Menstrual cramps after period

Painful menstruation or dysmenorrhea is a condition that most women experience commonly. However, you should not ignore this problem if you are experiencing painful menstrual cramps after period as it could lead to certain gynecological conditions.

Continue reading this article to know about the condition as well as its causes, treatment and more.

Painful menstrual cramps usually occurs in the lower abdomen, but you could also experience pain in the lower back and thighs, fatigue, dizziness and nausea during periods.

It is considered normal to have cramping and mild pain during periods, but persistent pain that continues after periods is usually a sign that you have an underlying disorder.

What Causes Menstrual Cramps after Period

Over fifty percent of the menstruating females experience cramping and pain that starts one or two days prior to the beginning of their period and subsides at the end. This condition is called primary dysmenorrhea and it’s considered normal. It results from fluctuating levels of prostaglandin. Your uterine muscles will relax and contract routinely, but the prostaglandin actions will cause them to increase and trigger cramps.

Another condition called secondary dysmenorrhea is the painful cramps which start before the period begins and continue after it ends. This condition is associated with these disorders:

Uterine Fibroids: You can have this condition when non-cancerous tumors grow from the smooth uterine muscle tissue. Aside from dysmenorrhea, this tumorous growth can cause other symptoms such as irregular bleeding, frequent urination, and feeling of mass under the waistline.

Endometriosis: A disorder that develops when the endometrial tissue is present at sites other than uterus resulting in cyclic pain and mounting an inflammatory response.
This abnormal growth can cause pain when passing stool, inflammation, pelvic pain, and mild or severe cramps.

Ovarian Cysts: This is one of the main causes of secondary dysmenorrhea and it occurs when fluid-filled sacs or cysts develops in the ovaries. They can also cause polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility.

Adenomyosis: This is caused by abnormal growth of the endometrial glandular tissue in the muscular wall of the uterus. It’s associated with symptoms such as abnormal uterine bleeding, blood clots and heavy menstruation.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: This is caused by bacterial infection inside the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes. It can cause infertility and tissue scarring. Abnormal vaginal discharge, irregular menstrual bleeding, and fever are the common symptoms.

Ovulation cramps: They occur in lower abdomen, usually on one side, after the release of ovum from the follicle.

Treatment

Your doctor might recommend hormonal therapies and birth control pills, NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and antibiotics as treatments. Surgery might be needed to remove cysts or fibroids in severe cases.

There are also other remedies that you can try to get relief from the discomfort and uneasiness of menstrual cramps. These include taking warm showers; drinking warm beverages; applying heating pad and light massages to the lower abdomen; mild exercise; relaxation techniques and over-the-counter painkillers or analgesics.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a well-balanced diet, and doing things to reduce stress can also help with painful menstrual cramps after period.
Image: Pixabay

References

1. https://medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/dysmenorrhea
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/cramps-after-period#causes
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320974.php