According to statistics, 90 percent of all women anticipate the onset of the menstrual cycle in advance: someone becomes irritable, someone starts having problems sleeping, but still, most of the beautiful half of humanity is faced with such an unpleasant syndrome as abdominal pain. Of course, we all know that pain is a protective reaction of our body to the processes taking place in it, however, in this case, the resulting pain sensations are a completely natural phenomenon, which in turn is of a natural nature. So what is the reason? And why does the stomach hurt before menstruation? In this article, we will tell you about why women feel abdominal pain before menstruation.
Causes of abdominal pain before menstruation
As we have already said, almost every woman in her life faces such a problem as abdominal pain before menstruation, however, in each individual case, the pain syndrome manifests itself in different ways. So, for example, someone experiences a pulling and aching pain of a weak nature, and someone is faced with quite intense and acute pain that prevents them from leading a full-fledged lifestyle. And this happens due to various factors. So, for example, the intensity of pain is influenced by hereditary predisposition, lifestyle, general health, and so on.
As a rule, most women are faced with pain of a aching and pulling nature, which can occur approximately 5-7 days before the onset of menstruation itself and continue in its first days, gradually becoming less intense. In this case, you really should not panic, because this is a completely acceptable norm.
If you experience severe and acute pain that repeats from month to month, then in such a situation you need to contact your treating specialist, because such pain already indicates the presence of various diseases and pathologies. Next, we will tell you in more detail about the possible causes of abdominal pain before menstruation.
Algomenorrhea.
This medical term refers to a gynecological deviation that occurs in almost every second woman and during which she experiences painful sensations of a not pronounced nature. As a rule, these sensations occur about a week before the onset of the menstruation itself and persist throughout it. In addition to the occurrence of abdominal pain itself, a woman may experience such accompanying symptoms as general malaise and weakness, headache, nausea and depression.
Why does this syndrome occur? And this happens for two different reasons. So, for example, most often algomenorrhea is a consequence of an incorrect location of the uterus or the presence of intrauterine contraception, for example, a spiral. The second reason for the occurrence of this syndrome is the presence of any inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs. Previously transferred gynecological operations (including termination of pregnancy by abortion) can also lead to the occurrence of this pathology.
It is also worth considering that algomenorrhea can be a concomitant symptom of various other gynecological diseases. So, for example, such a pathology is an "addition" of such diseases as endometritis, inflammation of the appendages, inflammation in the uterine cavity, as well as in various diseases of the genitourinary system. Therefore, if each menstrual cycle is accompanied by painful sensations, it is necessary to consult with your doctor, who, after examination, will establish a diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment. It should be borne in mind that in this case it is necessary to treat the initial cause; only after identifying the true disease is it possible to reduce the manifestations of algomenorrhea itself.
Premenstrual syndrome.
There is an opinion that this pathology affects only the emotional state of a woman, as a result of which her mood changes regularly, however, in reality this is not the case. In addition to the above symptom, premenstrual syndrome also affects factors such as increased appetite, bloating and intestinal dysfunction, resulting in pulling pains in the lower abdomen. In addition, symptoms such as headache, malaise, high blood pressure, and excessive sleepiness may also be present.
Having bowel problems.
Quite often, it seems difficult for a woman to determine the true place of pain, since most often the pain syndrome is pulling and aching, which is why women most often “write off” such attacks of pain for premenstrual syndrome. However, in some cases, the resulting pain is a consequence of the presence of problems with the intestines. As a rule, if the stomach hurts as a result of an intestinal disease, then the woman experiences not pulling and aching pains, but spasms. In this case, it is necessary to contact a gastroenterologist to identify the diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment, after which, in turn, abdominal pain before menstruation will become noticeably weaker.
Decreased levels of endorphins.
The female body is designed in such a way that on the eve of menstruation, the level of endorphins in it decreases significantly, which causes a rather sharp hormonal jump, as a result of which the beautiful half of humanity experiences discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen. In addition, low levels of endorphins also cause pain in the mammary glands and a sharp change in mood. By the way, this factor can also affect the state of the intestine, namely, its disorder.
