My stomach hurts before my period - what should I do?

Often, most women feel discomfort and strange nagging painful sensations in the lower abdomen. Maybe these symptoms are a prediction of premenstrual syndrome. It is an indisputable proven scientific fact that 90% of cases are characterized by an illness that can be defined as “ stomach ache before period" They significantly reduce performance, contribute to a disordered life rhythm, and give physical and moral disharmony; abdominal pain during menstruation. Why does the stomach hurt during the menstrual cycle, and does it hurt during menstruation at all? Are menstrual pain a clear sign of gynecological pathology? Let's take a closer look at all sorts of situations and figure out why your stomach hurts during menstruation. If you have a question: “” - refer to another article at the link above.

Period pain is mostly caused by frequent contractions of the muscle layer of the uterus during the menstrual period. If you experience frequent and severe pain, you should not put off visiting a gynecologist for professional advice. The cause of pressing and cutting pain during menstruation in the lower abdomen can be too painful menstruation, which in medicine is called “dysmenorrhea” and “algodysmenorrhea”. The main symptom of painful menstruation is muscle spasms and pain in the lower abdomen.

Causes of painful menstruation

During menstruation, the uterus contracts rhythmically in order to expel harmful, unnecessary, or harmful biological microsubstances that have expired and are gradually out of circulation. Some women have very sensitive pain receptors in the abdominal cavity, reacting to any muscle contraction with sharp and acute pain. For some, the cause of painful sensations is the structural features of the uterus (with posterior deviation); due to such a physiological phenomenon, it simply puts pressure on the nerve centers, thereby causing a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, aching in the back (especially in the lumbar region) and in the sacrum. During menstruation, abdominal pain completely deactivates the female rhythm of life and the measured course of everyday events, as well as household chores.

The uterus exhibits its activity depending on hormonal levels. Menstruation is not only painful, but quite long and heavy in the presence of the hormone estrogen, most often observed in women after 30 years. If a woman experiences excruciating suffering from PMS, accompanied by algodysmenorrhea, then this condition clearly indicates all the hormones present in the female body that are rapidly “jumping.”

Painful menstrual sensations can also be associated with disturbances in the natural balance between sex hormones in the body. The “competing” sex hormones are called progesterones and prostaglandins, and most often the latter emerge as “winners” from the fight. Prostaglandins play a dominant role in the appearance of most symptoms leading to discomfort, since they are chemical substances with specific properties. They are produced by uterine tissue, while receiving stimulation to contract from these hormones. The higher the level of these chemical hormones in the body, the muscles of the uterus contract with greater force, and, consequently, the strength of pain increases. An excess of prostaglandins also creates other associated ailments: sweating, tachycardia, chills, headache, nausea and vomiting.

Painful menstruation, weight loss and insomnia characterize an overactive thyroid gland, which serves as a regulator of hormone production.

Menstrual and nagging pain in the abdomen on the first day of menstruation occurs with an underdeveloped (genital infantilism) or incorrect location of the uterus, endometriosis, an inflammatory process occurring in the genitals, as well as with increased excitability of the central nervous system.

Painful sensations in the lower abdomen are in most cases observed in young nulliparous women and are a sign of infertility. With intrauterine contraception, menstruation is also very painful.

Secondary algodismenorrhea characterizes menstrual pain caused by cysts, fibromatous nodes, various inflammatory processes of the female genital area, intrauterine device, abdominal and gynecological operations, as well as endometriosis.

Manifestations of discomfort during menstruation

Uncomfortable sensations include:

• leg pain;
• nausea;
• vomit;
• stool disorder (diarrhea);
• increased irritability;
• weakness;
• pain in the lumbar back.

Ailments of primary importance for visiting a gynecologist

Painful and unpleasant sensations during menstruation can manifest themselves as follows:

• longer continuation of painful symptoms during menstruation;
• suddenly increasing sharp pain;
• heavier menstrual bleeding (a woman uses more than one tampon or sanitary pad within an hour);
• manifested symptoms of the inflammatory process, including sweating, chills, pain in the joints or muscles, a sharp increase in body temperature, etc.;
• symptoms indicating the possible presence of infection: an unpleasant odor emanating from the genitals, problems with urination, itching, burning, discharge of unknown nature, discomfort in the genital tract that precedes the onset of menstruation, unprotected sex.

