Can Excessive Menstrual Pain Be Eased?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

Excessive menstrual pain can be effectively managed through a variety of interventions. Aromatherapy and acupressure have shown promising results as non-pharmacological treatments. Pharmacological options like NSAIDs and vitamin B1 are also effective, particularly for those using IUDs. Self-care strategies, including exercise and heat application, offer additional relief and can be valuable alternatives to traditional analgesics.

Excessive menstrual pain, or dysmenorrhea, is a prevalent issue affecting many women, often leading to significant discomfort and disruption of daily activities. Various interventions, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, have been explored to alleviate this pain.

Key Insights

• Aromatherapy:
  • Aromatherapy, particularly using essential oils like cinnamon, clove, rose, and lavender, has been shown to significantly reduce the level and duration of menstrual pain and bleeding compared to placebo treatments1 4.
• Pharmacological Interventions:
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen and mefenamic acid can reduce menstrual pain and bleeding, although the evidence varies in certainty2.
  • Vitamin B1 and mefenamic acid have shown effectiveness in reducing heavy menstrual bleeding associated with copper IUD use2.
• Self-Care Strategies:
  • Self-care methods, including the use of over-the-counter analgesics like paracetamol, are commonly employed by young women, though they are not always the most effective options for pain relief3.
  • Exercise and heat application have demonstrated significant reductions in menstrual pain, with exercise showing the largest effect size10.
• Acupressure:
  • App-based self-acupressure has been effective in reducing menstrual pain over time, with increasing adherence and satisfaction among users7.
  • Acupressure, particularly at the sanyinjiao (Sp 6) point, has been shown to significantly decrease the intensity of menstrual pain in adolescents9.
• Mint Leaf Extract:
  • The administration of mint leaf extract (Mentha Piperita Linn.) has been found to be effective in reducing menstrual pain levels in adolescents8.

Can excessive menstrual pain be eased?

Sophia Yen has answered Near Certain

An expert from Pandia Health in Women’s Health

Yes. Know that you can make PeriodsOptional and that it decreases women’s risk of ovarian, endometrial, and colorectal cancer, decreases landfill, and increases women’s ability to participate in school/work.

Can excessive menstrual pain be eased?

Amy Yee has answered Likely

An expert from Tufts University in Women’s Health, Cancer

No woman should need to deal with excessive pain that interferes with daily activities. When OTC treatments don’t work, it is important to consult the expert GYNs to insure that there is not an underlying cause.

Can excessive menstrual pain be eased?

Amy Yee has answered Likely

An expert from Tufts University in Women’s Health, Cancer

No woman should need to deal with excessive pain that interferes with daily activities. When OTC treatments don’t work, it is important to consult the expert GYNs to insure that there is not an underlying cause.

Can excessive menstrual pain be eased?

Cara A Davidson has answered Likely

An expert from Western University in Health

Yes, there are many options available to ease mental and physical menstrual pain. It’s best to consult a medical professional if you are experiencing severe menstrual pain.

Can excessive menstrual pain be eased?

Felicity Roux has answered Uncertain

An expert from Curtin University in Women’s Health

The answer to your question “Can excessive menstrual pain be eased?” rests on too many factors, e.g. underlying causes, patient willingness etc etc. A better question would be “If a woman experiences menstrual pain, what are the steps that she can take to ease it?”. I refer you then to my articles on ovulatory-menstrual health literacy – see www.myvitalcycles.com