Other causes of abdominal pain before menstruation.
As we have already said, abdominal pain on the eve of menstruation can be associated with various gynecological diseases, however, in some cases, the existing disturbances in the genitourinary system become the cause of these pain sensations. So, for example, a similar pain syndrome can occur against the background of the presence of diseases such as cystitis or urolithiasis.
Abdominal pain and retention.
In rare cases, a woman may feel pain in the abdomen before menstruation, however, in this case, the menstrual cycle itself may be disrupted, resulting in a delay. And this can happen for the following reasons:
hormonal disbalance;
the presence of inflammatory processes in the uterine cavity and appendages;
ovarian dysfunction;
pregnancy.
In order to identify the cause of the delay, it is initially necessary to determine whether there is a pregnancy. If pregnancy has occurred, then in this situation, the lower abdomen may hurt due to the increased tone of the uterus. By the way, the manifestation of such pain during pregnancy may be associated with the threat of miscarriage, so it is strongly recommended to contact your doctor.
In the event that the pregnancy was not confirmed, it is also necessary to contact a gynecologist to determine the cause of the delay and to prescribe adequate treatment.
Severe abdominal pain before menstruation
As we have already said, every woman experiences abdominal pains of different intensity before menstruation: someone experiences little noticeable and pulling pain, and someone is faced with a fairly strong pain syndrome - all this depends on a great many factors and is considered quite acceptable the norm. However, in some cases, severe abdominal pain that occurs is a deviation from the norm, requiring an immediate call for an ambulance. So, for example, it is necessary to call a specialist at home in the following situations:
sharp and severe pain arose; this "attack" may indicate the presence of an ectopic pregnancy;
severe dizziness or a state close to loss of consciousness;
sudden sharp and cramping pain in the abdomen, forcing you to sit down or bend down, while taking a semi-vertical position;
the presence of impurities in the menstrual blood of gray or silver color.
If you have all of the above symptoms, you need to urgently call an ambulance.
Pain before menstruation is different. Pain syndrome can manifest itself with different intensity.
Gynecologists identify several reasons for its appearance. If the lower abdomen hurts a lot before menstruation, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
Risk factors
Gynecologists highlight the alleged causes of the development of pain before the cycle:
- malfunction of the thyroid gland, which increases the secretion of hormones;
- periodic mental disorder;
- lack of sleep.
It can hurt before menstruation, not only in the lower abdomen, but also in the chest area. Previously, there is aching and pulling pain, radiating to the lower back.
In some women, the pain syndrome spreads to the lower limbs.
Before menstruation, the breasts may increase. This phenomenon causes considerable discomfort.
Additionally, the emotional state, apathy, dehydration and weakness are disturbed. Such a clinic can cause irritability.
The etiology of the development of the syndrome
The main reason why it can hurt in the lower abdomen before menstruation is that the hormonal background has changed. This assumption has been proven by many clinical studies.
Throughout her life, a woman experiences hormonal fluctuations. Before menstruation, such changes are manifested to the greatest extent.
Pain in the lower abdomen against the background of hormonal failure is not a pathological condition, but an individual feature of the female body. Other causes of the phenomenon under consideration are pathology.
If the lower abdomen is very sore before menstruation, a woman may have an infectious pathology of the genitourinary system.
Symptoms of infection can also be manifested by other unpleasant signs characteristic of various diseases.
Only a qualified gynecologist can identify the causes and diagnose the disease. Other reasons why the clinic in question develops before menstruation is abortion.
If the causes of severe pain are associated with serious diseases, urgent treatment is required. In its absence, the death of the patient can be ascertained.
If the above reasons are not confirmed, the doctor diagnoses "avitaminosis".
Periodic pain in the lower abdomen should not be confused with algomenorrhea. The latter phenomenon is manifested by similar premenstrual pains, but with algomenorrhea, the syndrome is cramp-like in nature, capturing the lower back.
