Pain occurring in the groin and abdomen during or just before menstruation is called dysmenorrhea, menstrual cramps or painful menstruation. The pain may be accompanied by tension, irritability, headache, dizziness, sweating, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Pain may last for several days.
Periodically affects women of reproductive age, mostly without serious problems. Sometimes it causes loss of workforce and reduces quality of life.
It is examined in two ways as Primary (Primary) Dysmenorrhea and Secondary (Secondary) Dysmenorrhea.
Primary Dysmenorrhea; It usually starts to appear within 1-2 years after the first menstrual bleeding. In primary dysmenorrhea, the pain begins just before the menstrual bleeding (1-2 days) and intensifies on the 1st day of menstruation, usually disappearing within 48 hours. The severity varies from person to person. This is the most common type of dysmenorrhea. In many cases, the situation can be alleviated with mild painkillers. However, in a 10% group, menstrual cramps are more severe. It can take the person to the emergency room. Sometimes misdiagnoses may result in surgery.
The uterus (Uterus) is a muscle tissue and it contracts to reduce bleeding during menstruation and this is felt as pain. The uterus contracts with the effect of chemicals produced by itself called Prostaglandin. The purpose of contractions is to keep the amount of bleeding that occurs during the regeneration of the inner layer of the uterus under control.
Prostaglandin levels are high at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. Its levels decrease during menstruation.
The condition called Secondary Dysmenorrhea is the painful menstruation that occurs due to any gynecological problem. Problems in these arose not from the beginning of the menstrual year, but in later years. This situation can be caused by conditions such as endometriosis, chocolate cysts, fibroids, and previous pelvic infection diseases. Pain occurs towards the last days of menstruation rather than the first days.
The way to pass this type of painful menstruation is to treat the problem causing this condition, which is usually surgical
Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea:
The drugs used in the treatment are birth control drugs and painkillers. Birth control drugs have side effects because they contain hormones. Painkillers can cause irregularity in menstrual bleeding as well as damage to internal organs such as liver, kidney and stomach.
Little and measured analgesics can’t be called anything, but if painkillers are used every month seriously, acupuncture treatment should be considered.
Acupuncture Treatment in Dysmenorrhea:
Acupuncture treatment is an extremely safe method that has no side effects, since it is a method that is applied without any surgical intervention and without the introduction of chemicals (medication) into the body. .
With acupuncture;
• Stress is relieved. The person is psychologically relaxed. As you relax psychologically, the pain is felt less. The hormonal system goes into senge.
• Pain is relieved. The pain relief effect of acupuncture is by increasing the body’s own morphine called endorphins. The increase in endorphins provides pain relief and relaxation.
• The amount of prostaglandin can be tested and regulated from a point in the ear. Decreased prostaglandins reduce pain. Uterine contraction is reduced.
• Estrogen regulates progesterone secretion. Hormonal balance is achieved.
Acupuncture treatment is initially applied as a cure of 8-10 sessions. Afterwards, the acupuncture session is repeated 1-2 days before the period for a few months, and the permanence of the treatment is ensured.
