How many days before your period does your stomach start to hurt?

Non-infectious inflammation

Adnexitis, endometritis, adenomyosis and some other non-infectious diseases of the reproductive sphere may hardly bother a woman at normal times, but during menstruation they manifest themselves as cramping pain in the lower abdomen.

Causes

, which is necessary to expel blood and particles of rejected epithelium of the inner wall of the reproductive organ, causes pain during menstruation

An additional provoking factor for pain during menstruation is natural fluctuations in hormonal levels, taking into account the phase of the menstrual cycle.

Symptoms

During menstruation, cramping pain radiates:

The intensity of painful manifestations varies. “Contractions” during menstruation can be moderate or can cause almost unbearable pain.

In addition to painful discomfort, menstruation is accompanied by profuse bleeding.

Therapy

Treatment of gynecological pathologies should be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the nature of the inflammatory process. And to alleviate the condition during menstruation, it is recommended to drink antispasmodics :

If the pain is unbearable or there is heavy bleeding, you should call an ambulance.

Which doctor treats

Gynecologists deal with pathologies of the female reproductive system.

Miscarriage

Rejection of the fertilized egg cannot always be determined; spontaneous abortion is often perceived as the beginning of menstruation and the woman loses the child without knowing that she was pregnant.

Causes

Attachment of the fertilized egg occurs with the help of the chorion (embryo of the placenta) and in the first days after implantation the embryo is not well enough attached to the wall of the reproductive organ. The following can provoke embryo rejection :

• stress;
• overwork;
• carrying heavy bags;
• straining with constipation;
• bruises of the abdominal wall.

Sometimes rejection occurs for no apparent reason. Doctors suggest that in this way the body gets rid of a dead or non-viable embryo.

Signs

Spontaneous abortion can be suspected by the nature of the pain:

1. An aching or nagging pain appears, radiating to the sacrum or coccyx. Lobar discomfort is accompanied by the appearance of spotting vaginal discharge.
2. Gradually the pain begins to get stronger, contractions appear during menstruation. Cramping pain develops against the background of severe uterine bleeding.

If a woman always experiences cramping pain during her period, then a miscarriage may go unnoticed.

Treatment

Help with spontaneous abortion can only be done in a hospital setting. If it is possible to maintain the pregnancy, then drugs are prescribed that relax the walls of the reproductive organ . In addition to the main therapy, a general strengthening course of taking vitamins is carried out.

If the embryo is completely torn from the wall of the uterus, then doctors carry out an inspection (preventive cleaning) of the reproductive organ to prevent complications that arise when the fertilized egg is not completely released.

Who will help

If spontaneous abortion is suspected, hospitalization in the gynecology department is indicated.

Can the navel area hurt before menstruation?

Diagnosing abdominal pain is always difficult for a doctor. The fact is that the abdominal cavity contains a fairly large number of organs and all of them can cause pain of varying nature and intensity.

The organs of the abdominal cavity include: liver with gall bladder, stomach, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands, ureters, various parts of the intestines. It is quite difficult to identify an unhealthy structure in this mass, therefore, if you have pain in the navel area, you cannot do without an experienced doctor.

Why does my stomach hurt in the navel area?

There are many causes of pain in the central abdomen. Among them:

• stenosis of the small intestine in acute form (if located in its middle part - just in the navel area);
• enteritis and enterocolitis of various origins (with acute spasms);
• impaired blood supply to the intestines as a result of pathology of the mesenteric vessels;
• enzyme deficiency;
• umbilical hernias;
• malignant neoplasms in the small intestine, adjacent organs and structures (ureters, kidneys, stomach, omentum);
• viral and bacterial infections.

On a note! If a woman has a slight abdominal pain in the navel area during pregnancy, this is most likely a natural reaction to the expansion of the uterus. It puts pressure on adjacent organs with its walls, which causes mild pain.

If nausea is added to the painful sensations, this indicates the manifestation of very specific diseases.

Acute infectious enteritis initially lacks specific symptoms: general weakness appears, body temperature rises, and headache is possible. Characteristic symptoms in the form of acute spasms in the navel, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea appear later, when the disease enters the main phase of its development. Additional symptoms depend on the type of infectious agent:

• salmonella (foamy stool with green mucous clots, low blood pressure, tachycardia, elevated temperature);
• rotavirus infection, or intestinal flu (repeated vomiting, watery unformed feces with a sour odor, fever);
• Giardia (flatulence, stool without mucus);

Attention! The lack of timely treatment, coupled with weak immunity, can provoke serious complications: typhoid and septic forms of salmonellosis with damage to internal organs, anemia and weight loss with giardiasis, severe dehydration with rotavirus.

Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that focally affects various parts of the intestine. However, if the disease decides to stop in the middle section of the small intestine, painful symptoms will be observed precisely in the navel area. In addition to pain in the umbilical area, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, flatulence, fever, fatigue and weight loss are observed.

On a note! The main manifestation of Crohn's disease is a specific focal lesion of the intestinal walls, so colonoscopy is required to confirm the diagnosis.

A strangulated umbilical hernia cuts off the blood supply to the organs caught in the pinched area and gradually leads to tissue necrosis. Severe pain, nausea and defecation disorders are the main symptoms of the disease. A hernia is easily identified by the presence of a bulging formation in the central part of the abdomen.

On a note! An umbilical hernia develops as a result of sudden physical exertion against the background of a weakening of the muscular corset of the abdominal wall. It is the prolapse of abdominal organs through the umbilical ring. An unstrangulated hernia does not cause problems and can remain untreated for quite a long time. However, there is always a risk of pinching.

Acute appendicitis at an early stage in some cases causes pain in the umbilical area, which makes it much more difficult to diagnose, since other symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and high fever) are completely non-specific.

High intestinal obstruction - observed with intussusception (entry of one section of the intestine into another), with blockage of the intestinal lumen by an accumulation of parasites, tumors, gallstones and fecal stones, which provokes periodic painful spasms with repeated vomiting. Gases are unable to pass away, and the abdomen swells to an abnormal size.

Important! The intensity of pain can reach such limits that it cannot be controlled even with the help of narcotic drugs.

Acute intestinal ischemia develops with thromboembolism (blockage by a blood clot) of large mesenteric vessels.

A prolonged lack of blood supply leads to degeneration and tissue death, which results in sharp pain with severe attacks of nausea, continuous vomiting, rumbling in the abdomen and diarrhea mixed with blood in the stool.

Pain concentrated slightly above the navel is the very first symptom of a dangerous pathology. It appears suddenly and requires an immediate response.

Source: https://ginekologiya-urologiya.ru/menstruaciya/mozhet-li-pered-mesyachnymi-bolet-v-oblasti-pupka

Ectopic pregnancy

The egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube, and then descends into the uterus and implants into the wall of the organ. But sometimes attachment occurs not in the uterus, but in an organ that is not adapted for this - then an ectopic pregnancy occurs.

Causes

Difficulty in the passage of the fertilized egg through the fallopian tubes may be caused by:

• obstruction;
• the presence of pathological narrowings;
• inability of the walls of the reproductive organ to attach a fertilized egg (implantation occurs in the cervix).

Unable to gain a foothold in the reproductive organ, the fertilized egg implants into the fallopian tube or uterine cervix, and less often into other organs that are also unsuitable for bearing a child.

Symptoms

Ectopic pregnancy is characterized by:

• cramping pain in the lower abdomen before menstruation;
• the appearance of heavy bleeding against the background of intensified contractions.

During tubal implantation, there is additional pain on the right or left (at the site of embryo attachment).

Almost always, symptoms develop after a missed period and the woman already knows about pregnancy. But, unfortunately, with the help of the test it is possible to determine only the fertilization that has occurred, and not the place of implantation of the embryo, and during an external examination it is impossible to distinguish an ectopic pregnancy from a miscarriage.

Help

Doctors decide what to do in a hospital setting. The cervical implant comes out on its own under medical supervision or is removed by cleaning the reproductive organ under local anesthesia.

With tubal insertion, spontaneous evacuation is impossible, and cramping pain can lead to rupture of the fallopian tube . In this case, abdominal surgery or endoscopic removal of the tube along with the embryo is performed.

Where to contact

If your period is heavy, accompanied by severe cramping pain, you must call an ambulance. Doctors will take you to the emergency department of a gynecological hospital.

Fibroids rejection

A benign pedunculated tumor growing inside the uterus can spontaneously be rejected.

Provoking factors

The main reason is considered to be: spontaneous detachment of the tumor, which occurs in a number of cases:

• when jumping from a great height;
• abdominal bruises;
• overstrain of the abdominal wall.

Detachment is possible only for small tumor formations. The risk of spontaneous fibroid rejection increases during menstruation.

Signs

When fibroids are “born,” pain appears during menstruation, like contractions, and then the volume of bloody discharge from the vagina increases.

Rejection of a fibroid node is similar in symptoms to a miscarriage, but the process ends with the release of a homogeneous formation.

After self-removal of the tumor, the cramping pains lose intensity and gradually disappear, and the volume of bloody discharge decreases. If the bleeding does not decrease, this may indicate damage to the blood vessels inside the uterus or internal ruptures.

Treatment

Regardless of the outcome of the expulsion of the fibroid formation: the node has come out and the contractions have stopped, or the process is actively continuing, the woman must be hospitalized. In this case, the “born” neoplasm is also taken for subsequent cytological examination.

In a hospital setting, an ultrasound scan of the uterus is performed and the size of the detached tumor is determined - the treatment tactics depend on this. After obtaining the necessary information, the fibroids are removed under local anesthesia and the uterus is inspected .

For bleeding from large vessels that cannot be stopped by curettage or cauterization, surgery is indicated.

If the node has already come out and there is bloody discharge, as during menstruation or after childbirth, then the patient is left under observation and the examination is carried out as planned.