However, they do not pass with the beginning of the cycle. Up to 40% of women suffer from algomenorrhea, which negatively affects their performance.
Dangerous states
Aching pain that does not affect overall well-being is not considered a dangerous condition. The localization of the syndrome is the lower abdomen, less often the chest.
In this case, the patient can drink an antispasmodic. If the pain has gone, the help of a doctor is not required.
Why does this symptom appear? This is mainly due to the formation of a large number of hormones.
Moreover, this phenomenon occurs monthly. The female body "expects" the rejection of the endometrium.
If in this case it hurts in the lower abdomen, then the doctor diagnoses "dysmenorrhea". Such pain does not bring the patient severe discomfort, but its minor manifestations are allowed.
The clinical picture that can be observed before menstruation:
- Tearfulness.
- Unusual fatigue.
- Irritation.
- Constant fatigue.
- Pain syndrome in the lower back.
Unbearable pain indicates disorders or inflammation in the reproductive system. Sometimes the symptom in question can bring suffering when moving.
In such cases, an anesthetic is taken. Some diseases that are accompanied by pain before menstruation can lead to infertility.
Cases when medical attention is required:
- pain of a cutting nature, fever, discomfort during intercourse, a disturbed cycle. A similar clinic is typical for inflammation of the uterine appendages. The main reasons why this process develops, gynecologists include hypothermia, the presence of chlamydia and gonococci. If the above symptoms appear, it is recommended to undergo outpatient treatment;
- a woman may suffer from the symptom in question if she has endometriosis. In this case, the pain syndrome gives to the back and legs. With each month, the intensity of pain and the volume of menstruation increases. The appearance of blood is also allowed in the middle of the cycle. The disease can only be diagnosed by a gynecologist;
- a similar clinic character and for fibroids. At the initial stage, the disease is asymptomatic. In this case, inflammation or rupture of the fibroid is allowed. In such cases, the patient is hospitalized;
- if not only it hurts in the abdomen before the cycle, but a rash, burning and itching appear in the genitals, it is recommended to undergo laboratory tests. Such a clinic indicates the development of an infectious process. Additional symptoms include general weakness, migraine, back pain, and purulent discharge.
Doctors distinguish 2 serious conditions in which the clinic in question manifests itself - miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. In such cases, urgent help from specialists is required.
- constant pain in the abdomen, for the elimination of which it is necessary to change the position of the body. But this solution does not make things easier. In this case, the syndrome only intensifies. Additionally, bleeding occurs. More often, this phenomenon indicates an ectopic pregnancy;
- pains of a weak, but pulling nature, which are accompanied by scanty brown discharge. This indicates a miscarriage. If abundant discharge with acute pain syndrome has gone, the miscarriage has already occurred.
The clinic in question can also manifest itself with appendicitis. But with such a diagnosis, the patient still vomits, suffers from a high temperature. An emergency operation is required.
Therapy Methods
With algomenorrhea, the following treatment is provided:
- the primary form develops against the background of a high level of prostaglandins, which leads to uterine contraction. More often this phenomenon is observed in girls after the first cycle. Primary algomenorrhea is treated with drugs that suppress prostaglandins. Therapy should be carried out under the supervision of a physician;
- the secondary form of algomenorrhea occurs at the age of 20-40 years. The reason for its development is the consequences of surgical intervention. The secondary form can develop as a complication of uterine fibroids. Therapy depends on the cause of the disease.
If the phenomenon in question is not associated with pathology, then acupuncture, physiotherapy, oral contraceptives and antispasmodics are recommended.
Before therapy, the gynecologist examines the patient, prescribes ultrasound and laboratory tests. If necessary, a laparoscopy is prescribed.
If the pain is associated with neurological diseases, an MRI is indicated.
To eliminate the pain syndrome, painkillers such as Ibuprofen, Ketanov are taken. If the stomach aches, a bottle of warm water is applied to it.
The compress lasts 30 minutes. In the absence of contraindications, a bath with sea salt is taken.
