Is dysmenorrhea a disease?

Written by Wang Jing Hua

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Updated on November 25, 2024

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Obvious and severe dysmenorrhea is also considered a disease. Even if physical examinations do not reveal any abnormalities, simple cold uterus or straightforward dysmenorrhea are recognized as diseases. It is advisable to routinely undergo physical examinations to identify causes related to dysmenorrhea. For instance, some people suffer from dysmenorrhea due to pelvic inflammation, others due to complications with intrauterine devices, and some can be diagnosed with conditions such as adenomyosis or endometriosis, which cause progressive dysmenorrhea symptoms.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua

Obstetrics and Gynecology

48sec

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Can you soak your feet if you have menstrual cramps?

Soaking your feet can help with menstrual cramps, as long as the menstrual flow is not too heavy. You can add some Chinese herbal medicine to the footbath, or just use plain warm water. Soaking your feet helps to activate blood circulation and can relieve menstrual cramps, which are often caused by smooth muscle spasms related to being chilled. Getting chilled often leads to spasms and increased pain in smooth muscles. You can soak your feet for an extended period as long as the water temperature is not too hot. Additionally, applying a hot water bottle directly to the abdomen can also be quite effective. Generally, it's best to avoid using painkillers directly, as medications can be harsh on the stomach and have other side effects.

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Written by Li Lin

Obstetrics and Gynecology

45sec

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How is dysmenorrhea caused by adenomyosis treated?

Adenomyosis is a condition in which active endometrial tissue invades the muscular layer of the uterus. The main symptom of adenomyosis is progressively worsening dysmenorrhea. When symptoms are mild, conservative treatments such as physical therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, or pain relief medication can be adopted. However, if the symptoms are severe and conservative treatments fail to alleviate the dysmenorrhea, surgical options may be considered. There are several surgical methods available: one is presacral neurectomy for pain relief, and another, for patients who do not require fertility, is total hysterectomy.

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Written by Jia Rui

Obstetrics and Gynecology

38sec

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Can you drink coffee when you have menstrual cramps?

While drinking coffee does not significantly exacerbate menstrual pain, it can lead to excessive excitability and affect nerve functions. Moreover, too much coffee can cause stomach discomfort. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink coffee during periods of menstrual pain. Instead, it is advisable to drink more brown sugar ginger tea or eat easily digestible food, which helps in rapid recovery of the condition and is very beneficial in alleviating menstrual pain. During menstruation, it is also important to avoid cold foods.

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Written by Huang Shuai

Obstetrics and Gynecology

47sec

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Does soaking feet in hot water work for menstrual cramps?

During menstrual cramps, soaking feet in hot water can promote blood circulation and somewhat relieve the pain. However, applying a hot water bottle to the abdomen is more effective as it raises the local temperature, which enhances local blood circulation and helps alleviate menstrual pain. The principle behind this is that the occurrence of menstrual cramps is due to an increase in prostaglandin levels in the blood during menstruation, leading to muscle contractions and even spasms, causing pain. Applying heat locally through methods like hot compresses can maintain high temperatures and promote blood circulation, facilitating the metabolism of prostaglandins and the relief of muscle spasms, thereby reducing or alleviating pain.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong

Obstetrics and Gynecology

1min 26sec

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Causes of Dysmenorrhea

The general causes of dysmenorrhea include endometriosis or cold in the uterus, or stagnation of qi and blood stasis, all of which can lead to painful menstruation. Clinically, if dysmenorrhea is generally mild abdominal discomfort without affecting study or work, this mild dysmenorrhea is generally not a big problem. If dysmenorrhea shows a gradually worsening trend, it generally requires a visit to the hospital for a color ultrasound to check for endometriosis. If dysmenorrhea caused by endometriosis is present, it will show a worsening trend and in severe cases, may include symptoms of nausea and vomiting, so this situation is generally caused by a displacement of the endometrial lining. Additionally, some patients may experience cold hands and feet, and cold abdominal pain during the painful menstruation, which is mostly considered to be caused by cold in the uterus. Furthermore, stagnation of qi and blood stasis can also lead to dysmenorrhea, typically presenting with blood clots during menstruation, where pain relief follows the discharge of blood clots, suggesting a high possibility of being caused by stagnation of qi and blood stasis.