Emergency circumstances for calling an ambulance

In some cases, you should not delay calling the ambulance substation to urgently call medical specialists. Such cases include:

• there is a possibility of ectopic pregnancy if the stomach hurts very badly before menstruation, such terrible pain just makes you want to “climb the wall”;
• loss of consciousness;
• the presence of pieces of grayish or silvery tissue in menstrual blood;
• when standing up, a feeling of repeated dizziness appears;
• sudden piercing intense pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area, forcing you to “curl up” or “curl up,” as well as bend over or simply sit down in a semi-vertical position.

Methods and methods for treating painful periods

Gynecologists do not recommend relying heavily on painkillers during periods of female malaise, only in emergency circumstances, for example, if the pain is simply unbearable. Antispasmodic tablets should be selected wisely, taking into account the individual characteristics of the anatomical structure of the body, since many of them, for the most part, have side effects.

If you do take the pill, then after taking it, try to lie down for a while under a warm blanket if possible. Tune in to relaxation to distribute the pain throughout your body, in this case your stomach will hurt less.

Follow the basic principles set out in the famous statement of the great commander A.V. Suvorov “Always keep your feet warm and your head cold!”

To relieve cramps during painful periods, you should take a well-proven painkiller on the pharmaceutical market - ibuprofen (or any of its generics, such as Mig, Nurofen) at a dosage of 400 mg per day.

It would be appropriate to recommend the use of diclofenac anti-inflammatory suppositories, one of which is enough to relieve intense pain during menstruation.

Menstruation is like Santa Claus. If you behaved badly, they won’t come to you.

Abdominal pain during menstruation

If there is a delay in menstruation and pain in the lower abdomen, therefore, we must analyze a number of factors that led to such ailment. These include:

1. too fast and lightning pace of life;
2. stress;
3. improperly selected and unbalanced diet.

Dysfunctions of the body's reproductive system can cause serious consequences, for example, dysfunction of the ovaries, salpingoophoritis, adnexitis, polycystic ovaries and uterine fibroids.

The main signs of an impending missed period are:

• pain before or during menstruation;
• heavy bleeding;
• significant decrease or increase in menstrual flow;
• unscheduled bleeding.

What to do if your chest starts to itch? We answer in the article ““!

Even if you don’t have your period, but you are haunted by pain in the lower abdomen, which interferes with full-fledged life activities and interferes with your daily work rhythm, do not hesitate or put off your visit to a specialist who will prescribe you competent treatment for such ailments or recommend a number of preventive measures and rules that you will need to be strictly observed.

If your chest hurts, and the pain is accompanied by a delay, then this fact indicates that your period is approaching soon. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the cause not of pain, but of delay. A misjudgment among many women is to assume evidence of pregnancy when they have breast pain. However, breast pain is a rare indication of pregnancy. Often it is a sign of premenstrual syndrome, indicating abnormal metabolic processes occurring in the body.

A far from complete list of PMS includes:

• weakness;
• pain;
• depression;
• unbalanced emotional state.

The causes of pain in the lower abdomen after menstruation may depend on the rhythmic contraction of the uterus in the presence of sensitive pain receptors in a woman; hormonal imbalances; increased activity of the thyroid gland, which is responsible for the production of hormones in the body; inflammatory processes manifested as a result of sexual transmission of various infections; abnormal position of the uterus; inflammatory processes in the genital organs; endomitosis.

Avoid exhausting diets, spend more time in the fresh air, maintain general body tone, follow a balanced diet and rest regime, correctly distribute physical activity, visit a gynecologist once every six months and be healthy!

Video: Why do periods disappear?

According to statistics, 90 percent of all women anticipate the onset of the menstrual cycle in advance: some become irritable, others begin to have problems sleeping, but still, most often, most of the fair half of humanity is faced with such an unpleasant syndrome as abdominal pain. Of course, we all know that pain is a protective reaction of our body to the processes occurring in it, however, in this case, the pain that arises is a completely natural phenomenon, which in turn is of a natural nature. So what is the reason? And why does my stomach hurt before my period? In this article, we will tell you why women feel abdominal pain before menstruation.

Causes of abdominal pain before menstruation

As we have already said, almost every woman in her life faces such a problem as abdominal pain before menstruation, however, in each individual case, the pain syndrome manifests itself differently. So, for example, someone experiences a nagging and aching pain of a mild nature, while others face quite intense and acute pain that prevents them from leading a full life. And this happens due to a variety of factors. For example, the intensity of pain is influenced by hereditary predisposition, lifestyle, general health, etc.