Preventive measures
There are preventive measures, if followed, you can prevent the occurrence of severe pain before the cycle.
Pain can be relieved by regular exercise. Special gymnastics and constant rest greatly facilitate the condition of a woman before menstruation.
Constant intake of vitamins and minerals - recommendations of gynecologists.
Particular attention is paid to diet therapy and overweight. The menu is recommended to include fish, vegetables and fruits.
With excess weight, the symptoms in question appear more often and to a more expressive degree.
If the symptoms in question increase, it is necessary to make an appointment with a gynecologist.
Useful video
Drawing pains in the lower abdomen and in the lower back are familiar to every woman. Most often they are characteristic of the first days of menstruation. On the rest of the cycle, healthy women feel good. However, pulling pains, as with menstruation, can appear on any day of the menstrual cycle. If this happens, they become a cause for concern for women. So, let's figure out what is the cause of pain and when you need to see a specialist with this symptom.
Causes of pulling pains in women
If a woman’s stomach pulls and hurts like during menstruation, but wait a long time before the onset of menstruation, the cause of this condition may be:
- pregnancy;
- inflammation;
- infection;
- taking hormonal drugs;
- mechanical injury;
- intense sexual intercourse;
- appendicitis.
Pregnancy
The first days of pregnancy are characterized by sensations of premenstrual syndrome: the lower abdomen can hurt, and the lower back pulls like during menstruation. Irritability, nausea, and a feeling of swelling of the mammary glands may also be observed.
As a rule, all symptoms are observed within a week, while the fertilized egg is fixed in the uterine cavity. Sometimes during this period, slight brown spotting may appear, which women can also confuse with the onset of menstruation.
As pregnancy progresses, pulling sensations may periodically appear due to stretching of the muscles of the uterus. Normally, they should not be strong and last more than a week.
Weak pains, as during menstruation, are also characteristic of an ectopic pregnancy, especially if the tubes are narrowed.
Risk of miscarriage
In early pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage is high, especially if the woman is not yet aware of her situation. In this case, a failed attempt by the egg to gain a foothold in the uterine cavity may result in normal menstruation. However, if you already know about pregnancy and the lower abdomen and lower back hurt like during menstruation, you should consult a doctor. Most often, such pain gives an increased tone of the uterus. If you ignore this, the outcome of pregnancy may be unfavorable.
Inflammation
Inflammatory processes can cause pain as before menstruation. They are not pronounced, more often, these are pains that are pulling, aching, sometimes radiating to the lower back. But this condition is typical only for the initial stage of inflammatory processes. As the disease progresses, the pain increases.
Cysts with partial twisting of the leg can also give mild pain. This is due to impaired blood supply.
Infection
Pain, similar to menstruation, can provoke urinary tract infections and the activity of pathogens, sexually transmitted diseases.
Hormonal disorders
With the right balance of hormones, women do not experience discomfort in any of the periods of the menstrual cycle. If a woman's lower abdomen and back hurt like menstruation, prostaglandins can be the cause. This hormone, when produced by the body in excess, increases the contraction of the uterine muscles, making this process painful. With such a violation of the body's work, pulling pains most often appear at the end of menstruation.
The cause of hormonal disorders is most often an overactive thyroid gland. As a rule, other symptoms also join, for example, insomnia, changes in weight, and so on.
Also, the use of hormonal drugs can affect the balance of hormones. In this case, with complaints about the symptoms that have appeared, it is necessary 
contact your doctor.
Appendicitis
Inflammation of the appendix can also be manifested by pulling pains in the lower abdomen, similar to the onset of menstruation. This is the result of a shift in the localization of pain sensations.
Do I need to see a doctor for pain in the lower abdomen?
In the presence of pulling pains unusual for the body, similar to menstrual pain, in any of the periods of the cycle, it is worth contacting a specialist to find out the cause. The help of the latter will be especially needed if additional symptoms have joined the pains. Both diagnosis and treatment in this case must be entrusted to a specialist.