Who will help

The necessary assistance will be provided by doctors in the gynecological surgery department.

What else provokes cramping pain during menstruation?

Let's see what other causes of cramping pain during menstruation may be:

• Intestinal diseases. The intestinal loops are located next to the uterus and the symptoms of organ pathology intensify during menstruation due to the fact that the reproductive organ begins to shrink slightly. A characteristic feature is that cramping pain is accompanied by nausea, flatulence and other dyspeptic disorders.
• Scars or adhesions on the uterus. Due to abortion, gynecological diseases or surgical interventions, scar changes appear, so the walls of the reproductive organ cannot contract evenly during menstruation. This causes cramping pain in the lower abdomen.
• Individual pain sensitivity. Some girls have an increased reaction to pain and physiological contractions of the reproductive organ during menstruation begin to be perceived as cramping painful manifestations.
• Puberty. Girls may experience cramping pain for 1-2 years from the beginning of their first menstruation until the menstrual cycle is fully established.

The appearance of cramping pain almost always indicates the development of pathology. You should not ignore the symptoms that arise - this can lead to the development of complications.

Belly button hurts before menstruation

If your belly button hurts during menstruation, this can be the norm only in one case: the discomfort forms a few days before menstruation and immediately goes away when it ends.
Such phenomena are detected in 70% of women. Their development is associated with an increase in the level of prostaglandins - a group of physiologically active substances responsible for relaxation of the walls of blood vessels, contraction of smooth muscles, decreased secretion of gastric juice, and inhibition of lipolysis. The body reacts differently to such changes.

As a rule, the syndrome disappears on its own as soon as girls become mothers.

The main causes of navel pain during menstruation

Every month, an egg matures in a woman’s body. If it is not fertilized, the mucous layer of the uterus is rejected and comes out along with bleeding.

In order to quickly get rid of unnecessary tissue, the reproductive organ begins to contract and causes pain in the abdomen just below the navel in the first days of menstruation.

The condition can be alleviated by following simple rules. Experts recommend:

• drink more water;
• move a lot - moderate activity relieves cramps;
• take warm showers more often;
• use medications prescribed by a doctor.

If the uterus is positioned incorrectly, the pain intensifies and moves a little higher. But they are also considered the norm.

Pathological changes

The described syndrome can also plague adult women who have already given birth. This is most often associated with malfunction of the pelvic organs, gynecological diseases, and the installation of an intrauterine device. There are cases when the formation of discomfort literally confines the patient to bed. This is an alarming symptom. Its presence may not always be harmless.

In some cases, pain around the navel is caused by intestinal problems, helminthic infestations, and psychogenic factors. Their occurrence during menstruation can be explained by changes in hormonal levels, which stimulate the exacerbation of existing diseases. The accompanying manifestations help to understand what exactly is happening in the body.

Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract have the following diagnostic criteria:

The following changes may indicate a worm infection :

• unstable stool;
• greens in feces;
• skin rashes;
• “flying” pain around the navel;
• bruxism - teeth grinding;
• problems falling asleep;
• emotional instability;
• sickly look.

Patients complain of chronic fatigue, fatigue, mood instability, and weakened self-control.

If during menstruation discomfort develops in the navel area, vomiting and throbbing pain in the temples appear, an abdominal form of migraine can be suspected. The described symptom may indicate the presence of a hernia or diverticulum (inflammation of a local protrusion of the intestine), an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. The possibility of cancer cannot be ruled out.

Diagnostics and therapy

To determine the cause of the malaise, you need to make an appointment with a gynecologist.

He will examine the uterus, clarify its size, location, shape, take a smear from the vagina to study the microflora, and write a referral for an ultrasound.

Deciphering the tests will make it possible to understand whether the appearance of pain around the navel during menstruation is associated with diseases of the pelvic organs, inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, and sexually transmitted infections.

If a woman has symptoms of pathologies of the digestive tract, she will be referred to a gastroenterologist.

To make a diagnosis, he may prescribe scatology, examination of the large and small intestines using an endoscope. A general blood and urine test is required.

The first allows you to detect signs of inflammation and parasitic infection, the second serves to identify malabsorption and dehydration.

If pain around the navel is considered a manifestation of premenstrual syndrome, the woman is advised to reduce physical activity and take a pain reliever. In other cases, etiotropic treatment is performed. Its main goal is to eliminate the cause of the malaise. The basis of therapy for any inflammatory diseases is the use of antibiotics, vitamin complexes and immunomodulators.

When a woman has a stomach ache before her period, it is not necessarily due to her cycle. This process can be caused by the normal functioning of the body, although most often it is necessary to look for pathology.

In this case, the girl should be able to clearly distinguish between stomach pain and abdominal pain. Surely every woman has long come to terms with a certain discomfort and lingering pain during menstruation.

However, pain before menstruation causes some concern.

What causes pain

It is immediately worth noting that the stomach can hurt before menstruation for a variety of reasons, both related to the female cycle and unrelated to it.

1. It's all due to hormonal imbalance. It is often observed in young teenage girls, as well as in women close to menopause. At this time, changes in hormone levels occur with hormonal changes, to which the body reacts. Usually, for this reason, stomach pain occurs during menstruation, but sometimes it occurs before menstruation.
2. Anatomical features of the location of the uterus. Due to the slightly incorrect placement of the uterus, it can put pressure on various nerve endings, which causes characteristic pain. A woman has plenty of nerve endings in her abdomen. In this case, the stomach does not necessarily hurt, but the sensations may be similar.
3. Infectious diseases of the reproductive system can cause pain in the abdominal area several days before menstruation. They can easily be confused with stomach problems.
4. Weakened immunity after the last menstruation could lead to digestive problems, which will begin to affect the stomach.

Source: https://tkto.ru/bolit-pupok-pered-mesjachnymi/

What to do when cramping pain appears during menstruation

First of all, assess your condition:

• Pain intensity. If the pain during menstruation is severe, then immediate medical attention is required.
• The nature of menstrual bleeding. Heavy bleeding during menstruation may indicate a miscarriage or uterine bleeding. If the cramping pain intensifies, then hospitalization is required.
• When it started to hurt. If painful cramping sensations appear during menstruation regularly for several years, then this may be a sign of a hidden chronic process in the reproductive sphere or an incorrectly installed intrauterine device. No emergency assistance is required, but it is necessary to undergo an examination by a gynecologist.
• Duration of pain. If it hurts throughout the entire menstruation and moderate pain persists after menstruation, then this is an alarming sign that requires attention.

The appearance of cramping pain during menstruation, with rare exceptions, indicates a pathological process. Contacting a gynecologist will help make periods less painful and preserve women's health.

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Lower abdomen hurts before menstruation: the reason is PMS

Discomfort on the eve of menstruation is a very common problem. In most cases, it is associated with hormonal changes in the female body, which occur when the mucous layer in the uterus is rejected. The complex of unpleasant symptoms is called dysmenorrhea, or premenstrual syndrome - PMS.

The causes of such discomfort are quite natural and not dangerous, but they manifest themselves differently in different women. It all depends on the level of hormones and the individual characteristics of the body. Dysmenorrhea, as a rule, lasts two to three days and is accompanied by the following unpleasant symptoms:

• A woman has pain in her lower abdomen. Unpleasant sensations can be weak and constant or occur in attacks.
• Mood changes often. The patient becomes tearful, nervous and irritable.
• An unreasonable feeling of fatigue and drowsiness appears.
• Appetite increases sharply, eating habits may change.

PMS signals hormonal changes in the female body. Such changes affect the emotional state, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and can cause migraines and increased blood pressure.

How does the stomach hurt before menstruation due to dangerous pathologies?

In some cases, a woman feels all the signs of her period approaching, but there are none. The delay, combined with pronounced discomfort, can have pathological causes that are dangerous to health.

The most common gynecological ailments with similar symptoms:

• Algomenorrhea . A patient with a similar gynecological abnormality has severe pain in the abdomen and lower back. Such discomfort occurs a week before the expected date of menstruation and can persist throughout the cyclic bleeding. Distinctive signs of algomenorrhea from ordinary PMS can be considered attacks of nausea and headache, and depressive states. The disease can be congenital or acquired. It often develops after an abortion, an inflammatory disease, or the installation of an intrauterine device.
• Adnexitis and other inflammatory gynecological diseases . Adnexitis causes severe pain in the lower back and abdomen. Body temperature rises, cycle disruption occurs, and discomfort appears during intimacy. The progression of inflammation can have negative consequences for a woman's reproductive health. If you notice such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.
• Endometriosis . Pathological proliferation of the epithelium leads to discomfort in the abdomen and can spread to the back and legs. The pain gradually increases, and menstruation becomes very heavy.
• Urogenital infections . With such diseases, the symptoms of PMS include high fever, itching in the external genital area, and unusual discharge with an unpleasant odor.
• Myoma . A benign tumor develops in the uterus. In the initial stages, the disease does not manifest itself in any way. As the tumor grows, menstrual irregularities appear, periods become heavy, and PMS is pronounced.

Doctors also identify cases when discomfort in the lower abdomen before the regula is not associated with the organs of the reproductive system. Similar symptoms appear in patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction and inflammation of the appendix. At the same time, problems with stool are additionally worrying.

Why do women have intestinal pain before menstruation?

It is difficult to find a woman who is unfamiliar with pain before menstruation. As a rule, such a state is taken for granted. This is partly true.

The body experiences hormonal surges, blood rushes to the internal organs, and all this does not happen without unpleasant sensations. But sometimes it’s difficult to figure out what exactly hurts before menstruation: the stomach, intestines, ovaries, rectum or something else.

If the pain is synchronized with menstruation, that is, it goes away regularly after it ends, then most likely its cause is completely natural. If unpleasant sensations continue to haunt a woman, then perhaps we are talking about pathological changes.

Be that as it may, it is difficult to understand what is happening on your own. You will need to consult a gynecologist, gastroenterologist and proctologist.