As a rule, most women experience pain of an aching and nagging nature, which can occur approximately 5-7 days before the onset of menstruation itself and continues in its first days, gradually becoming less intense. In this case, there is really no need to panic, because this is a completely acceptable norm.

If you experience severe and acute pain that repeats from month to month, then in such a situation you need to contact your treating specialist, because such painful sensations already indicate the presence of various diseases and pathologies. Next, we will tell you in more detail about the possible causes of abdominal pain before menstruation.

Algomenorrhea.

This medical term refers to a gynecological abnormality that occurs in almost every second woman and during which she experiences painful sensations of a not pronounced nature. As a rule, these sensations arise approximately a week before the onset of menstruation and persist throughout its entire duration. In addition to the abdominal pain itself, a woman may experience associated symptoms such as general malaise and weakness, headache, nausea and depression.

Why does this syndrome occur? And this happens for two different reasons. For example, most often algomenorrhea is a consequence of an incorrect position of the uterus or the presence of intrauterine contraception, for example, a device. The second reason for the occurrence of this syndrome is the presence of any inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs. Previous gynecological operations (including termination of pregnancy through abortion) can also lead to the occurrence of this pathology.

It is also worth considering that algomenorrhea can be a concomitant symptom of various other gynecological diseases. For example, such a pathology is a “complement” of diseases such as endometritis, inflammation of the appendages, inflammation in the uterine cavity, as well as various diseases of the genitourinary system. Therefore, if each menstrual cycle is accompanied by painful sensations, it is necessary to consult with your attending physician, who, after examination, will make a diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment. It is worth considering that in this case it is necessary to treat the original cause; Only after identifying the true disease is it possible to reduce the manifestations of algomenorrhea itself.

Premenstrual syndrome.

There is an opinion that this pathology only affects the emotional state of a woman, as a result of which her mood regularly changes, however, in reality this is not the case. In addition to the above symptom, premenstrual syndrome also affects factors such as increased appetite, bloating and intestinal dysfunction, which results in nagging pain in the lower abdomen. In addition, symptoms such as headache, malaise, increased blood pressure and excessive drowsiness may also be present.

Having problems with the intestines.

Quite often, it seems difficult for a woman to determine the true location of the pain, since most often the pain syndrome is nagging and aching in nature, which is why most often women write off such attacks of pain as premenstrual syndrome. However, in some cases, the painful sensations that arise are a consequence of problems with the intestines. As a rule, if the stomach hurts as a result of an intestinal disease, then the woman experiences not nagging and aching pain, but cramps. In this case, it is necessary to contact a gastroenterologist to identify a diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment, after which, in turn, abdominal pain before menstruation will become noticeably weaker.

Decreased endorphin levels.

The female body is designed in such a way that on the eve of menstruation, the level of endorphins in it significantly decreases, which causes a rather sharp hormonal jump, as a result of which the fair half of humanity experiences discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen. In addition, low levels of endorphins also cause pain in the mammary glands and sudden changes in mood. By the way, this factor can also affect the condition of the intestines, namely, its disorder.

Other causes of abdominal pain before menstruation.

As we have already said, abdominal pain on the eve of menstruation can be associated with various gynecological diseases, however, in some cases, existing disorders in the functioning of the genitourinary system become the cause of these pain sensations. For example, a similar pain syndrome can occur against the background of the presence of diseases such as cystitis or urolithiasis.

Abdominal pain and retention.

In rare cases, a woman may feel abdominal pain before her period, however, the menstrual cycle itself may be disrupted, resulting in a delay. And this can happen for the following reasons:

hormonal disbalance;

the presence of inflammatory processes in the uterine cavity and appendages;

ovarian dysfunction;

pregnancy.

In order to identify the cause of the delay, it is initially necessary to determine whether there is a pregnancy. If pregnancy has occurred, then in this situation the lower abdomen may hurt due to increased tone of the uterus. By the way, the manifestation of such pain during pregnancy may be associated with a threat of miscarriage, so it is strongly recommended to consult your doctor.

If pregnancy is not confirmed, it is also necessary to contact a gynecologist to determine the cause of the delay and prescribe adequate treatment.

