Patient's question:
Hello, may I ask, my wife has a history of dysmenorrhea. After getting married, it improved somewhat, but sometimes it still hurts very much, and she often experiences anal pressure during her period. What could be the reason for this?Doctor's answer:
Hello: Menstrual cramps that occur during or around the menstrual period and affect work or health are referred to as "dysmenorrhea." Dysmenorrhea can be classified into primary and secondary types. For secondary dysmenorrhea, etiological treatment should be administered. For primary dysmenorrhea, when the pain is severe, "atropine" 0.5 mg can be administered intramuscularly, or symptomatic treatment can be provided using pain relievers such as "aspirin." Progestogen therapy can also be used, such as taking "norethisterone" 2.5–5 mg or "medroxyprogesterone" 4–8 mg orally once daily, starting on the 5th day of the menstrual cycle, and continuing for 22 days, with a 3-cycle course. Additionally, "progesterone" 10–20 mg can be administered intramuscularly once daily, starting 7 days before the onset of menstruation, and used for 5 consecutive days. Estrogen therapy, such as taking "ethinyl estradiol" 0.5–1 g orally once daily, starting on the 6th day of the menstrual cycle, and continuing for 20 days, can also be selected.For dysmenorrhea patients, a diet consisting of light and easily digestible foods is recommended 3–5 days before the onset of menstruation. Easily digestible foods should be consumed, and overeating should be avoided, especially cold foods, as they can stimulate uterine and fallopian tube contractions, thereby inducing or exacerbating dysmenorrhea. Once menstruation has begun, it is even more important to avoid all cold, indigestible, and irritating foods, such as chili peppers, raw scallions, raw garlic, pepper, and strong alcohol. During this period, patients can appropriately consume acidic foods, such as pickled vegetables or vinegar, as acidic foods can help alleviate pain. Additionally, dysmenorrhea patients should maintain regular bowel movements before or after menstruation, as constipation can induce dysmenorrhea and increase its severity. Therefore, it is advisable to consume more honey, bananas, celery, sweet potatoes, etc.