How is the intestines related to the arrival of menstruation?

In a normal state, before menstruation, hormone levels inevitably increase, as the body prepares for a possible pregnancy. A large amount of prostaglandins affects the condition of smooth muscles.

The intestinal muscles relax, the stool becomes softer, and sometimes becomes completely liquefied. As a result, before the arrival of menstruation, many women suffer from indigestion. Sometimes this condition lasts until the end of menstruation.

Symptoms of bowel relaxation in women before menstruation:

• absence of severe abdominal pain;
• feces do not have a strong odor characteristic of food poisoning;
• stools are softer, more frequent, or heavier than usual;
• everything returns to normal after the end of menstruation or a couple of days later.

The state of the intestines is also influenced by the emotional background. Under the influence of hormones, a woman’s mood changes sharply, nervousness, causeless anxiety, irritation, etc. arise. Everyone has their own range of emotions, but the result is the same - the intestines suffer.

And if a woman is also under stress, is on a strict diet or overdoes it on calories, takes medications, is addicted to alcohol or is infected with helminths, the intestinal microflora literally goes on “strike”. This leads to the appearance of irritable bowel syndrome, in which a woman’s entire lower abdomen hurts, and there may be a general deterioration in well-being and frustration.

Read: what medications can be taken for diarrhea for adults and children.

Find out if you can eat buckwheat if you have acute pancreatitis.

“Fuel to the fire” is added by spasmodic contractions of the uterus, which, about a week before menstruation, begins to prepare for the rejection of the endometrium (the inner layer of the uterus to which the embryo is attached during pregnancy). Rejection occurs due to muscle contraction, creating sensations a bit like labor contractions. And since the intestines are located next to the uterus, some of the spasms fall on its share.

Important! To relieve pain caused by physiological causes, dietary and lifestyle adjustments may be sufficient. The unpleasant sensations will not disappear completely, but if shortly before your period you monitor your diet, give up alcohol and calm your nerves a little, then your critical days will pass much easier.

Pain in the intestines not associated with menstruation

Before the arrival of menstruation, blood flows abundantly to the internal organs. One and a half to two weeks before “day X”, that same belly, unloved by all women, appears, which cannot be gotten rid of. This is preparation for a possible pregnancy. A large influx of blood, like a litmus test, reveals all the “problem areas”:

• inflammation or infection in the genital organs (there may be no symptoms, discomfort appears only when the problem spreads to neighboring organs);
• exacerbation of hemorrhoids (blood circulation worsens, stagnation occurs, pressure on the rectum increases);
• problems with the nervous system;
• diseases of the endocrine system.

Thus, the causes of pain in the intestinal area can both depend on the upcoming menstruation, and simply manifest themselves more acutely against its background. How to distinguish one from the other?

Pathology or physiology?

Each woman has her own spectrum of premenstrual pain. But there are some common symptoms that indicate the cause of the discomfort:

• if during menstruation it is the intestines that hurt, then problems with the gastrointestinal tract are likely;
• if a nagging pain, similar to contractions, is localized in the lower abdomen, then the matter is the body’s natural preparation for menstruation;
• the end of pain immediately after menstruation indicates its natural cause;
• prolonged discomfort, not synchronized with critical days, indicates pathology.

The intestines may react to the approach of critical days with grumbling, nausea, discomfort in the stomach, a coating appears on the tongue, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. This is a consequence of some disease that is aggravated due to hormonal release. In advanced cases, such symptoms are accompanied by fever and a general deterioration in well-being.

We recommend that you find out what stool can look like with pancreatitis.

Read: How pancreatic lipomatosis manifests itself.

Find out why the right intestine hurts.

How to prevent intestinal discomfort?

If the pain is not caused by pathology, then about a week before the onset of menstruation, it is advisable for a woman to reconsider her diet. Ideally, the quality of food should be taken care of constantly, but even in a few days, small changes in the menu can be beneficial.

It is worth making a choice in favor of boiled, baked or steamed dishes, and forget about fried potatoes and meat for a while.

Fast food, salty and spicy snacks, smoked and pickled foods, ready-made sauces, especially fatty mayonnaise and spicy ketchup, should also disappear from the diet for at least a few days.

It is incredibly difficult to give up high-calorie desserts, whipped cream, chocolate and other sweets, but you have to if you want results.

It is advisable to replace alcoholic and carbonated drinks with herbal teas, fresh juices and natural water. If you are prone to constipation, fermented milk products, low-fat soups, and juices will help. And for diarrhea, you need dishes made from boiled rice and decoctions from it.

Important! You should not expect instant pain relief. It will take time and patience, but sooner or later the stomach and intestines will return to normal.

The main indicator for distinguishing pathology from premenstrual syndrome is the duration of symptoms. If they pass along with the end of menstruation, then the matter is in physiology.

If the intestines, ovaries, stomach or other organs continue to hurt, then you cannot do without consulting a doctor. And you shouldn’t delay the examination.

And premenstrual syndrome can be alleviated by properly selected meals and giving up bad habits, at least for a while.

Source: https://ProZKT.ru/beremennost-i-deti/pered-mesyachnymi-bolit-kishechnik.html

Should you see a doctor if your stomach hurts before your period?

A woman should take her health as responsibly as possible. This is especially true for young girls who are planning a pregnancy in the future. If minor discomfort occurs, it is not necessary to make an urgent appointment with a gynecologist. You need to listen to your body, follow the cycle to understand why your stomach, chest or lower back hurts.

With an ectopic pregnancy, the lower abdomen also hurts

If the discomfort is so strong that it interferes with normal life, be sure to consult a qualified doctor about this. Pain that makes it impossible to sit or lie normally often indicates the development of dangerous pathologies. It could even be an ectopic pregnancy, which requires emergency medical intervention.

It is prohibited to take strong painkillers on your own. This will blur the clinical picture, and it will take more time and effort to accurately diagnose the pathology.

Why does my stomach hurt before my period, but there is no discharge?

The situation is especially unpleasant for a woman when there are all the signs of the imminent onset of menstrual bleeding, but discharge does not appear. The reasons for the delay in combination with aching abdominal pain can be different.

Most often, such symptoms occur in the following cases:

• Ovulation . The natural process of rupture of the follicle and release of the egg may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations that are localized on the right or left side of the abdomen. Such signs, as a rule, appear in the middle of the menstrual cycle and signal that the most favorable period for conceiving a child has arrived.
• Pregnancy . Delay combined with PMS symptoms is one of the most common signs of pregnancy. In the first weeks, during embryo implantation, the tone in the uterus increases greatly. The sensations are exactly the same as on the eve of menstruation. If bleeding has not started within a week, and the test shows two lines, make an appointment with a gynecologist. High uterine tone can cause miscarriage.
• Varicose veins in the organs of the reproductive system.
• Adhesions or endometriosis.
• Myoma.

Delayed menstruation and pain in the lower abdomen worry patients with chronic cystitis and urolithiasis. All these pathologies must be treated under the strict supervision of a qualified doctor after a comprehensive preliminary diagnosis.

How many days before menstruation is it normal for stomach pain?

Normally, a healthy woman should not experience any pain before her period, but rarely do these days pass completely painlessly.
With minor digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances, or a seasonal decrease in immunity, unpleasant sensations still appear.

You can ignore them if pain is not a constant companion to menstruation, but to be sure, it is better to go to the doctor and check the condition of the reproductive system.

How many days before your period does your stomach start to hurt?

Premenstrual syndrome manifests itself as a result of disruption of the endocrine and central nervous systems. As a result, the metabolism does not function as usual, and the woman experiences various ailments:

• headache;
• nausea;
• bloating;
• depression or aggressive behavior.

Often before menstruation, the breasts become enlarged and painful, shortness of breath or problems with the heart appear. These symptoms usually appear a week before your expected period.

An earlier feeling of discomfort is possible - immediately after ovulation, which occurs in the middle of the cycle. If a woman's cycle lasts 28 days, then ovulation occurs on the 14th day.

At this moment, the walls of the follicle rupture, and the egg, ready for fertilization, comes out of it. During this period, a woman may experience pain in the lower abdomen.

Approximately 10% of girls of childbearing age experience very strong pain, and not only the stomach hurts, but also the lower back, stomach, head, and legs.

If a week before your period your lower abdomen feels tight, but the pain is insignificant and appears every time at the same time with the same intensity, this may be due to functional disorders and characteristics of the body. Such symptoms do not require treatment.

Causes of pain in the lower abdomen before menstruation

There are several reasons why pain in the lower abdomen appears before menstruation. These are features of the endocrine system, in particular the balance of estrogen and progesterone.

In turn, they stimulate the production of endorphins - natural hormones of joy, which in their chemical composition are opiates. When progesterone levels decrease after ovulation, the body does not produce endorphins.

Along with a decrease in progesterone, a woman may have a lack of estrogen, so negative symptoms increase.

Natural causes that require correction also include:

• poor diet and lack of microelements - potassium and magnesium;
• constant stressful situations in life;
• lack of sleep.

The moment when painful sensations began to bother the woman will help determine the cause. It is enough to remember after what events the pain became especially severe. Next, you will need to establish a daily routine and nutrition.

It should be remembered that the body, which is under constant stressful conditions, consumes more calories, vitamins and minerals. If the diet is not adjusted in time, he may react with illness.

Congenital anomalies of the uterus as a cause of premenstrual pain

Congenital defects of the reproductive system include bicornuate, saddle-shaped, double and underdeveloped uterus.

When an organ is duplicated, one is usually normal, the other rudimentary. Pregnancy occurs in a normal organ. There are cases when both uteruses develop normally. This can be determined using ultrasound. Both menstruate at the same time, but poor blood flow from the rudiment causes tissue stretching and pain.