Severe abdominal pain before menstruation

As we have already said, every woman experiences abdominal pain of different intensity before her period: some experience a barely noticeable and nagging pain, while others experience a fairly severe pain syndrome - all this depends on a great variety of factors and is considered quite acceptable the norm. However, in some cases, severe abdominal pain occurs - there is a deviation from the norm, requiring an immediate call for an ambulance. For example, it is necessary to call a specialist to your home in the following situations:

acute and severe pain suddenly arose; this “attack” may indicate the presence of an ectopic pregnancy;

severe dizziness or a state close to loss of consciousness;

sudden sharp and cramping pain in the abdomen, forcing you to sit down or bend over, taking a semi-vertical position;

the presence of gray or silver-colored impurities in menstrual blood.

If all of the above symptoms are present, you must urgently call an ambulance.

Painful sensations during menstruation are something that many women are accustomed to. And although ideally the stomach should not bother you during menstruation, mild discomfort is also normal. It’s another matter when the stomach hurts like during menstruation, but there is no menstruation and there should not be, for example, at the beginning or middle of the cycle. What does this pain mean and how?

Why menstrual-like abdominal pain may occur

Painful sensations during menstruation are something that many women are accustomed to. And although ideally the stomach should not bother you during menstruation, mild discomfort is also normal. It’s another matter when it shouldn’t be, for example, at the beginning or middle of the cycle. What does such pain mean, and how to behave?

For what reasons does it occur:

• ectopic pregnancy;
• intrauterine pregnancy;
• inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs;
• ovarian cysts;
• ovarian torsion;
• inflammatory bowel diseases;
• urinary tract diseases;
• appendicitis.

For each pathology on this list, pain, like during menstruation, is not the only symptom. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at the symptoms of each of these conditions in order to understand which specialist you need to contact first and how urgently.

PMS is by no means a topic for jokes. The cause of the syndrome is hormonal changes in the body that precede menstruation. Due to hormonal imbalance, symptoms such as depression and nervousness, aggressiveness, headache and dizziness, tachycardia, and swelling occur. There may be pain in the abdomen, and the breasts may become sore and swollen. These symptoms can be more or less pronounced, in about 10% of cases they manifest themselves so clearly that the woman becomes unable to work.

Ectopic pregnancy

The main symptom of an ectopic pregnancy is a sharp, although not immediately pronounced, pain in the part of the abdomen where the fertilized egg is attached. The pain intensifies when walking or changing body position. If pain is combined with bleeding and a positive pregnancy test, there is a high probability of an ectopic pregnancy. An ultrasound is performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Pregnancy

You should immediately consult a doctor if the pain is accompanied by even slight bleeding, since these symptoms indicate a spontaneous abortion, threatening or in progress.

In the early stages of pregnancy, with a threatened miscarriage, the pain is more pulling, pressing, in the later stages - cramping. An abortion that has begun is manifested by intense cramping pain with more profuse bleeding, even bleeding.

Ovarian cyst

A cyst is a fluid-filled formation located on the surface of the ovary. Basically, a cyst is formed from a follicle when it is “overripe”. In most cases, such formations do not manifest themselves in any way; once they appear, they themselves decrease in size and disappear within a month or several months.

However, the cyst may become too large, and then symptoms such as pain, severe, acute, heaviness in the pelvic area, cycle disorders, bloody discharge from the vagina, and bladder appear.

The cyst may rupture. In this case, the pain intensifies, heavy bleeding occurs, and the body temperature rises above 38 degrees.

Ovarian torsion

As a rule, pathology occurs against the background of a cyst, but it can also arise due to developmental anomalies or weakness of the ligamentous apparatus. The characteristic symptomatology is the appearance of a sudden sharp pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the hips, sides, and back. This may cause nausea, constipation or diarrhea, and a slight increase in temperature. The abdomen may be tender to the touch.

Inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs

Why does my stomach hurt, although my menstrual cycle is normal, my period came on time and ended as usual? The cause may be various diseases of the uterus and its appendages. The most common diseases are adnexitis and salpingitis. All these pathologies can be acute or chronic, unilateral or bilateral. Treatment involves antibacterial therapy and immunomodulators. After eliminating inflammation, it is prescribed.

Adnexit

Adnexitis is called inflammation of the fallopian tubes, ovaries and other adjacent organs located in the pelvic area. The cause of adnexitis in most cases is an ascending infection.

The main symptoms of the disease are pain, as during menstruation, dull, constant, as well as mucopurulent discharge, possibly an increase in body temperature.

Salpingitis

Like other inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs, salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes) is caused by a bacterial or viral infection that enters the vagina and from there into the fallopian tubes.