Most often, pain in the lower abdomen occurs on the first day of menstruation, as well as a week before menstruation. In other situations, in healthy women, discomfort in the area of the appendages is not observed.
Heaviness and pain in the abdomen indicate the development of serious pathologies. Particularly should alert the constant pain, accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, when the time of menstruation has not yet come. It is necessary to determine its nature: the pain can be small or intense, appear and disappear suddenly. Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor, depending on the identified pathology.
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Causes and symptoms
Only a specialist can determine the exact cause that caused a woman's pain and heaviness in the lower abdomen. To do this, he will conduct a differential diagnosis for the presence of pregnancy. A healthy patient should not experience pain. This situation carries the risk of abortion or the development of dangerous pathologies in the body.
Many patients complain of menstrual irregularities, while the test is negative, and pain and heaviness in the lower abdomen are felt on the 20-23rd day of the cycle or during ovulation. Similar symptoms occur on the right or left, sometimes spreading throughout the abdomen.
Sometimes the cause of pain in the lower abdomen lies in the development of inflammation of the genital organs, which include: cysts and tumors, inflammation or apoplexy of the ovaries, uterine fibroids, ureaplasmosis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. In the case of a slight torsion of the cyst leg, there is a slight pain due to impaired blood circulation.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy in the early stages is often accompanied by symptoms similar to those of PMS (premenstrual syndrome). This condition lasts about seven days and is associated with the implantation of the egg in the uterus. Main symptoms:
- heaviness in the lower back;
- excessive excitability;
- nausea;
- compaction of the mammary glands;
- delay of menstruation;
- drowsiness;
- spotting spotting (rare);
- lower abdominal pain.
During pregnancy, due to the rapid increase in the uterus, many women experience pain and heaviness, but minor. With an ectopic pregnancy (positive test), these symptoms appear due to inflammation and narrowing of the fallopian tubes by adhesions.
It is important to remember that heaviness and pain in the lower part is often confused with the symptoms of a miscarriage. During pregnancy, it is normal if the discomfort is not very pronounced and lasts a few minutes.
Risk of miscarriage
The highest percentage of the possibility of a threatened miscarriage occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy, especially if the woman is not aware of her new condition. When the egg does not attach to the wall of the uterus, bleeding occurs. If a woman is aware of pregnancy and feels intense pain (especially in the later stages), you should immediately contact a gynecologist. This usually indicates hypertonicity of the uterus, which threatens miscarriage.
Ovulation
In some women, the period of ovulation, after the transfer of embryos, during the maturation and movement of the egg into the uterine cavity, pain and heaviness occur, as during menstruation. Additional symptoms are: spotting, increased pain during intercourse, associated with ovarian sprain. The pain lasts from 2-3 hours to two days, after which it goes away on its own.
Algodysmenorrhea
In women suffering from this disease, pain occurs before menstruation and continues until it ends. Additional symptoms:
- cramping and pulling pains radiating to the groin;
- nausea;
- weakness and drowsiness.
There are primary and secondary forms of algomenorrhea. The first is not related to inflammation of the genital organs and is detected in girls under 16 years of age. The second occurs in adults and women who have given birth and is usually associated with gynecological pathologies.
Hormonal disorders
With a normal hormonal background, a woman never experiences abdominal discomfort when menstruation has passed or in the middle of the menstrual cycle. Pain, like during menstruation, is associated with increased production of prostaglandin (hormones) in the body. Its excess provokes painful uterine contractions, usually at the end of menstruation.
If the cause of the pain is an overactive thyroid gland, there are additional symptoms: weight loss, lethargy, drowsiness and insomnia.
Sometimes heaviness and pain appear when taking hormonal drugs. In this case, only the doctor who prescribed them will help.
Vaginitis
The disease develops as a result of infection, which is facilitated by the following factors:
- non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
- promiscuous sex life;
- pathology of the endocrine system;
- hormonal disorders;
- lack of vitamins;
- reduced immunity;
- mucosal damage.