This is a dangerous condition, since pregnancy in the horn of the rudiment is considered ectopic and can cause tissue rupture. Doctors recommend removing it. The risk of miscarriage is also higher than in women with a normal structure, so the pregnant woman is monitored from the first days after conception.

Hypoplasia is a congenital “damage” in the body that leads to the absence of menstruation in an adult girl. Sometimes this can cause irregular menstruation with long breaks.

If, together with the underdevelopment of the uterus, there is an underdeveloped vagina, a tumor neoplasm - hematocolpos - may appear in the lower abdomen. As it increases, it occupies the entire pelvic area. The reason is the impossibility of outflow of menstrual blood.

Hematocolpos is removed surgically, as it causes severe arching pain and can cause sepsis.

With congenital aplasia - the absence of the uterus and vagina, or only the uterus - girls have no menstruation against the background of normally formed secondary sexual characteristics. At the same time, every month they feel pain in the lower abdomen, their breasts become rougher, their mood changes, because the ovaries are well developed and secrete sex hormones.

Inflammatory processes of the reproductive organs

With inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs, the state of health before menstruation can sharply worsen. This is due to changes in blood inflow and outflow, vascular obstruction. If menstruation has always been normal or with minimal deviations, with inflammation the pain is felt much more strongly.

Inflammation occurs for several reasons:

• infection;
• lack of sexual satisfaction;
• abortion;
• penetration of infection into the abdominal cavity from the uterus and the development of pelvioperitonitis.

Possible penetration of microbes from the intestines or appendix. In this case, surgical intervention and disinfection of internal organs are required.

Inflammatory processes in the ovaries are rare. Most often they begin at the site of a burst follicle.

After an abortion, damage to the fallopian tubes is possible, and every fifth woman may subsequently have problems conceiving due to adhesions.

Sometimes the process affects the muscle tissue of the uterus, which is accompanied by swelling due to poor microcirculation. Treatment is carried out with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and restorative drugs.

Benign tumors

Due to hormonal imbalance in the wall of the uterus, nodular compactions - fibroids - sometimes appear. They are distinguished by location - in the muscle layer, outside the uterus, in the cavity, in the cervical canal. The presence of fibroids can be suspected by the following symptoms:

• menstruation becomes heavier and lasts more than a week;
• pelvic pain;
• difficulty urinating or defecating due to compression of the intestines or bladder;
• abdominal enlargement.

Small fibroids can be treated conservatively with the help of hormonal medications. If the tumor quickly increases in size, or there is a combination of endometriosis and fibroids, surgical removal is suggested.

Fibromatous growths on the mucous layer of the uterus occur due to traumatic manipulations - abortion, diagnostic curettage, frequent childbirth. A characteristic sign of fibroids is severe pain during menstruation and heavy bleeding. Treatment is carried out using conservative or surgical methods, depending on how the patient feels.

If the tumor interferes with normal sex life or requires constant use of strong painkillers, it is better to remove it. A complication of fibroids can be miscarriage or infertility.

Infections

With irregular sex life and frequent changes of partners, if hygiene rules are not followed, infection may enter the vagina, and from there into the uterus and tubes. This causes local inflammation and swelling. Before menstruation, the pain intensifies. The inflammatory process involves the organs of the urinary system and the lower intestines.

The pathological process can be provoked by:

• fungal infections - candida, mycoplasma;
• chlamydia, if the body's immunity is low;
• Trichomonas;
• gonococci;
• herpes virus;
• ureaplasma;
• cytomegalovirus.

Infectious processes are accompanied by vaginal discharge, aching or nagging pain, increased body temperature, and general malaise. Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics, so all measures are aimed at strengthening the body - taking vitamins, normalizing nutrition and water regime, treating chronic diseases that reduce immunity.

Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. After the course, you need to do a control test to make sure there are no microbes in the genital tract. Antifungal drugs act only on certain microflora, so sometimes several types of drugs are prescribed.

Alarming symptoms

The following symptoms should not be ignored:

• Heavy bleeding during menstruation. This may indicate the presence of tumors, including malignant ones, endometriosis, and bleeding polyps. As a result of regular blood loss, anemia can develop, and this is a problem for the whole body.
• Nagging pain in the lower abdomen before menstruation can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy if there was unprotected intercourse during ovulation, or the woman is planning a pregnancy. It is necessary to do an hCG test or verify the presence of an embryo using ultrasound. The device will show whether the zygote is located correctly or whether surgical intervention is required.
• After an abortion, problems with menstruation may occur. If artificial termination of pregnancy is carried out in unsanitary conditions, it causes infection of the peritoneum, which leads to its inflammation. In this case, it is necessary to carry out abdominal surgery and a number of measures to relieve symptoms of intoxication. At the first signs you should consult a doctor.
• Even at a young age, cases of cervical cancer occur. One of the first symptoms is pain after sexual intercourse and spotting. If this happens, you need to be examined by a doctor or donate blood for tumor markers in any specialized laboratory.

Alarming symptoms appear suddenly or grow rapidly. In this case, you should not hesitate to go to the doctor.

How to help yourself with PMS

Women most often use medications to treat premenstrual syndrome. For severe pain, they take potent drugs, which has a bad effect on the functions of the liver and kidneys.

It is worth trying to regularly use the knowledge of traditional medicine based on taking herbs and infusions. Some of them contain substances similar to estrogen, so they are able to normalize hormonal levels before and after menstruation.

Herbs that are recommended for use by women and girls:

• Nettle - contains a set of useful substances - vitamins, hemostatic substances. Has an anti-inflammatory effect, relieves menstrual pain. It is recommended to drink from the middle of the cycle until the end of menstruation.
• Oregano - used for delayed development of internal genital organs, as well as for pain in the lower abdomen.
• Potentilla goose - restores impaired metabolism, relieves pain, strengthens the immune system.
• Mitchell's wavy or wifey grass. It has a diuretic, tonic effect on the uterus and ovaries, and a calming effect on the nervous system. It is used for all forms of menstruation disorders. It is used in medicinal preparations for women, but grows only in the USA, so you can get it in ready-made tablets.
• Black cohosh or black cohosh - phytoestrogens, calcium, magnesium, and iron are concentrated in the root part. Vitamins A, C and group B.
• Viburnum – has antibacterial, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory properties. Pain relieves menstruation and relieves irritability.
• Ginseng - enhances metabolism, helps get rid of extra pounds, reduces high blood pressure, improves sleep, improves immunity.
• Borovaya uterus - used for inflammatory and tumor diseases of the female reproductive system, restores hormonal levels.

Treatment with herbs should be carried out regularly, it is advisable to start the course of treatment before the onset of pain - 1 - 2 weeks before menstruation.

Source: https://menchov.ru/za-skolko-dnej-do-mesjachnyh-bolit-zhivot-norma/

What to do to eliminate spasms

If you experience severe pain, be sure to consult a gynecologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and, if necessary, prescribe additional diagnostics in the form of a blood test or ultrasound. If serious pathologies are detected, hardware examination methods are prescribed - MRI or CT, laparoscopy or hysteroscopy. Effective treatment is selected after an accurate diagnosis is made.

If your stomach hurts before your period due to natural physiological processes, you can try to eliminate the discomfort yourself at home. For this purpose, medications of different groups are used.

• Antispasmodics . Allows you to quickly eliminate muscle spasms in the uterus. These medications are available without a prescription, but you should read the instructions carefully before taking them. For PMS, medications are recommended that come in the form of tablets or rectal suppositories.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . Medicines in this group quickly relieve pain and fight inflammation. You can eliminate unpleasant symptoms with the help of tablets in which the active ingredients are paracetamol, ibuprofen, and diclofenac. Remember that these drugs have serious contraindications, and be sure to consult your doctor before taking them. Strictly follow the recommended dosage.

You can restore normal well-being before menstruation and eliminate discomfort without medications. To do this, sometimes it is enough to do light exercises, apply a warm heating pad to your stomach, give a light massage, and enrich your diet with a large amount of healthy vitamins and microelements. All these actions can be performed only if you are absolutely sure that you are absolutely healthy.

Monthly female bleeding is often accompanied by discomfort and pain in the abdomen. This is quite normal if the ailment is minor and does not affect the quality of life too much. Remember that you need to visit a gynecologist at least twice a year. This will protect you from the development of dangerous pathologies and allow you to maintain reproductive health.

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Severe abdominal pain before menstruation, causes of severe pain before menstruation

Not all women keep a schedule by which they can track the regularity and duration of their periods. Most of them quite accurately predict the start date of their next menstruation based on changes in their well-being due to physiological reasons. Pain, discomfort in the lower abdomen, and general malaise two or three days before the onset of menstruation become almost commonplace. Is it necessary to pay attention to the intensity and nature of unpleasant symptoms, depending on the woman’s overall health, hormonal balance indicators, cyclical changes in the organs of the reproductive system, and the severity of premenstrual syndrome? Moderate discomfort felt by a woman before her period is considered physiologically normal. But spasmodic acute pain and noticeable discomfort that are present before menstruation and do not subside with the onset of menstruation should alert every woman and become the basis for visiting a gynecologist.

Severe pain before menstruation or the onset of menstruation does not mean anything good.

Why does your stomach hurt a week before your period and when is this normal?

11.04.2018

Discomfort in the lower abdomen during menstruation is a common condition for women during this period. Most often, the lower abdomen pulls a week before menstruation and in the first days. This is due to an increase in the presence of the hormone estrogen and an intense release of prostaglandins and histamines into the blood.

But sometimes the stomach feels tight a week before the start of menstruation for other reasons (inflammation of the appendages, uterus, diseases of the intestinal tract). It is important to distinguish in which cases unpleasant sensations are the norm, and when they signal the development of diseases.

Physiological causes of pain

The nature and duration of discharge, how many days before menstruation the stomach hurts - all this depends on the hormonal background of the female body. The levels of estrogen and progesterone determine the functioning of the reproductive system and the menstrual cycle in particular.