Symptoms of salpingitis: stomach pain, as during menstruation, but constantly, regardless of the phase of the cycle.

The pain radiates to the lower back, and can “shoot” in the leg. It is localized on the side of inflammation or on both sides of the abdomen - with bilateral salpingitis. There is vaginal discharge that always has an unpleasant odor, but its color and consistency depend on the causative agent of the disease. There may be a burning sensation and pain when urinating, discomfort during sex, cycle disruption, and increased temperature.

Diseases of other organs and systems

When there is pain in the lower abdomen, this does not always indicate a “problem” in the reproductive system. In many cases, problems may be in other organs located near the uterus and appendages.

Appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix is ​​manifested by several characteristic symptoms:

• pain that can be localized in the navel, right lower abdomen, and pelvic area;
• weakness;
• nausea, vomiting without relief;
• temperature increase.

The primary diagnosis is to press on the appendix (lower right side) - with appendicitis, the pain increases significantly. In addition, they progress if you lie on your left side. A characteristic symptom is a dull sound when tapping on the right side of the abdomen.

Diseases of the genitourinary system

Pain in the lower abdomen is characteristic of bladder diseases: cystitis, stones, cancer. However, pain above the pubis is accompanied by other, more characteristic symptoms: frequent, difficult and painful urination, general malaise, and with cystitis, increased body temperature.

Inflammation of the lower intestines

Diseases of the lower intestine, or more precisely, the lower part of the colon, are manifested by many symptoms, in addition to pain in the lower abdomen:

• diarrhea;
• intoxication;
• temperature increase;
• dry skin;
• indigestion.

What to do for abdominal pain

First of all, if your stomach hurts, like during your period, you should consult a specialist: a gynecologist, urologist or gastroenterologist. The doctor will order an examination and, based on its results, determine the course of therapy. You should not self-medicate, especially with such pain, because it can occur against the background of serious disorders that need to be treated urgently.

Self-medication is only permissible when taking painkillers. Antispasmodics or combination drugs (analgesic + antispasmodic) help best. But taking painkillers should not be an independent treatment; you must consult a doctor.

We recommend similar articles

Menstruation is a natural process of cleansing the body. Its presence indicates the proper functioning of the female reproductive system. Many women have pain in the lower abdomen a week before their period, and the nature of the pain can be different - it can be minor or intense. There are relatively few representatives of the fair sex who do not have stomach pain before menstruation, although doctors say that there should be no pain before menstruation.

Why does my stomach hurt a week before my period? The reasons that provoke this phenomenon can be different, they are individual, so only a specialist can answer this question with accuracy. The most common cause is algomenorrhea.

Algomenorrhea is a pain syndrome that accompanies menstruation and can appear 7 to 10 days before it begins. Pain in the lower abdomen before menstruation, provoked by this disease, can be of varying intensity. Most often it is a consequence of abnormalities in the development of the uterus, inflammatory processes or endometriosis. In this regard, modern doctors take this pathology very seriously, since this is the first bell signaling problems in the female body.

Intense abdominal pain can have a negative impact on your overall well-being.

The main symptom of this disease is abdominal pain a few days before menstruation. The first signs can appear either 3 to 7 days or 10 to 12 hours before the start of menstruation. Pain usually accompanies menstruation for the first two days, and then goes away. Painful sensations in this case can be different - pulling, aching, tugging, stabbing, spasmodic, and can radiate to the lower back and rectum. The following symptoms are also characteristic of algomenorrhea:

• increased appetite;
• irritability;
• insomnia or, conversely, drowsiness;
• slight nausea;
• tearfulness.

Classification of algomenorrhea

Algomenorrhea has three degrees of severity:

• mild degree - pain before menstruation is quite moderate and short-lived, slight malaise may be observed;
• moderate degree - with severe pain in the lower abdomen before menstruation, in addition, nausea, headache, chills and frequent urination may appear. In some cases, the average degree of algomenorrhea is characterized by depression, intolerance to sound and olfactory stimuli, and decreased performance. This condition requires medical intervention;
• severe degree - the stomach hurts very much before menstruation, the pain radiates to the lower back, hips. A woman usually suffers from headaches, severe weakness, a fever may rise, tachycardia may develop, vomiting and diarrhea may occur, and in this state the woman may lose consciousness. Usually this degree is caused by a congenital pathological condition of the genital organs.

