Читать книгу Getting Pregnant For Dummies - Sharon Perkins - Страница 52

Up to 40 percent of women experience pain with their periods, called dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea falls into two categories:

 Primary dysmenorrhea has no other underlying cause besides the release of prostaglandins (chemicals made by cells that have specific functions such as controlling body temperature, stimulating smooth muscle, and influencing heat cycles) in the uterus, which cause uterine contractions.

 Secondary dysmenorrhea is caused by disease present in addition to the normal release of prostaglandins, such as endometriosis, fibroids, or infection.

Because painful periods can be caused by diseases that can interfere with getting pregnant, such as endometriosis, you should always see your doctor if you have painful periods. Dysmenorrhea is the most common symptom of endometriosis, which affects over 5 million women in North America and may cause infertility in up to 30 to 40 percent of its sufferers.

The release of prostaglandins that cause cramping can also cause nausea, diarrhea, and exhaustion, just to make you feel really terrible during your periods. Taking anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen can help with the symptoms.