The stomach may hurt in healthy women for some physiological reasons:

1. Low pain threshold. High sensitivity to any discomfort explains why your stomach hurts a week before your period. Uterine contractions lead to irritation of nerve receptors, causing cramping sensations in the lower abdomen.
2. Swelling. Approximately 3-6 days before the start of menstruation, the production of hormones by the pituitary gland leads to fluid retention in the body. Swelling occurs not only externally, mainly on the face and lower extremities, but also on the internal organs. As a result, the stomach stretches; pain can also occur in the lower back or side.
3. Reaction to the intrauterine device. When wearing this product a week before your period, your lower abdomen hurts. Its presence enhances uterine contractions, which become more distinct. Pain a week before your period can also occur with regular use of certain oral contraceptives.
4. Lack of endorphin. For this reason, your back or stomach often hurts before your period. The level of this hormone, which is a painkiller, falls in the second half of the cycle, resulting in an increase in the pain threshold in women.
5. Physical overload. 3-4 days before the critical days, discomfort in the lower abdomen can be observed due to heavy lifting, excessive exercise, or emotional stress. In this case, the aching is not inside the abdominal cavity - the muscles hurt.

Unpleasant sensations caused by physiological reasons are short-lived. If the lower abdomen feels tight for 5 days, and the intensity of the discomfort does not decrease, there is a risk of developing infectious and inflammatory pathologies.

They are also indicated by the color of the discharge, which differs significantly from normal menstrual blood - normally, menstrual blood should not be dark or black, but have a normal liquid consistency without any impurities or inclusions.

Pathological causes

Pain in the lower abdomen a week before menstruation and during menstruation may have pathological causes due to an infectious or inflammatory process. These include:

1. Algomenorrhea. It is believed that up to 70% of women suffer from this disease. This condition is caused by strong contraction of the uterus due to the fact that sex hormones are produced in excess. In addition to pain, other ailments often occur - dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, lightheadedness.
2. PMS. If the lower abdomen drags for a long time until menstruation (a week or more), the psycho-emotional background is unstable, the woman feels hot flashes, frequent mood swings, sweating, dizziness, this indicates the presence of premenstrual syndrome. The condition is caused by a decrease in the synthesis of progesterone and estrogen approximately 2 weeks before the onset of critical days.
3. Intestinal diseases. Often nagging or sharp pains in the lower abdomen are not associated with inflammation or infection of the female genital organs. They can be caused by gastroduodenitis, gastritis, ulcers.
4. Pathological structure of the uterus, underdevelopment of the organ. In this case, the outflow of the separated endometrium is impaired, and blood stagnation and accompanying pain are possible.

Abnormal position of the uterus: bend

Other causes include ectopic pregnancy, hormonal imbalance, recent childbirth or abortion, and trauma. Also, unpleasant sensations may accompany the release of the egg. In this case, after ovulation, there is a pulling in the groin, which is normal.

Pain syndrome in the case of serious pathologies does not appear on its own. If other ailments arise, it is necessary to consider in detail what symptoms accompany the discomfort.

If a rise in temperature, chills, increased bleeding, or a shift in cycle are observed, it is necessary to find the cause of this condition.

Signs of approaching period

The onset of menstruation varies from woman to woman. One of them is a condition when the lower abdomen pulls before menstruation 10 days or more. In addition, there are other signs of approaching critical days:

• in about 7 days, inflammation and acne on the face may occur due to hormonal imbalance;
• pain before menstruation is often accompanied by nausea, changes in taste preferences, and impaired sense of smell;
• Every month, 10 days before the onset of menstruation, appetite may increase, which is also due to hormonal changes;
• aching sensations appear in the chest, soft tissues swell, there is pain in the mammary gland before menstruation and it increases slightly. Pain in the abdomen, lower back, and swelling of the mammary glands can also be caused by hormonal changes in the body;
• discomfort appears in the abdomen - flatulence, diarrhea or constipation;
• mood swings and insomnia are observed.

This whole symptom complex speaks of premenstrual syndrome. It usually develops 8-9 days before the start of your period.

Depending on the form of the pathology, a woman may experience aggression, anxiety, depression, swelling, bloating, excessive irritability, headaches, surges in blood pressure and even panic attacks.

Along with this, against the background of PMS, the stomach begins to ache before menstruation; unpleasant sensations can also be localized in the lower back, legs, heart and sternum.

It is with an increase in the concentration of female hormones that a peculiar condition is observed - nausea, sometimes just before the onset of menstruation there may be a feeling of pregnancy with the characteristic occurrence of breast sensitivity, morning vomiting, changes in the taste of food, and an aversion to certain odors.

Painkillers

Pain in the lower abdomen can be eliminated using special massage techniques, physiotherapeutic procedures, warm baths and local application of heat. But modern painkillers will be more effective.

Medications

The list of the most popular and effective medications that can cope with painful sensations during menstruation includes:

• Paracetamol;
• Aspirin;
• Piroxicam;
• Ibuprofen;
• Ketoprofen;
• Naproxen.

In addition to painkillers, antispasmodics are widely used, which relax smooth muscles and reduce pain intensity:

• Drotaverine;
• Papaverine;
• Buscopan;
• No-shpa.

For intense pain, simultaneous use of antispasmodics and anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs is recommended. This allows you to eliminate discomfort and stop the spasm that caused it. It is not recommended to use medications for more than 3 days in a row.

Causes of severe abdominal pain before menstruation

How to distinguish normality from pathology, because each woman has her own individual pain threshold. How to understand when abdominal pain during PMS is normal, and when severe pain in the lower abdomen on the left or right is symptoms of a pathological problem or disease. Severe pain before the onset of menstruation can be interpreted in different ways, depending on how much the woman feels the deterioration of her general condition. The body of women with a low pain threshold cannot cope with even mild pain and needs to take painkillers, but there are women who continue to live and work as usual, despite the presence of intense pain, patiently enduring them and not taking any measures. This situation confuses doctors when they hear complaints of severe pain before menstruation, so they focus on a complex of all symptoms.

The most common symptoms of the onset of premenstrual syndrome are nagging and aching pain in the lower abdomen, which can radiate to the left or right side; sometimes pain in the lower abdomen before menstruation can radiate to the lower back, lower groin, pubic area or tailbone area. But such pain before the onset of menstruation should not be severe; ideally, a woman should feel mild discomfort or moderate pain. A number of factors can negatively affect a woman’s well-being on the eve of her next menstruation:

1. Excessive levels of physical exertion due to demanding work conditions or intense workouts in the gym, especially on weight machines, can cause very severe abdominal pain. Sometimes, after serious training, a woman may feel literally unbearable pain in her stomach if her period is about to begin. Strength training before your period often increases soreness, pain, and other symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome).
2. The reasons for increased pain before menstruation may lie in staying for a long time in cold conditions, leading to hypothermia. Due to the fact that the body gets cold, especially the legs, spasms may occur in the vessels of the pelvic organs, which increase the sensation of pain on the eve of menstruation. So, before menstruation, habitual and mild pain in the abdomen can turn into a very mild nagging or aching pain in the abdomen.
3. Why do abdominal pains only get worse before menstruation? Premenstrual tension syndrome, or more simply, premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Not everyone experiences an uncomfortable state a couple of days before the start of menstruation; in some women it is felt much earlier, 5-7 days. Characteristic symptoms are dull nagging pain in the lower abdomen combined with autonomic and neurological symptoms (tachycardia, headache, sweating, numbness of the extremities). PMS is classified not as a separate pathology, but as a separate symptom complex with different clinical forms, depending on the severity of manifestations that can disrupt the usual lifestyle and limit a woman’s ability to work.
4. What could happen if during these periods your stomach hurts much more than usual before menstruation? Lack of sufficient physical activity. Physical inactivity, caused by the “sedentary” principle of work and inactive rest, contributes to the development of blood supply disorders to the pelvic organs and leads to stagnation. This provokes an increase in pain, abdominal pain becomes more noticeable on the eve of menstruation.
5. Excess body weight causes a lot of problems in the body, just some of them are delayed menstruation or early menstruation, too much or very scanty discharge during menstruation, very severe abdominal pain before the onset of menstruation. Little known to many is the fact that adipose tissue itself performs, among other things, an endocrine function, that is, it releases hormones, such as estrogen, into the bloodstream. A significant excess of adipose tissue can significantly affect the balance of hormonal levels, and hormonal imbalances often accompany painful menstruation.
6. Diseases of the digestive system can cause very painful premenstrual syndrome. Due to pathologies of the stomach and intestines, cramps and bloating (flatulence) are often observed; irritated intestinal loops put pressure on the area of ​​the uterus and appendages, increasing the pain during menstruation.
7. Use of an intrauterine device (IUD). For some women, the IUD is an undesirable form of contraception, since it can become one of the causes of dysmenorrhea. If, after installing various types of intrauterine devices, a woman has pain in the lower abdomen and the pain does not go away, if such pain in the lower abdomen after the installation of PMS is regular and appears periodically, you should definitely seek help from a doctor.
8. A number of gynecological pathologies, especially those related to the condition of the uterus. Pain of varying intensity can occur against the background of pathological changes in the muscular uterine tissues or with an abnormal anatomical structure, which negatively affects the contractility of the organ or the free outflow of menstrual fluid. This is the presence in the tissues of the uterus of myomatous nodes that deform the uterine cavity, underdevelopment of its structure, narrowing of the cervical canal, displaced location in the pelvic area, endometriotic proliferation of the uterine epithelium outside the boundaries of the organ. All these deviations provoke different pain sensations before the onset of menstruation and during menstruation.
9. Consequences of gynecological surgical interventions, complicated course of the postpartum period. Scarring and other changes in the tissues of the genital organs, especially the uterus and appendages, after surgery can cause premenstrual pain.
10. Inflammatory processes in the organs of the genitourinary system. Closer to the beginning of menstruation, chronic pyelonephritis, cystitis and other diseases that intensify premenstrual pain syndrome often worsen.

