Can sexual activity alleviate dysmenorrhea?

Written by Li Li Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on April 24, 2025
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Sexual activity can alleviate menstrual pain. The reason sexual activity can alleviate menstrual pain to some extent is that during the process of enjoying sex, the excitement of the cerebral cortex and the pleasurable sensations from the nervous system guide our body, thereby releasing some well-known hormones and chemicals. Having sexual activity a few days before the onset of menstruation can create a reserve of mental pleasure, putting the body in a relaxed state. This releases the muscle tension associated with the habitual fear of menstruation, so the pain during menstruation will not be as pronounced. Furthermore, sexual activity can promote indirect movement of the uterus, thereby regulating the flow of Qi and blood and improving the circulation of Qi and blood.

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Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What is the cause of having many blood clots during painful menstruation?

During the menstrual period, the appearance of dysmenorrhea and more blood clots is often due to blood stasis within the body. Some Chinese patent medicines that invigorate the blood and dispel stasis can be used for conditioning. Additionally, some Chinese medicinal ingredients can be used for treatment. It is appropriate to consume some goji berries and longan, which have the effects of invigorating blood, dispelling stasis, and promoting blood circulation. These can greatly help in reducing excessive menstrual blood clots. Normally, drink more water and pay more attention to exercising. Avoid sexual intercourse during the menstrual period. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What causes menstrual cramps?

Dysmenorrhea is generally caused by endometriosis in the majority of cases. If the endometrium is misplaced in the ovaries, it can form ovarian chocolate cysts; if misplaced into the myometrium, it can lead to adenomyosis, which generally presents with dysmenorrhea that tends to worsen over time. In most cases, this condition is considered to be caused by endometriosis. Additionally, the occurrence of dysmenorrhea should not exclude the possibility of being caused by a cold uterus. Patients with a cold uterus might experience lower abdominal pain and a cold lower abdomen during menstruation; in such cases, treatment can involve warming the meridians to dispel cold and using warming and pain-relieving medicines for symptomatic treatment. Moreover, if dysmenorrhea is caused by Qi stagnation and blood stasis, there might be a large volume of menstrual blood accompanied by large blood clots during the bleeding process. Treatment in this scenario would involve using medicines that invigorate the blood, break up stasis, soften hardness, and disperse conglomeration for symptomatic management.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What should I do if the menstrual pain is very severe?

When the symptoms of dysmenorrhea are very severe in women, it is important to actively search for the causes of dysmenorrhea. For example, routine gynecological examinations are conducted along with some relevant ancillary tests. For instance, vaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopic examinations, and blood tests for CA125, etc., are used to understand the causes of dysmenorrhea. If it is primary dysmenorrhea, prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors can be taken orally during menstruation to relieve the symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Short-acting contraceptive pills can also be taken orally to inhibit ovulation and improve the symptoms of dysmenorrhea. For secondary dysmenorrhea, women often have organic lesions in the reproductive system. For example, those with submucosal uterine fibroids or endometrial polyps often require surgical treatment. (The use of medicines should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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 Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Adenomyosis without dysmenorrhea

Some women with adenomyosis may not experience symptoms of dysmenorrhea, which is a relatively good scenario as it does not affect their quality of life due to the disease. It is recommended that patients regularly visit the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic at their local hospital for gynecological examinations, gynecological color ultrasound, and other related tests to monitor the occurrence and development of the disease. If the disease progresses and worsens, and clinical symptoms appear with the uterus gradually enlarging, then surgery may be necessary if surgical indications are met.