Symptoms of vaginitis: heaviness and pain in the lower abdomen, discharge, frequent urination, swelling of the uterine mucosa, burning and itching. At the acute stage of the pathology, the pain is intense, at the chronic stage it is periodic.
endometriosis
This pathology is associated with the growth of tissues and their exit beyond the uterus. Usually observed in patients aged 35 to 50 years. The following factors contribute to the development of endometriosis:
- hormonal disorders;
- decreased immunity;
- excess weight;
- anemia;
- chronic pathologies of the genitourinary system;
- genetic predisposition.
A woman feels pain, general weakness, heaviness in the lower abdomen and in the lower back, which increase with the onset of menstruation.
Cystitis
In the case of frequent and false urge to urinate, the presence of blood in the urine, it can be argued that a woman develops cystitis. The pain radiates to the lumbar region. This pathology occurs quite often and is associated with structural features of the body: the urethra is very wide and short, which contributes to the rapid penetration of the infection. The causes of cystitis are:
- taking medications;
- hypothermia;
- mucosal injury;
- irradiation.
Symptoms:
- aching lower abdomen;
- white discharge appears;
- pain during urination.
With cholecystitis, additional symptoms may occur: fever and exacerbation of pain after eating. Both forms of the disease do not pose a great danger, but if left untreated, renal failure or pyelonephritis may develop (pain radiates to the lower abdomen, which greatly complicates diagnosis due to the lack of a specific focus of localization).
Appendicitis
Inflammation of the appendicular process is accompanied by pulling pain when it is displaced to the uterus. This condition is characterized by the following symptoms:
- elevated temperature;
- general weakness;
- vomit.
With appendicitis, a woman often feels sick.
The danger of pathology is the possibility of death in the absence of immediate surgical intervention.
Additional symptoms that allow you to find out the cause of the pain:
- fainting often indicates intra-abdominal bleeding;
- sharp and cramping pains and high temperature - for the presence of stones in the bladder;
- loss of appetite - on the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
Pain and heaviness in the abdomen occur in almost all women after childbirth due to intense contraction of the muscles of the uterus. In older women, these symptoms are often caused by prolapse of the vagina or uterus due to muscle weakness.
With the appearance of heaviness and pain in the abdomen, regardless of the days of the cycle, it is necessary to urgently visit a doctor to establish the cause. You can not self-medicate, especially if there are additional symptoms.
Diagnostics
The main mistake of many women is to go to the pharmacy for painkillers when pain occurs. In this way, it is impossible to cure the underlying disease, but only temporarily get rid of the symptoms and make it difficult for doctors to work. Treatment should be comprehensive, and accurate diagnosis is the key to its correct appointment. It usually includes the following procedures:
- laparoscopy;
- urine, stool and blood tests;
- vaginal swab.
Treatment
After establishing the exact cause of the pain, the specialist prescribes treatment:
- 1. Pregnant women are usually not given medication. The main thing is to follow all the recommendations to preserve the health and life of the unborn child and prevent serious complications. This includes: a healthy diet, giving up cigarettes and alcohol, eliminating great emotional and physical stress.
- 2. If the pain syndrome occurs before menstruation, the doctor prescribes drugs to relieve spasms and dilate blood vessels.
- 3. Treatment of algodismenorea consists in the use of hormonal agents, vitamin complexes and physiotherapy.
- 4. With colpitis, antibacterial suppositories and ointments are prescribed, dieting and temporary cessation of sexual activity.
- 5. Endometriosis, depending on the stage of development, requires medical or surgical therapy. Oral contraceptives and antispasmodics are usually prescribed. If such treatment does not help, the patient undergoes surgery.
- 6. Cystitis is eliminated with diuretics and uroseptics. With intense pain, painkillers are indicated.
Important! Cyst, miscarriage, fibroids, ectopic pregnancy and appendicitis require immediate medical attention to avoid dangerous consequences.
