about the impact of menstruation, just to avoid interruptions in their activities, and even if it affects the quality of their life. Some others prefer not to talk about any health-related issues; wary that doing so can affect their opportunities for career advancement.

Menstrual Cycles and the Diverse Symptoms Commonly Affecting Women

  • While menstruation as it is, causes discomfort and unease especially while at work, it can be burdensome if it comes with the following syndromes:
  • Pain
  • Muscle cramps or motility if uterine muscles commonly called dysmenorrhea
  • Heavy Bleeding or Menorrhagia
  • Dizzy spells or nausea
  • Headaches causing irritability, mood swings or depression
  • Bloating and constipation due to uterine contractions that slow down the processing of food in the digestive system

These undesirable symptoms are mainly due to the physiological and hormonal changes, which can vary from cycle to cycle.

Understanding the Hormonal Changes that Occur During Menstrual Period

During menstruation periods, there are hormonal changes that transpires in a woman’s body. Understand that hormones are natural chemical compounds produced by glands. The purpose of which is to send signals to the brain in order to trigger responses in corresponding body parts.

Oxytocin for one, controls key functions of the organs in the female reproductive system, particularly the breast and the uterus. It promotes the production of prostaglandins, a group of molecules that controls muscle contractions, blood flow, inflammation and blood clot formations.

During menstrual periods, the levels of oxytocin could intensify the workings of the prostaglandin muscle contractions, causing painful muscle cramps.

Estrogen is another female hormone that influences the condition of the female body during menstrual periods. Estrogen levels in the reproductive system rise and fall during menstruations, which affect the responses of the neurotransmitter serotonin. When estrogen levels are low, slow serotonin responses lead to changes in mood, sleep patterns, and or behavioral responses.

Progesterone – Progesterones help prepare the uterus for ovulation after the reproductive system completes a menstrual cycle. When the menstruation cycle begins, progesterone levels drop, which can likewise influence the responses of the serotonin neurotransmitters.

The negative impacts of all these hormonal changes can of course take their toll on the well-being of a woman who constantly experiences any of the different menstrual syndromes. While some are fortunate to have developed the fortitude to prevent such effects from disrupting their daily activities, many women are not as lucky.

Nevertheless, menstrual syndromes can be managed as there are natural remedies that can provide period pain relief. In addition, there are now essential oils and medications containing biochemical substances. Reference to biochemicals denote that they were extracted from organic ingredients like cucumin, fennel seeds, lemon balm, including the marijuana hemp plant.

Managing the Impact of Menstrual Syndromes

Period pain relief can be attained by applying warm compress on the abdomen or by massaging the abdomen with any of the aforementioned essential oil extracts. Yet working women who experience mood changes that can negatively impact their behavioral and mental functions, need more than pain relief when going through a menstrual cycle.

Traditionally, doctors simply prescribe antidepressants or oral contraceptives that can address hormone imbalances affecting serotonin responses. Since modern medicine now recognizes the medicinal properties of the hemp plant marijuana, a doctor may prescribe medications containing cannabinoids (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the two active compounds of marijuana plants.

Although medications with CBD and THC formulations have been proven effective in promoting feelings of calmness and relaxation, their dosage must be limited to 70 mg per day to avoid dependence that could lead to psychoactive reactions.

Moreover, a person must be at least 18 year of age and not suffering from any other medical condition. Mainly because CBD/THC formulations are not intended as treatment for any illness or health disorder

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