There are primary and secondary algomenorrhea. Primary usually appears before the first menstruation, or within 2-3 years after their arrival. How many days before menstruation primary algomenorrhea begins depends on the individual characteristics of the young organism. There are several reasons for this pathology:

• insufficient development of connective tissue (dysplasia);
• genital tuberculosis;
• central nervous system diseases, nervous breakdowns;
• hypoplasia;
• bending of the uterine body.

All these reasons impede the outflow of blood from the uterine cavity, so intense uterine contractions are required.

Secondary algomenorrhea occurs in women over 30 years of age and is usually accompanied by heavy menstruation - menorrhagia. The cause of this pathology may be:

• inflammatory processes of the reproductive system;
• polyps;
• neoplasms;
• endometriosis;
• adhesions;
• pelvic neuritis;
• intrauterine contraceptives.

The symptoms of secondary algomenorrhea directly depend on the age and physical condition of the woman.

Other causes of pain before menstruation

Why does my stomach hurt before menstruation if the cause is not algomenorrhea? There are many other conditions that can cause nagging or aching pain in the abdomen.

• Insufficient luteal phase due to low progesterone levels. With this diagnosis, adhesions form in the uterine cavity and intestines, because of which the lower abdomen pulls before menstruation, as well as on other days of the cycle.
• Decreased endorphin levels. Before menstruation, the levels of hormones such as progesterone and estrogen begin to decrease, which causes a decrease in the level of endorphins. Due to hormonal fluctuations, the lower abdomen pulls a week before menstruation; swelling and tenderness of the mammary glands, frequent mood swings, and intestinal upset may also be observed.

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is as common a cause as algomenorrhea. It can cause pain in the abdomen before menstruation, the stomach may become swollen, diarrhea may occur, appetite almost always increases, irritability appears and insomnia torments.
• Inflammation. A stomach ache a week before your period may be due to inflammatory processes in the pelvis. They appear due to hypothermia or infection. In such cases, the pain is sharp and spasmodic.
• Delayed ovulation. Due to a disruption in the menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs later than usual, which can cause pain for 7-10 days.

Why does my stomach hurt but I don't have my period?

Many women are interested in why the lower abdomen feels tight and painful 10–14 days before menstruation, but when the time comes, it does not begin? There may be several reasons for this:

• disruption of the menstrual cycle;
• disruption of ovarian function;
• inflammatory processes;
• pregnancy;
• neoplasm in the uterus;
• ovulation;
• incompletely removed fertilized egg after abortion.

If the pregnancy test is positive, but the lower abdomen continues to hurt, this may mean that the uterus is in good shape. The doctor will prescribe a drug that will correct the situation. Ovulatory pain is a distinctive feature of a woman’s body and does not pose a threat.

But a poorly performed abortion, as a result of which the fertilized egg was not completely removed, can cause infection. Pain caused by this reason may be accompanied by fever, weakness, and nausea. This condition requires surgery.

If there is a tumor in the uterus, the stomach feels tight before menstruation for 10–14 days. In some cases, the pain may go away on its own, without taking painkillers. If your period does not come, you need to consult a doctor who will adjust the treatment.

Symptoms that threaten the life and health of a woman

There are quite a lot of situations in which the lower abdomen feels tight for a week before menstruation. In some cases, pain is the only symptom that goes away when menstruation occurs. But sometimes there are signs that are impossible to ignore:

• high, below 40, temperature;
• severe vomiting;
• pain when urinating;
• blood in urine;
• acute incessant pain in the abdomen and lower back;
• purulent or bloody curdled discharge;
• severe weakness and malaise.

All these symptoms can be caused by severe infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, the treatment of which will take more than one week. If the disease is left to chance, it can be fraught with serious complications and even death.

How to avoid pain before your period

To protect yourself as much as possible from painful sensations before and during menstruation, you should follow some recommendations:

• start doing exercises a few days before your period, you can go swimming;
• massage the lower back and abdomen;
• you can take a painkiller;
• constantly monitor your weight; excess weight can cause pain;

• start leading a healthy lifestyle - spend more time in the fresh air, take vitamins, give up coffee, alcohol and smoking;
• for intense pain, warm compresses or herbal baths will help, but you can take them for no more than 20 minutes;
• Cold also has a good effect - put crushed ice wrapped in a towel or a cold heating pad on your stomach for 10-15 minutes;
• the use of essential oils also gives the desired result; they need to be rubbed into the stomach and lower back.

In no case should you endure severe pain, so at the first alarming symptoms you should consult a doctor.