Folk methods
If it is impossible to contact a specialist, folk remedies for the treatment of pain in the lower abdomen will help alleviate the condition. The most effective recipes:
- rice (2 tablespoons) pour boiling water and add a little honey, take the broth cooled before eating;
- fennel seeds (1 tsp) pour boiling water and leave for 30 minutes, take every 2 hours;
- if nausea and heartburn join the pain, dissolve a little tea soda in cool water and drink three times a day;
- prepare a decoction of mint and chamomile, take 1/2 cup before meals;
- celery root (chopped) pour 200 ml of warm water, take before each meal;
- finely chop the ginger, brew as tea and drink throughout the day.
If none of the above methods helped within a few days, you should immediately consult a doctor.
There is no single prevention when a woman’s lower abdomen hurts, since these symptoms can be caused by various diseases of the internal organs. Experts advise the following:
- at the first signals of the body about failures, it is recommended to give it a rest: reduce emotional and physical stress;
- subject to bed rest, all prescribed drugs will be better absorbed;
- enrich the diet with useful substances and trace elements to strengthen immunity;
- it is not recommended to use hot heating pads, except in cases of menstrual pain, in order to avoid the development of sepsis;
- ice compresses are allowed;
- treat inflammatory and infectious pathologies in a timely manner and undergo annual scheduled examinations.
It should be remembered that any disease is easier to cure at the very beginning of development. Even if you experience minor abdominal pain, you need to consult a specialist.
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 work of the reproductive organs, aimed at the possibility of conception. In a healthy woman, the cycle duration 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 duration of the menstrual cycle from 25 to 34 days to be acceptable.
A few days before the start of the regulation, a woman may feel worse. Many complain of increased weakness during this period, decreased performance, constant drowsiness. Physiological sensations are also possible, for example, headaches, a slight increase in body temperature, increased sweating. The most common complaint at the end of the menstrual cycle in most women is pain in the lower abdomen. This symptom is observed in almost 60% of women of reproductive age. To understand whether this is a norm or a pathology, it is necessary to know the possible causes of the pain syndrome.
Every month, processes take place in a woman’s body that prepare the body for a 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 the egg ready for fertilization into the cavity of the fallopian tube, where it can meet with 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 carry the fetus.
In the uterus, the egg is attached 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 pain medication.
Pain in the lower abdomen a few days before the onset of regulation is considered normal if accompanied by the following characteristics:
- the general health of the woman remains normal;
- body temperature is within the normal range or at the lower border of subfebrile condition (no more than 37.4 °);
- after the onset of menstruation, there are no signs of heavy uterine bleeding.
Note! Menstrual fluid is not just blood, it contains endometrial tissue as well as mucus 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 high amount of enzymes. This is the main sign that allows you to distinguish menstruation from breakthrough bleeding.
Premenstrual syndrome: norm or pathology?
Premenstrual syndrome is a complex of symptoms that occur 3-5 days before the start of the regular period. It has a psychosomatic nature and is associated mainly with emotional disturbances and changes. Many women during this period become irritable, tearful. Unreasonable aggression, anxiety, signs of depression, insomnia may appear. In about 30% of women, the signs of PMS include physiological symptoms, for example:
- headache (in women with neurological disorders, migraine attacks may worsen);
- severe pain of a pulling nature in the lower abdomen;
- nausea, aversion to certain foods;
- soreness in the mammary glands;
- increased sweating.
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. Lack of this hormone can lead to a serious complication - menstrual psychosis. The disease is considered very serious and may require medical correction in a hospital, therefore, with frequently recurring signs of PMS, it is necessary to 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.
Pain of high intensity 3-5 days before menstruation
If the pain syndrome is of high intensity, and the woman cannot perform her usual activities, it is necessary to consult with the observing 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 a decrease in immunity caused by natural physiological changes in the body.
Fibroids are the second most common female benign tumor, second only to breast fibroadenoma. The formation is of a benign nature and consists of the muscle tissue of the myometrium - a layer consisting of myocytes intertwined with each other, which are constantly contracting in an arbitrary order and rhythm.
Myoma usually looks like a small nodule. It can be single or multiple, and also differ in the localization of tumor nodes.
