Menstrual Cramps and Natural Progesterone

Menstrual Cramps, otherwise called Dysmenorrhea a Greek word for painful menstruation, is classified as primary (from the beginning and usually lifelong) or secondary (due to some physical cause and usually of later onset).

Menstrual cycles last about 28 days (cycles of 23 to 35 days are usually considered normal as well). During this cycle, the hormones estrogen and progesterone send messages to the lining of the uterus. About day 5 of the cycle, the estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to grow and thicken. Around day 14, an egg is released from the ovary. After this, progesterone causes the glands to release nutrients and blood vessels swell to prepare for the possibility of pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, it moves to the uterus and is absorbed or disintegrates. Estrogen and progesterone levels decrease, and the lining of the uterus breaks up and is shed as menstrual fluid.

The uterus, like other muscles, contracts and relaxes. Most of these contractions are not even noticed, but strong ones can be painful. During menstruation, the uterus contracts more strongly than at other times and produces the uncomfortable feeling we know as menstrual cramps.

There are two different types of menstrual cramps.

Primary Dysmenorrhea

Prostaglandins, natural substances made by cells in the uterine wall, make the muscles of the uterus contract. Strong contractions cut off blood and oxygen supply temporarily and cause extreme pain. This pain is known as primary dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea is not a sign that something is wrong. It frequently begins during adolescence, but could begin later in life. Frequently, it disappears after a full-term pregnancy.

Secondary Dysmenorrhea

This differs from primary dysmenorrhea in that the pain lasts longer than the usual 2-3 days during the monthly flow. It may also occur during other times of the month. This is typically an indication of an underlying cause of the pain, such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease

The most common causes of infections are endometriosis (tissue from the lining of the uterus implants outside the uterus) and adenomyosis (benign growths in the uterine walls), and adhesions (scarring or adherence of two surfaces).

What is the treatment of secondary dysmenorrhea?

The treatment of secondary dysmenorrhea depends on its cause. There are a number of underlying conditions which can contribute to the pain including:

• Endometriosis (cells from the uterine lining that have escaped to other areas of the body)
• Uterine Fibroids (non-cancerous uterine growths that respond to estrogen levels)
• Adenomyosis (a benign condition in which the cells of the inner uterine lining invade its muscular wall, the myometrium)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Adhesions (abnormal fibrous attachments between organs) or
• Use of an intrauterine device (IUD) for contraception

All of these conditions should be first diagnosed by a physician who will then recommend the appropriate treatment.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), irregular menstruation, menstrual cramps and a tendency toward miscarriage may be at least partially caused by an imbalance of these two hormones—too much estrogen and too little progesterone.

If a women begins to experience changes in her menstrual cramps, such as severity, timing, or location, she should consult her physician, especially if the changes are of sudden onset.