Patient's question:
How much menstrual flow is considered excessive? How is it treated?First follow-up question: I am 22 years old. Since I started menstruating at 14, my menstrual flow has always been relatively heavy. It takes about seven to eight days to clean up. Occasionally, it comes with menstrual cramps. In the past, even when it was very heavy, I didn’t have cramps. But because my cycle dates were not accurate, I didn’t know when it would start. I ate ice cream, and after that, I started experiencing cramps. I have taken Chinese medicine a few times, but there hasn’t been much improvement. How can I be cured? Because of the heavy flow and cramps, it’s really annoying. It affects my work and daily life. I really don’t know what to do.
Doctor's answer:
Dysmenorrhea refers to severe lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, and even nausea and vomiting that occur before, during, or after menstruation. It is a common condition among women and is divided into primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. The cause of primary dysmenorrhea is not fully understood. It may be due to spasmodic contractions of the uterine muscles, leading to uterine ischemia and causing dysmenorrhea. It is more common in cases of uterine underdevelopment, cervical stenosis, or excessive uterine flexion, which can obstruct the flow of menstrual blood, causing blood retention and stimulating uterine contractions. Sometimes it is closely related to psychological factors.Secondary dysmenorrhea: It is more common in postpartum and middle-aged women, often caused by pelvic inflammation, tumors, or endometriosis. In most cases, the symptoms are mild and do not require special treatment. Although dysmenorrhea itself is not life-threatening, it can sometimes be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. Therefore, if you experience dysmenorrhea, it is important to seek medical attention early to determine the cause. If it is secondary dysmenorrhea, the underlying condition should be treated actively. If it is caused by underdevelopment or weak constitution, treatment should focus on improving overall health. If it is due to cervical stenosis, cervical dilation surgery may be performed. If it is caused by endocrine disorders, adjustments should be made. If the pain is severe, it is recommended to visit a gynecological department in the hospital to identify the cause and receive targeted treatment.