Most women around the world experience menstrual cramps from time to time. However, women experiencing frequent and severe cramps during the first days of their monthly cycle may be suffering from a condition called primary dysmenorrhea.

You’ve probably heard of menstrual cramping, but may not have heard of it called by its scientific name – dysmenorrhea. In the simplest terms, dysmenorrhea is a condition whereby a woman experiences severe and painful menstrual cramps and other pain associated with having a period. Dysmenorrhea falls into two categories: primary and secondary.

Primary dysmenorrhea often begins a couple of years after a young woman starts having a menstrual cycle and usually lasts her entire lifetime and has no obvious physical cause. The pain is severe and often happens frequently during a cycle. Doctors agree the severe pain is caused by abnormal contractions of the uterus and believe up to 90% of all women experience this condition at some point.

Why would the uterus have such abnormal contractions? Doctors believe they’re caused by a chemical imbalance. The chemicals in question – prostaglandin and arachidonic acid – actually control uterine contractions to expel the lining of the uterus during menstruation.

You may be faced with frequent severe cramping in the lower abdomen during your monthly cycle. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, lightheadedness, or headaches. Expect pains to begin as soon as menstruation begins, become worse as flow is the heaviest (first two days of the cycle), and then ease off.

If you experience these symptoms, make an appointment with your gynecologist. They will be able to diagnose primary dysmenorrhea but will want to rule out other medical conditions. You can expect a pelvic exam, possibly an ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), laparoscopy, or a hysteroscopy to make a proper diagnosis.

Treatment will be based on your age, overall health, and medical history. They’ll also base it on the extent of your condition, how well you tolerate medication, and how they expect the condition to progress. They will also take your preferences into consideration since you’re the one who is experiencing the problem.

They may suggest taking a prostaglandin inhibitor to help reduce pain, an oral contraceptive so you don’t ovulate, progesterone (which is a hormonal treatment), or may make recommendations to change your diet.

Women who experience primary dysmenorrhea can be in so much pain that they have to miss school or work. They are also limited to the activities they can participate in.

Primary dysmenorrhea interrupts womens’ lives more often than many women will admit. If you’re in that group and taking over-the-counter pain relievers doesn’t help, you may want to see your gynecologist. They will be able to determine the best course of treatment to ease the pain and help you experience the freedom of life without the painful symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea.

Menstrual pain is something that affects women around the globe. Women have tried many methods to ease the pain and some have actually brought relief. One thing you may not have tried yet is treating menstrual pain with magnet therapy.

You know what menstrual cramps are; those mild contractions or aches and pains in your lower abdomen. Normally they occur right before menstruation starts and last a few days. For some women the monthly discomfort is more than they can bear but they don’t want to use medications to ease the pain. Magnetic therapy has been used to treat a variety of aches and pains. Originally used for arthritis, it has now expanded to other forms of pain relief.

Magnets create a field around them, and some believe that this magnetic field can block pain. This may be because the pain signals are blocked from ever reaching the brain. The effect is supposed to be relief from menstrual cramps so you can go about your day free of pain.

Find several static magnets. These are magnets which create an unchanging field. Once they are placed on the body, you won’t have to worry about their effectiveness changing. Static magnets are similar to ones you might find to stick messages to your refrigerator; however, you’ll probably want to find static magnets specifically made for easing pain.

As with any self-treatment you do at home, be sure to read the instructions before using the magnet kit. For menstrual cramps, you’ll want to attach the magnets to your clothing, as close to the skin as possible. This may mean sewing the magnets into the underwear so they are located near the area of pain, or putting them in a pouch or belt.

You may need several sessions of using the magnets before you notice the pain subsiding. Keep the magnets in place only for the recommended time. This will ensure you don’t become used to the magnets, which could decrease how effective they are.

For the magnets to be the most effective, take them off as instructed and leave them off until told to put them on again.

Obviously your life will have to go on while you’re using magnet therapy. Remove the magnets prior to eating and then wait for at least an hour after you’ve eaten to avoid interfering with digestion.

Magnets may not allow muscles in your digestive system to work properly, so it’s important to leave them off while eating and for a short time after.

People using pacemakers or other devices such as defibrillators, insulin pumps, or liver infusion pumps should avoid magnets anywhere near these devices. Magnetic fields may affect the way the device works and could cause serious health conditions.

Menstrual pain isn’t something you have to endure each month. By using traditional and non-traditional methods, such as treating menstrual pain with magnet therapy, you may find a way to end the pain you feel each month.

* Increase foods rich in thiamine including cooked lentils, long-grain brown rice, Brazil nuts, pecans, spinach, cantaloupe, milk, and eggs. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic believe thiamine helps relieve cramping during menstruation.

* Eliminate trans-fatty acids, not only during your period, but for the sake of your overall health. Trans-fatty acids, found in commercially prepared pastries containing partially hydrogenated oils, and in certain margarines, may increase cramping. They are most commonly found in fast food, and many be another reason for your strange and uncontrollable cravings during this time of the month. If you can reduce or eliminate transfats, you may feel some relief from cramps.

*Eat more fiber. It can help control cravings and reduce bloat by reducing constipation and keeping your bowels and digestion working well.

*Avoid sugary foods, which can produce wild energy and mood swings. Also avoid chocolate, which can be high in calories and fat unless you eat the 85% pure variety.

Many people don’t believe changing your eating habits can affect whether or not you get menstrual cramps, or affect the severity of them. But it is possible for menstrual cramps to be reduced by eating some foods and avoiding others.

If it is possible to treat menstrual cramps with nutrition, why don’t more women use this method? Part of the reason is that they are not aware of the role nutrition plays in their overall well-being. Now that you know about menstrual cramps and nutrition’s role in reducing cramps, what changes will you make?

Women experiencing menstrual cramps may be willing to try almost anything to avoid having cramps each month. Did you know you can treat menstrual cramps with nutrition? If you’re tired of having cramps every time you have your period, why not think about changing your diet to improve your symptoms?

* Eat a diet consisting of a variety of foods. Low fat, high fiber diets appear to combat the salty or sweet foods women typically crave during their menstrual cycle. Besides helping avoid cravings, you’ll also have more energy and a more stable mood.

* Ensure your body is getting all of the vitamins and minerals you need by taking a multivitamin each day. Minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium are particularly important before and during your monthly cycle.

* Eat more foods containing omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, mackerel, albacore tuna, swordfish, and lake trout. You may also want to add walnuts, Brazil nuts, and olive oil. These foods help stabilize your mood and have an anti-inflammatory effect. They also reduce the effect of cramps because they block the production of prostaglandins.

* Add or increase the amount of flax seed you eat. They are very high in omega-3 fatty acids. Two teaspoons of ground flax seed a day will do wonders for reducing cramps. You may sprinkle them in cereal, over salad, or include them in baking. Be careful not to eat too many flaxseed in one day, however; eating too many has been reported to cause diarrhea.

* Reduce the amount of salt you consume during your period rather than taking diuretics to avoid the bloating and swelling you may experience with your monthly cycle. Alcohol will also cause you to retain water, so avoiding it during your period will only help improve your symptoms. Remember also that alcohol is a depressant, another reason to avoid it when you are already moody at this time of the month.