Menstrual Pain

Overview

Menstruation follows the menstrual cycle, which has few phases such as menstrual phase, follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase. Women undergo menstrual pain during every menstruation and the menstrual pain varies in severity for each female. There are several causes of menstrual pain. The most important cause of the pain is due to the role of vasopressin. Studies show that there will be an increased amount of vasopressin released in females during menstruation that contributes to the increased and persistent pain during menstruation. Besides the vasopressin theory, there is also a major role of prostaglandin that causes menstrual pain in females during menstruation. This is because there will be maximum production and release of prostaglandin during the shedding of the endometrium which acts as a strong vasoconstrictor and increased myometrium contraction. The treatment is limited for menstrual pain with NSAIDs, progesterone synthase inhibition such as mefenamic acid, ibuprofen, and indomethacin.