What foods relieve menstrual pain?

Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on January 06, 2025
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You should pay attention to eating foods that warm the uterus and promote blood circulation, which can help alleviate menstrual pain. Such foods mainly include red dates and longan. If consumed in summer, you can appropriately add some lotus seeds to prevent heatiness, while in winter, you can add some goji berries. Additionally, you can eat some mutton and drink brown sugar water during your menstrual period. Usually, avoid cold foods, especially those taken straight from the refrigerator, as well as chilled drinks and cold desserts. Try to avoid spicy foods and abstain from smoking and alcohol.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Does dysmenorrhea affect pregnancy?

Whether dysmenorrhea affects pregnancy cannot be generalized. Dysmenorrhea can be divided into primary dysmenorrhea, which is physiological, and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to cases where there are no pathological changes in the female reproductive organs, and the pain is solely due to uterine contractions during menstruation, commonly seen in adolescent girls. Moreover, conditions such as adenomyosis, severe uterine fibroids, and endometriosis can also cause pain and are associated with changes in the uterus, which can affect pregnancy. However, primary, functional dysmenorrhea generally does not impact the ability to conceive. Thus, whether dysmenorrhea affects pregnancy depends on the specific circumstances.

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Written by Tao Zhong E
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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The principle of dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea generally refers to lower abdominal pain during menstruation. There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea involves no substantive lesions; that is, no problems can be identified through examinations, yet menstrual pain occurs. This type is generally due to internal inflammatory factors and pain mediators, such as an increased secretion of prostaglandins, making the pain more pronounced. Secondary dysmenorrhea generally refers to organic lesions, such as adenomyosis or endometrial cysts. In these cases, noticeable menstruation pain also occurs due to organic lesions leading to an increased secretion of pain mediators.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What should I do if the menstrual pain is very severe?

If women experience severe dysmenorrhea, they should first undergo routine examinations to rule out organic lesions, which are the possibility of secondary dysmenorrhea. For example, we should initially conduct gynecological examinations, pelvic ultrasounds, or combine other auxiliary examinations such as pelvic CT and MRI scans to rule them out. Some women may suffer from conditions such as endometrial polyps, ovarian chocolate cysts, or uterine fibroids, leading to severe dysmenorrhea. The treatment methods vary depending on the different causes. For instance, if a woman has endometrial polyps, hysteroscopic electrosurgical resection of the polyps can be performed. If it has been ruled out that the woman has organic lesions of the reproductive system and the possibility of secondary dysmenorrhea, it is possible that she has primary dysmenorrhea. She can take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs orally during menstruation to relieve the pain, or regularly take short-acting contraceptive pills to suppress ovulation and alleviate the symptoms of dysmenorrhea.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What should I do if I have severe menstrual cramps?

In clinical practice, dysmenorrhea can be divided into primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. If the patient has primary dysmenorrhea, there are no specific effective treatment plans available clinically. It is recommended that the patient take oral painkillers to alleviate the symptoms of dysmenorrhea. If it is secondary dysmenorrhea, the patient needs to immediately undergo gynecological ultrasound and examinations at a local hospital to determine the cause of the dysmenorrhea. Once the cause is identified, an effective treatment plan can be developed based on the cause. Once the cause is addressed, the symptoms of dysmenorrhea will naturally be alleviated.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua
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How to treat dysmenorrhea?

If menstrual pain is severe, initial treatment can often include heat therapy, such as using a hot water bottle or applying a warm bottle to the abdomen, and soaking feet in warm water. Heat therapy generally provides quick relief from the spasm of smooth muscles, and alleviates pain. Menstrual pain is primarily caused by the contraction and spasm of smooth muscles. In severe cases, painkillers may be necessary, but they can potentially harm the stomach and have other side effects, so they are generally not the first choice. To manage menstrual symptoms, it is important to keep warm before and during the menstrual period, avoid getting chilled, maintain regular exercise, and work on improving overall physical health.