The debatable question of whether premenstrual pain can occur in completely healthy women is resolved by the general opinion of experts that their physiological nature is manifested in low intensity and vagueness of the pain syndrome. The presence of cutting, sharp, spasmodic pain before the onset of menstruation is a reason to look for the cause in gynecological or other pathology.

Abdominal cramps before menstruation

Menstruation is the rejection of the functional layer of the endometrium lining the inner surface of the uterus, which has a certain cyclicity. Another name for menstruation is regula (from the word “regular”).

The first day of menstruation is considered the beginning of the menstrual cycle - the period during which changes occur in the functioning of the reproductive organs, aimed at the possibility of conception. In a healthy woman, the cycle length is usually 28-30 days.

These numbers are the classic norm, but for many women they can fluctuate depending on individual characteristics. Gynecologists consider the acceptable duration of the menstrual cycle to be from 25 to 34 days.

A few days before the start of the regimen, a woman’s health may worsen. Many people complain of increased weakness during this period, decreased performance, and constant drowsiness.

Physiological sensations are also possible, for example, headaches, a slight increase in body temperature, and increased sweating. The most common complaint at the end of the menstrual cycle for most women is pain in the lower abdomen.

Almost 60% of women of reproductive age experience this symptom. To understand whether this is normal or pathological, you need to know the possible causes of pain.

Lower abdomen hurts before menstruation

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Physiological reasons and features

Every month, processes occur in a woman’s body that prepare the body for possible conception and create conditions for the fertilization of a mature egg.

During the period of ovulation, which occurs on days 14-16 of the cycle, the membranes of the dominant follicle rupture to release an egg ready for fertilization into the cavity of the fallopian tube, where it can meet the sperm.

From the fallopian tube, the egg moves into the body of the uterus, a pear-shaped muscular organ whose main task is to bear the fetus.

In the uterus, the egg attaches to the mucous membrane (endometrium). If conception does not occur, the unfertilized egg is rejected by the uterine walls along with the functional mucous surface.

An open bleeding wound forms on the surface of the uterus, which heals a few days after the end of menstruation.

All these processes can cause moderate nagging pain in the lower abdomen, where the uterus is located, and usually do not require painkillers.

What is the menstrual cycle

Pain in the lower abdomen a few days before the onset of regulation is considered normal if accompanied by the following characteristics:

• the woman’s general health remains normal;
• body temperature is within normal limits or at the lower limit of low-grade fever (no more than 37.4°);
• after the onset of menstruation there are no signs of heavy uterine bleeding.

Note! Menstrual fluid consists not only of blood - it contains endometrial tissue, as well as mucous secretion secreted by the glands of the vagina and cervix.

Menstrual blood does not clot and is darker in color than the blood circulating through the blood vessels due to the large amount of enzymes.

This is the main sign that allows you to distinguish menstruation from breakthrough bleeding.

Physiology of the menstrual cycle

Premenstrual syndrome: normal or pathological?

Premenstrual syndrome is a complex of symptoms that occur 3-5 days before the onset of regulation. It is psychosomatic in nature and is associated primarily with emotional disturbances and changes.

Many women during this period become irritable and whiny. Unreasonable aggression, anxiety, signs of depression, and insomnia may appear.

In approximately 30% of women, signs of PMS also include physiological symptoms, for example:

• headache (migraine attacks may worsen in women with neurological disorders);
• severe pulling pain in the lower abdomen;
• nausea, aversion to certain foods;
• soreness in the mammary glands;
• increased sweating.

Menstrual cycle and menstruation

Despite the fact that many women suffer from premenstrual syndrome, gynecologists do not consider it a normal condition. In most cases, the pathology is caused by insufficient synthesis of endorphins - “pleasure hormones”, which are natural analgesic substances.

A lack of this hormone can lead to a serious complication - menstrual psychosis.

The disease is considered very serious and may require drug correction in a hospital setting, therefore, if symptoms of PMS recur frequently, you should consult a doctor and check the functioning of the endocrine system and the functioning of the pituitary gland of the brain, which is responsible for the synthesis of endorphins.

High intensity pain 3-5 days before menstruation

If the pain syndrome is of high intensity and the woman cannot perform usual actions, it is necessary to consult with the supervising gynecologist.

Such a symptom may indicate hidden inflammatory processes and other pathologies of the genitourinary system and reproductive organs, which worsen before the onset of regulation due to decreased immunity caused by natural physiological changes in the body.

Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids

Myoma ranks second in prevalence among female benign tumors, second only to fibroadenoma of the mammary glands. The formation is benign in nature and consists of myometrial muscle tissue - a layer consisting of intertwined myocytes that constantly contract in a random order and rhythm.

Myoma usually looks like a small nodule. It can be single or multiple, and also differ in the location of tumor nodes.

Types of fibroids depending on location

Type of tumorWhere is it located?

Types of uterine fibroids

The pathology has two characteristic signs: pain in the lower abdomen and uterine bleeding, which can manifest as menorrhagia (heavy menstruation lasting more than 7 days) or breakthrough uterine bleeding. Almost always, with fibroids, a woman feels a nagging pain in the lower abdomen, which intensifies before the start of regulation and in the middle of the menstrual cycle.

For the conservative treatment of fibroids, tranexamic acid preparations can be used, as well as medications that suppress the production of pituitary gonadotropic hormones. If there is no therapeutic effect, the doctor may decide to remove the tumor surgically.

Important! The risk group for developing fibroids includes women taking oral contraceptives and women over 40 years of age. This category of patients is recommended to undergo a routine examination by a gynecologist at least once a year.

Disturbances in the functioning of the endometrium

One of the most common causes of lower abdominal pain before menstruation is endometrial disease. Most often, women experience excessive growth of the mucosal layer, which is called endometrial hyperplasia. If the cells of the mucous membrane begin to extend beyond the mucous layer, the woman is diagnosed with endometriosis.

Inflammation of the endometrium

Both pathologies have the same symptoms and often occur simultaneously. For diagnosis, the method of transvaginal ultrasound examination or hysteroscopy (introduction of a special optical device into the uterine cavity) is used. Equally important is collecting a medical history. With endometrial pathologies, women complain of the following symptoms:

• severe pain in the lower abdomen that occurs monthly and intensifies in the middle and end of the menstrual cycle;
• profuse flow lasting more than one week;
• irradiation of pain to the lumbar region, coccyx, sacrum, buttocks and thighs;
• pain during sexual intercourse;
• intermenstrual bleeding.

In most cases, breakthrough bleeding can only be stopped surgically using vacuum aspiration or curettage.

After the operation, the woman is prescribed antibacterial therapy with broad-spectrum drugs (“ Metronidazole ”) and hormonal treatment with drugs based on progesterone and estrogen (“ Yarina ”, “ Zhanin ”, “ Diane-35 ”).

Places of formation of foci of endometriosis

Important! If signs of endometriosis appear, you should immediately contact a gynecologist, even if your overall health remains normal.

If necessary treatment is not received in time, serious complications may occur, for example, inflammation of the endometrium (endometritis).

Endometritis often occurs against the background of purulent-infectious processes and can lead to blood poisoning. In 20% of women, purulent endometritis causes infertility.

Diseases of the genitourinary area

Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) is considered one of the most common diseases in women.

The cause of the pathology is a decrease in immunity as a result of hypothermia, colds, alcohol abuse and smoking.

When bacteria or fungus enter the mucous membranes of the urogenital tract and bladder, an inflammatory process develops, which manifests itself with pronounced symptoms.

Causes of cystitis

Signs of acute cystitis include:

• increased temperature (above 38°);
• acute pain of high intensity in the lower abdomen, which can radiate to the lumbar region;
• severe burning sensation when trying to empty the bladder;
• frequent (most of them false) urge to urinate;
• sharp pain after completing urination.

If a woman does not treat acute cystitis in time, the pathology can become chronic. In this case, severe symptoms may be absent, and a sluggish inflammatory process will manifest itself as minor abdominal pain and discomfort during urination. Before menstruation, symptoms intensify due to decreased activity of the immune system.

Cystitis formation

Note! In some cases, pain in the lower abdomen may indicate inflammatory processes in the kidneys. Despite the fact that the renal system is located in the lateral parts of the abdomen, pain can radiate to the central and lower parts. This clinical picture occurs mainly with glomerulonephritis.

Severe pain occurs every month

If your stomach hurts regularly before your period, and there are no other symptoms, you should consult a doctor.

This picture can be observed with malignant tumors of the uterus and vagina if the pathology is at an early stage.

Other signs may indirectly indicate cancer of the uterus, which can only be considered as symptoms of oncological processes in aggregate.

Cervical cancer

These include:

• weight loss (usually rapid);
• periodic increase in temperature (including basal values);
• bursting pain in the lower abdomen during sexual intercourse;
• voluminous mucous discharge between the regulae;
• spotting or bleeding of varying intensity between menstruation;
• itching of the genitals.

Important ! These signs of cancer do not always appear. In some cases, there may be no symptoms at all, so regular abdominal pain that worsens on the eve of menstruation is a reason to undergo an examination.

Diagnosis of very severe pain, how to determine the cause of unbearable abdominal pain

The causes of premenstrual pain can be clarified based on the results of a thorough examination. To complete the clinical picture, the doctor needs to have information:

1. about the nature, regularity, intensity of pain;
2. about the presence of accompanying symptoms;
3. about the methods of contraception used by the patient;
4. about previous diagnoses, if inflammatory gynecological diseases and methods of their treatment were previously identified;
5. about the nature of the manipulations and surgical interventions previously performed on the patient (diagnostic curettage, hysteroscopy, abortion, course of the postpartum period).

