When a certain period of the month arrives for people who menstruate, in some cases, the colic can be one of the most annoying factors. Characterized by uterine contraction the “phenomenon” occurs in the female body to expel the blood.
In cases where no abnormality is noticed, the pain is due to prostaglandins substances that are released during inflammatory processes in our body.
“When we eliminate the endometrium that was not fertilized, we have a slight uterine contraction and these prostaglandins help“, explains the gynecologist and obstetrician Maria Carolina Dalboni . According to her, some patients may produce more or less of these substances.
However, when menstrual pain is more intense, investigation is essential to discover its origin. “Cramping, which we can consider normal, is a slight discomfort during menstruation, which does not require medication and does not take women away from daily activities,” explains the gynecologist. Mariana Rosario.
“Anything that exceeds this becomes necessary to investigate”, the specialist also guarantees. “This colic can be intensified by a fibroid or a high blood production, when the endometrium thickens too much, this indicates a high production of estradiol, hyperestrogenism or estrogen predominance”, she adds.
According to experts, intense pain can also come from ovarian cysts or even endometriosis, a disease considered extremely inflammatory.
When massages are indicated
Mariana explains that certain types of Massages may be indicated for patients with endometriosis . “For those people who live with pain, a local muscle contracture occurs. When the muscles are loosened [através da massagem]it is possible that the discomfort will reduce.”
According to the physiotherapist graduated from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) Caio Ventura Schiabel, Some physiotherapy techniques can help with pain relief and muscle relaxation.
“Such as, for example, relaxing massage or myofascial release of tension points in the back and hip muscles such as paravertebrals, psoas and quadratus lumborum. The heat from massage or hot water bottles helps reduce pain, muscle relaxation and better local vascularization, which is essential during menstruation”, explains the specialist.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
In addition to massage, another option for colic relief is electrotherapeutic currents regulated at low frequency: the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device, also known as TENS.
“The purpose of this current is, through the stimulation of alpha nerve fibers, which are fibers faster than those that transmit pain, to inhibit the posterior horn of the spinal cord”, states the physiotherapist, who further simplifies:
“A practical example is when we hit a part of our body and feel pain. Soon after, we rub our hand on this part and the pain disappears. The tactile stimulus reaches the spinal cord faster than the painful stimulus, this way, our brain understands that it is not causing pain.”
Gynecologist Mariana Rosário also explains that the electrical stimulation device only acts on the muscles around the uterus. “What can certainly improve [a dor]”, he guarantees, highlighting the importance of identifying the source of the discomfort so that the best treatment can be found.
Importance of physical activity
Maria Carolina Dalboni highlights that the search for a healthier lifestyle It can be a great ally in improving menstrual pain. “Sugar and inflammatory foods can make things much worse”, he indicates and also recommends. “The introduction of physical activities is extremely important for improving colic.”
Mariana Rosário explains that the physical exercises help because of serotonin release . “This reduces inflammation factors.”
According to Caio Ventura, aerobic activities are the ones that most help with this reduction, in addition to change pain perception . “Increased physical activity also increases the patient's discomfort threshold, that is, the painful stimulus that previously generated a certain amount of pain will require more stimuli to generate that same sensation”.
Source: CNN Brasil
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