Types of fibroids depending on location
Pathology has two characteristic features: pain in the lower abdomen and uterine bleeding, which can be manifested by menorrhagia (heavy menstruation lasting more than 7 days) or breakthrough uterine bleeding. Almost always, with fibroids, a woman feels a pulling pain in the lower abdomen, which intensifies before the start of the regular period and in the middle of the menstrual cycle.
For conservative treatment of fibroids, tranexamic acid preparations, as well as drugs that suppress the production of pituitary gonadotropic hormones, can be used. In the absence of a therapeutic effect, the doctor may decide to remove the tumor surgically.
Important! The risk group for the development of 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.
Violations in the functioning of the endometrium
One of the most common causes of pain in the lower abdomen 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 mucosal membrane begin to go beyond the mucous layer, the woman is diagnosed with endometriosis.
Both pathologies have the same symptoms and often occur simultaneously. For diagnosis, the method of ultrasonic transvaginal examination or hysteroscopy (introduction of a special optical device into the uterine cavity) is used. Equally important is the collection of medical history. With pathologies of the endometrium, women complain of the following symptoms:
- severe pain in the lower abdomen that occurs monthly and increases in the middle and end of the menstrual cycle;
- abundant regulation lasting more than one week;
- irradiation of pain in the lumbar region, coccyx, sacrum, buttocks and thighs;
- pain during 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 antibiotic therapy with broad-spectrum drugs (" Metronidazole”) and hormonal treatment with progesterone and estrogen-based agents (“ Yarina», « Janine», « Diana-35»).
Important! If signs of endometriosis appear, you should immediately contact a gynecologist, even if the general state of health remains normal. If treatment is not needed on time, serious complications can 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 urogenital 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 fungi enter the mucous membranes of the urogenital tract and bladder, an inflammatory process develops, which manifests itself with pronounced symptoms.
Signs of acute cystitis include:
- temperature increase (above 38 °);
- acute pain of high intensity in the lower abdomen, which can radiate to the lumbar region;
- severe burning when trying to empty the bladder;
- frequent (most of them false) urge to urinate;
- sharp pain after urination.
If a woman has not treated acute cystitis in time, the pathology can become chronic. In this case, there may be no pronounced symptoms, and a sluggish inflammatory process will be manifested by minor abdominal pain and discomfort during urination. Before menstruation, symptoms increase due to a decrease in the activity of the immune system.
Note! In some cases, pain in the lower abdomen may indicate inflammation in the kidneys. Despite the fact that the renal system is located in the lateral parts of the abdomen, the pain syndrome can radiate to the central and lower part. This clinical picture occurs mainly with glomerulonephritis.
Severe pain occurs every month
If the stomach hurts regularly before menstruation, while there are no other symptoms, you should consult a doctor. Such a picture can be observed with malignant tumors of the uterus and vagina, if the pathology is at an early stage. Indirectly, other signs can also indicate cancerous diseases of the uterus, which can only be considered as symptoms of oncological processes in the aggregate.
These include:
- weight loss (usually rapid);
- periodic increase in temperature (including basal indicators);
- arching pain in the lower abdomen during sexual intercourse;
- voluminous mucous secretions between the regulation;
- spotting or bleeding of varying intensity between periods;
- 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 for an examination.
Video - Why does my stomach hurt before menstruation?
Stomach hurts before menstruation, but menstruation has not come
The most likely cause of pain during this period in the absence of further menstruation is pregnancy. To diagnose pregnancy, you can use home tests in the form of strips with a reagent applied to them or laboratory methods (determining the level of hCG in the blood and urine). A doctor can diagnose pregnancy using a transvaginal ultrasound, but you should know that this method is quite traumatic and can cause an abortion in the early stages.
Pain in the lower abdomen before menstruation is a fairly common problem that almost all women face. In most cases, the pain syndrome is the result of physiological processes that occur in the body during the menstrual cycle, but sometimes serious illnesses can cause such symptoms, therefore, with regular pain during this period, you should not postpone a visit to the gynecologist.