Laboratory tests include:

1. general and biochemical analysis of blood, urine, vaginal smears, scrapings from the surface of the cervix;
2. bacterial culture, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, PCR method for identifying infectious agents if there is reason that pain may be a consequence of an infectious disease.

The condition of the uterus, appendages, and fallopian tubes can be judged by the results of ultrasound diagnostics, which helps to identify signs of inflammatory processes, as well as the presence of neoplasms in these organs (cysts, fibroids, fibroids). Using an ultrasound examination, the doctor can assess the condition of the fallopian tubes, identify narrowing of the cervical canal, the presence of scar tissue and adhesions. If the gynecologist does not find any reason to explain the presence of severe painful premenstrual syndrome, the woman is recommended to visit other doctors (endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist). You need to be patient, because diagnostic procedures may take one or two months, but you cannot retreat, since this is the only way to identify the original source of pain before the onset of menstruation.

The nature of pain during PMS, types and types of pain

The physiological course of PMS in most cases is not markedly painful. The tension that arises in the lower abdomen does not have a specific localization, and sensations of vague pain appear. With physical activity or as a result of a change in posture, they do not intensify, but remain at the same level. PMS pain is accompanied by other symptoms, including:

1. weakness, drowsiness;
2. increased irritability;
3. mood swings;
4. increased sensitivity in the mammary glands;

The frequency of such symptoms is clearly traceable in accordance with the menstrual cycles, starting mainly 3-5 days before the start of the next menstruation. With the pathological nature of PMS, its symptoms are noted not only on the eve of menstruation, but also during different phases of the monthly cycle. Pain before menstruation is more intense and often radiates to the lumbosacral and gluteal region. It is poorly controlled with analgesics.

As for very strong, cutting pain with a clear localization, when the patient is looking for a comfortable position to relieve them, this indicates another pathology, but not premenstrual pain syndrome. It is necessary to differentiate such pain from symptoms of acute inflammation of the appendix, torsion of the appendix, or rupture of a cystic formation or fallopian tube. Only a doctor can do this, so in such situations it is better for the patient to call an ambulance.

Causes of nagging pain in the lower abdomen a week before menstruation

Due to the restructuring of the body before menstruation, changes always occur in the reproductive organs, causing discomfort to 80% of women. Such undesirable manifestations include the fact that a week before your period you feel a tugging sensation in your lower abdomen. The symptom may be due to natural causes and is a variation of the normal functioning of the female body.

Anxiety occurs when pain interferes with daily activities and is far from a feeling of mild inconvenience. You can understand what to do if your lower abdomen pulls and hurts a week before your period begins by thinking about the possible reasons for what is happening.

Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea in medicine refers to menstrual cramps in the lower abdomen before and during menstruation. They are caused by contractions of the uterus and the process of removing excess endometrial particles with blood.

Pain syndrome can be triggered by the individual number of sensory receptors and a low pain threshold. Due to dysmenorrhea, 8–10 days before the start of menstruation, the lower abdomen hurts and pulls.

Symptoms can begin during puberty and accompany the woman until the onset of menopause. For many, with age or after the birth of a child, the pain syndrome becomes less noticeable.

Mild malaise can be triggered by hormonal changes in the body, or by structural features of the reproductive system.

Premenstrual syndrome

Cyclic syndrome is a whole complex of disorders on the part of the endocrine, psycho-emotional and vegetative-vascular systems. The main cause of PMS is considered to be hormonal disorders in women at risk and exposed to the following factors:

• overwork at work;
• constant stress;
• tendency to depression;
• injuries and surgical interventions;
• inflammatory diseases of the genital organs;
• lack of physical activity;
• lack of balanced nutrition.

It’s no wonder that more than 55% of women are familiar with the abbreviation PMS firsthand.

There is no exact figure for how many days before menstruation the lower abdomen begins to pull. The norm varies from 2 to 14 days.

In addition to aching pain in the lower abdomen, signs such as migraines radiating to the eyeballs, stomach upsets, painful sensitivity of the mammary glands, weakness, irritability, excessive vulnerability, and apathy are also observed. Characterized by a sharp change in mood - from excited-elated to tearful-depressive.

Malaise may include symptoms of cardiovascular diseases: rapid heartbeat, numbness of the hands, sweating, shortness of breath.

Signs of premenstrual syndrome can double with age.

This condition usually goes away with the onset of menstruation, but sometimes lasts for several days after it ends.

Hormonal imbalance

If 4-5 days before your period your lower abdomen feels very tight, the cause may be a hormonal imbalance:

1. Estrogen balance is extremely important for the proper functioning of the reproductive system. Its excess, as well as its deficiency, can cause discomfort and bloating, as well as menstrual irregularities. Signs that indicate unhealthy levels of estrogen in the body include flaking and dry skin, dullness and hair loss, migraines, insomnia, unstable blood pressure, chest pain and bad mood.
2. The level of progesterone before menstruation should be quite high, and its increase begins approximately on the 15th day of the cycle, when the egg leaves the follicle. Hormone deficiency provokes spasms and contractions of the uterine body, which lead to aching pain in the lower abdomen and lower back before menstruation. An imbalance is indicated by swelling and pain of the mammary glands, heavy discharge during menstruation, bleeding during the intermenstrual period, and swelling of the face.
3. The culprit of abdominal discomfort may be a low level of “happiness hormones”. Endorphins are designed to alleviate pain and stress for the body. However, with their deficiency, when the lower abdomen hurts and pulls before menstruation, it is felt more strongly than usual. Depressive states, apathy, sensitivity of the breasts and vaginal walls during sex, and gastrointestinal disorders are also observed.
4. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that monitor and regulate biochemical processes in the body. They are the ones who send signals to the brain about unpleasant sensations during menstruation. Due to hormonal imbalances, the amount of prostaglandins may increase, and with them sensitivity to pain.

Ovulation

Since it can be difficult to determine how many days before your period a stomach ache begins, this phenomenon may affect the period of ovulation. Depending on the characteristics of a woman’s body, it can occur between days 7 and 19 of the cycle. This gap is explained by the influence of external factors on the body - stress, overwork, health conditions and others.

Minor nagging pain in the lower abdomen is a common sign of ovulation and, due to an irregular cycle, can be bothersome about a week before your period. Discomfort may be accompanied by slight bleeding, a slightly exalted state, increased libido, increased taste buds and sense of smell.

Pregnancy

Fertilization of the egg can make itself felt with very specific symptoms - a delay in menstruation and unbearable pain in the lower abdomen. In the second or third week of pregnancy, such symptoms can easily be confused with the upcoming critical days in the new month.

Such signs can appear either for natural reasons associated with hormonal changes in the body, or become an alarming signal.

Causes for concern may be:

• three or four days before the expected menstruation, an elevated temperature is observed;
• acute painful sensations in the lower abdomen and back, radiating to the groin and pubis;
• spasmodic pulsating sensations;
• feeling of tension and pressure in the abdomen;
• any discomfort that appeared along with bloody or brown discharge on the 5th or 6th day of the delay;
• malaise is accompanied by nausea and vomiting;
• pain in the fifth week of pregnancy may warn of an ectopic pregnancy.

Even if the discomfort is not too annoying, you should consult a doctor. It would be a good idea to take a test to make sure you are pregnant.

Hormonal contraceptives

The appearance of abdominal discomfort before menstruation may be associated with taking OCs. The drugs greatly affect the ratio of hormones and the characteristics of the menstrual cycle.

Abdominal pain may indicate a side effect of the contraceptive and its incompatibility with the body.

And also, the symptom is observed after a sharp cessation of taking OCs, due to a strong hormonal surge.

Remember, before starting to take oral contraceptives and stopping their use, you need to consult a gynecologist. This will help avoid unpleasant surprises.

Spikes

Most often, the adhesive process is caused by injuries to the pelvic organs or gynecological operations. The risk group also includes women suffering from inflammatory diseases or endometriosis.

As a result of the appearance of adhesions, organs grow together through vessels and capillaries, which interferes with their mobility and normal functioning.

Characteristic signs of the formation of adhesions include constipation, pain during bowel movements and the fact that 2-3 days before menstruation there is a strong pulling in the lower abdomen.

Benign neoplasms

Hormonal instability can lead to the development of various types of formations and compactions.

Uterine fibroids are the cause of 50% of cases of reproductive system disease. This is a benign tumor that forms in the myometrium due to hormonal imbalance. The hormone estrogen fuels the growth of formation. Fibroids progress throughout the reproductive period, until menopause, when the body stops producing estrogen.

The risk of the disease increases in the case of processes that affect hormonal levels:

• inflammatory processes;
• endometriosis;
• endocrine diseases;
• gynecological operations and abortions;
• lack of regular sex life.

The symptoms of the disease are similar to many other gynecological pathologies, so the tumor can only be identified during an examination by a gynecologist. Reasons to suspect something is wrong may be: very strong nagging pain before menstruation, pressure on the bladder, heavier periods than usual, and as a result of heavy blood loss, pale skin, weakness.

Inflammatory processes

Feeling unwell 3 or 4 days before the onset of menstruation may indicate inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs. If usually the sensations were not too uncomfortable, then inflammation will greatly increase the pain.

The causative agent of pathogenic processes can be sexually transmitted infections and viruses. There is a high probability of them entering the body with the onset of cold weather. The body does not have time to adapt, which leads to a sharp decrease in immunity.

The appearance of inflammation is possible against the background of another disease of a viral or infectious nature. This is especially true for infection of the pelvic and abdominal organs.

The most common inflammatory diseases accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen:

1. Adnexitis is inflammation of the ovaries and appendages. The following set of symptoms is typical for the pathology: fever, weakness, chills, nausea, vomiting, burning during urination, purulent discharge, tension in the abdominal cavity and abdominal pain with cramps before menstruation and in other phases of the cycle.
2. Cervicitis is an inflammation of the cervix, infectious and non-infectious. The disease can be almost asymptomatic. In other cases, sipping sensations in the lower abdomen are characteristic, especially pronounced during sex. The disease can manifest itself as bleeding between menstruation, as well as purulent mucous discharge.
3. Vulvitis is an external inflammation of the genital organs. Pain and tingling usually spreads to the lower abdomen, radiating to the pubic and genital area. A yellowish discharge appears with varying consistency and has an unpleasant odor. As symptoms worsen, the temperature may rise and fatigue may be felt.
4. Endometritis is an acute inflammation of the surface layer of the endometrium. The chronic form of the disease develops as a result of infections in the area of ​​the uterus and fallopian tubes, which can occur against the background of other gynecological diseases, complications after childbirth and surgical interventions. Inflammation can be provoked by urogenital infections - chlamydia, ureaplasma, mycoplasma and herpes virus. Occurs with acute symptoms: temperature above 38 degrees, abdominal pain, purulent discharge, migraines, bloating.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is the growth of endometrial tissue outside its natural layer in more than 8% of women during the reproductive period. The disease is hormonal in nature, but medical articles and studies have not yet given an exact answer about the causes of the pathology.

The disease is one of the main causes of abdominal pain, and it is often confused with normal menstrual discomfort.

At risk of pathology are:

• women with a menstrual cycle of less than 27 days and painful menstruation;
• those who have previously had cases of the disease in their family;
• girls who started their first periods early;
• nulliparous or late giving birth women.

For the vast majority of the menstrual cycle, endometriosis can develop almost asymptomatically. The signs intensify and make themselves felt when, a week before your period, an uncomfortable pulling sensation in the lower abdomen and lower back begins. There is pain during sexual intercourse, spotting in the last phases of the cycle, constipation, frequent urination, and a slight increase in temperature.

When to Seek Medical Help

If discomfort accompanied by discomfort in the lower abdomen seven days before menstruation bothers you regularly, you should consult a gynecologist.

It is also important to pay attention to the occurrence of the following symptoms:

• painful discomfort more than five days before menstruation accompanied by bleeding;
• discomfort occurs during or after sex;
• you notice changes in body temperature;
• feeling sick, feeling the urge to vomit;
• pain extends to the lower back, legs or genitals;
• the discharge has acquired a yellowish or purulent tint, and an unpleasant odor has appeared;
• the lower abdomen hurts and aches before menstruation in the postpartum period or after surgery.

If abdominal discomfort is accompanied by additional symptoms, it would be better to immediately undergo a medical diagnosis and do all the necessary tests.

Based on comments on women's forums, many women are accustomed to considering pain a few days before their period as part of the menstrual cycle.

However, it is important to remember that an ailment that deprives you of the joy of life can be an alarm bell and warn of the presence of serious pathologies, especially if you are sick for the first time.

Timely examination is the key to quickly solving the problem. Love yourself and don't let pain ruin your life.

Source: https://MesyachnyeDni.ru/menstruaciya/za-nedelyu-do-mesyachnyh-tyanet-niz-zhivota.html

What to do, how to treat very severe pain before menstruation

What needs to be done to determine the reason why your stomach hurts before your period and the nagging or aching pain does not stop? First of all, you need to visit a gynecologist if there is a clear correlation between the appearance of pain before the onset of menstruation. The results of the gynecological examination, data from the collected medical history and laboratory tests will determine the further course of action. It is possible that you will need to consult an endocrinologist, neurologist, gastroenterologist, or psychiatrist.

Drug treatment of premenstrual pain should be avoided until diagnostic results and doctor's recommendations are received. Identified endocrine abnormalities in the functioning of the ovaries, adrenal glands, and thyroid glands require correction with hormonal drugs, a treatment regimen for which can only be prescribed by a doctor. Additionally, vitamin therapy is prescribed, which is carried out with oral or injectable medications, or with the help of dietary supplements.

Inflammatory problems can be solved by taking antibiotics or antibacterial agents prescribed by the gynecologist. What to do if pain occurs before menstruation, how to get rid of severe abdominal pain during PMS, how to relieve premenstrual abdominal pain, what pills will help? Pain relief is achieved by taking antispasmodics and analgesics. To improve the outflow of menstrual fluid, a set of therapeutic measures is carried out aimed at improving blood circulation and relieving tissue swelling, for example, courses of electrophoresis, massage, and therapeutic exercises. It is useful to intensify gentle physical activity, without forceful load, by visiting the pool or dancing.

Herbal medicine is a good helper in relieving premenstrual pain. You can reduce the intensity of pain by consuming decoctions of herbs such as yarrow, cinquefoil root, sage, and knotweed. Remember. Independent identification of the causes of premenstrual pain syndrome is impossible. Moreover, the patient first has to make sure that the pain is a consequence of PMS, and not a specific pathology of a gynecological or other nature. And this can only be done with the help of medical specialists.

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Stomach pain before and during menstruation: causes of pain in the epigastrium and intestines

Every woman of fertile age is familiar with the specific pain that accompanies the onset of menstruation. Most often they are localized in the lower abdomen and there is no doubt about their origin.

Young girls who first experience a stomach ache before menstruation experience fear and anxiety, associating the sensations with stomach diseases.

Why are pain caused by menstruation associated with other abdominal organs and are errors possible?

What happens in the female body on the eve and during menstruation?

The onset of menstruation is associated with a sharp surge in the production of hormones in a woman’s body. This is necessary so that the mucous membrane of the inner surface of the uterus (endometrium), which has prepared for pregnancy, rejects unnecessary epithelium.

There is an increased production of prostaglandins - lipid substances that enhance the effect of pain mediators histamine and bradykinin. All painful sensations intensify, the sensitivity of the organs located in the abdominal cavity worsens, they hurt.

If your stomach hurts during your period, the nervous system may be the culprit. The innervation of internal organs is closely interconnected. The spinal roots T10–T12 and L1 (10–12 thoracic and 1 pair of lumbar nerves) are involved in supplying the uterus with neurons. These same nerve roots innervate the pelvic organs and lower abdomen, including the rectum.

When the smooth muscles of the uterus contract, the nerve endings are irritated and send impulses to the cerebral cortex. Before menstruation, it erroneously signals that the stomach hurts; as a result, with these organs in full health, the woman feels soreness on the eve of menstruation.

Causes of abdominal pain

It is sometimes difficult to independently determine what exactly hurts. This can be done by a doctor after collecting anamnesis, examination, palpation and evaluation of test results.

Why does my stomach hurt?

The most common cause of pain in the stomach is gastritis, gastroduodenitis, peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum. These diseases are extremely common.

Currently, their main cause is considered to be the presence of pathological bacteria Helicobacter pylori in the body. According to WHO, they are present in the body of 50% of the population.

That is, half of all women are carriers of a bacteria that is dormant for the time being, which becomes active when conditions unfavorable for the body occur:

• acute infectious disease;
• stress;
• poor nutrition;
• hormonal imbalance;
• change of place of residence.

Menstruation is accompanied by a surge in hormone activity. They can initiate a sharp proliferation of helicobacter pylori and the appearance of symptoms of acute gastritis or, in the chronic version, lead to an exacerbation of gastric or duodenal ulcers. If your upper abdomen hurts, it makes sense to consult a gastroenterologist.

Why does my intestines hurt?

Abdominal pain in the vast majority of cases is referred. When the uterus contracts, nerve impulses radiate into the surrounding tissues and irritate the nerve endings of the intestines. The brain cannot clearly recognize the source of pain, and the woman thinks that her entire abdominal cavity hurts.

An increase in appetite before menstruation can cause overeating and pain in the intestines. Hormones that cause uterine contractions also affect the intestines, causing spasms. Pain may also be associated with increased gas formation.

To exclude such phenomena, on the eve of and during menstruation it is necessary to adhere to a diet excluding the following types of food:

• fatty, smoked, spicy, salty;
• yeast baked goods;
• carbonated drinks;
• alcoholic drinks.

Pain in the intestines before menstruation can also occur due to the fact that the increasing size of the uterus puts pressure on it. Such pain is typical for women with an abnormal structure of the uterus - if it is tilted back, when it is bent and similar anatomical defects.

Causes of pain in the navel area

Localization in the navel area is not typical for premenstrual pain. Usually it is encircling, pulling and diffuse in nature, not clearly localized in any one area. If a woman feels pain near her navel and also feels nauseous, there is reason to suspect the following pathologies:

• parasitic infection;
• uterine fibroid;
• endometriosis localized in the umbilical region;
• cystitis;
• lactose or gluten intolerance;
• nonspecific ulcerative colitis;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• Crohn's disease;
• appendicitis;
• intestinal obstruction;
• tumors of the intestines.

The diseases are serious enough to avoid diagnosing and treating them yourself. If the pain in the navel area is intense and recurs regularly (monthly), you need to visit a therapist and gynecologist, who will refer the patient to the specialist she needs.

How can I relieve the condition or prevent pain?

There are several rules that, if followed, will help reduce the likelihood and severity of pain before menstruation:

• Balanced balanced diet. It is better to exclude fatty, spicy, heavy foods from your daily diet. You should also avoid foods that cause fermentation and flatulence, as well as dairy products. Preference should be given to lean meat (beef, veal, rabbit) and poultry (turkey), fish and seafood.
• Moderate physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle leads to congestion in the pelvic organs, which, in turn, provokes abdominal pain on the eve of menstruation.
• Phytotherapy. Folk remedies will help alleviate the condition - decoctions of mint, chamomile, dill, coltsfoot.
• Quitting drinking alcohol and smoking. Alcohol and nicotine (and other toxic substances contained in cigarette smoke) irritate the gastric mucosa and intestinal function, which can cause pain in the gastrointestinal tract before menstruation.

Source: https://www.OldLekar.ru/plan-beremennosti/mesyachnie/bolit-zheludok-pered-mesyachnymi.html