Content
- Natural pain provocateurs
- Contractions of the uterus
- Hormones
- Prostaglandins
- Physical exercise
- Intrauterine device
- When to see a doctor
- Gynecological pathologies
- Endometritis - inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus
- Cervicitis - inflammation of the cervical mucosa
- Adnexitis and oophoritis - inflammation of the ovaries and appendages
- Adhesions of the pelvic organs - fusion of the vessels connecting the organs
- Tumors - malignant neoplasms
- Salpingitis - inflammation of the fallopian tubes
- Endometriosis - overgrowth of the layer of the uterine endometrium outside the uterus
- Exacerbation of diseases not related to gynecology
- Health care
Less than half of women are miraculously relieved of painful sensations during menstruation. Therefore, most of us are accustomed to perceiving low back pain as a natural symptom of PMS, and therefore the phenomenon usually does not cause much alarm.
If the back hurts during menstruation, but this does not interfere with the daily activity of a woman and is of a moderate nature, they speak of a variant of the norm.
Having done a massage or taking a relaxing bath, you can completely forget about discomfort.However, if painful sensations in the lumbar spine are disturbed for the first time or the sensations are more aggravated than usual, there are concerns and fears for the health of the reproductive system. Such malaise forces you to abandon your usual activities, and taking Ibuprofen and No-Shpa does not help much. Discomfort can spread to different parts of the body, such as migraines.
To understand how to get rid of pain and discomfort in the lower back during menstruation, it is important to understand and determine the cause of this phenomenon.
Natural pain provocateurs
Pulling discomfort in the lower back and lower abdomen is a common sign of the onset of critical days. Such pains have quite understandable natural causes. They are caused by changes in the physiological nature during menstruation.
Contractions of the uterus
The peculiarity of the location of the uterus is a common reason why the lower back hurts and aches in the first days of menstruation. Soreness is associated with its displacement to the spine, as a result of enlargement and contraction, the organ presses on the nerve fibers. The pain radiates to the lower back and abdomen. This is especially true for women with a thin physique. Usually, getting rid of pain comes from sitting comfortably on your side or sitting and staying at rest.
Hormones
The amount of estrogen in the body can both increase and decrease sensitivity to pain. During menstruation, it accumulates quite a lot. As a result, the muscle tone of the whole body increases. In combination with a lowered pain threshold, the process can give spasmodic pains in the abdomen and lower back.
Prostaglandins
These are active substances released during uterine contractions. They regulate and monitor physiological processes in the body, including the activity of the reproductive system. During uterine contractions, prostaglandins send a signal to the brain, reporting pain sensations. It is they who provoke wandering pain syndromes affecting the sacral region.
Physical exercise
With the help of moderate physical exertion and activity, women often get rid of premenstrual syndrome and pain during menstruation. However, overdoing it can only worsen the situation. Long walks, heavy lifting, and heavy household loads can provoke displacement of the uterus and, as a result, pulling back pain.
Intrauterine device
Another reason for lower back pain during menstruation, not associated with serious diseases, is the incompatibility of the body with the intrauterine device or its incorrect installation. This is not a pathology, but it is necessary to go for an examination to a gynecologist. If it is precisely established that the IUD is the cause of ailments during menstruation, you will need to abandon the use of the spiral and choose another means of contraception. By doing this, you will be able to remove discomfort from your life.
When to see a doctor
In addition to natural physiological processes, malaise can be caused by various kinds of pathologies. To determine why the lower back hurts and aches constantly during menstruation, it is important to observe the symptoms:
- The nature of the pain syndrome: pulling, sharp or aching sensations.
- Duration: constant or temporary, whether it passes with a change in position.
- Soreness level: increases or goes away with time.
- Does it give away in limbs, legs and arms.
Do not ignore other signs of feeling unwell, such as weakness, headaches, fever, pain in the abdomen and chest, indigestion, aggravated gag reflex, bleeding.
The following situations require immediate medical attention:
- The duration of pain is more than two days, the soreness does not subside, interferes with the usual physical activity.
- Severe growing pains, radiating to the lower back during menstruation, are accompanied by nausea, indigestion, and vomiting.
- Cramping throbbing pains with spasms, high body temperature.
- Pain in young girls during the first menses.
- This is the first time you have a rather tangible discomfort.
Gynecological pathologies
The symptoms listed above belong to cases where severe pain in the lower back during menstruation may indicate the development of a serious illness.
Endometritis - inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus
The reasons for the development of the pathogenic process can be the vaginal flora and pathogens brought in from the outside. The pain in the lower abdomen radiates to the lower back and increases with palpation. Fatigue increases, migraines appear, heart rate increases, body temperature increases. There is bloating, flatulence, constipation.
Cervicitis - inflammation of the cervical mucosa
The disease develops in the presence of pathogenic microflora, such as gonococci, streptococci, Trichomonas, papilloma viruses, herpes and others. Usually appears in conjunction with other inflammatory processes such as vulvitis and vaginitis.
In addition to discomfort in the abdomen and lower back with the onset of menstruation, signs of pathology include painful sensations during sex and a burning sensation when urinating. The rest of the symptoms depend on the nature of the causative agent of the disease. So, the symptoms of viral cervicitis are similar to the intoxication of the body, and gonorrheal and Trichomonas are not without bloody discharge.
Adnexitis and oophoritis - inflammation of the ovaries and appendages
The culprits of the problem, as in the previous case, are infections and viruses. Most often, the pathogenic process begins to develop with the onset of cold weather, when the immunity is especially weak, and it is not difficult for harmful pathogens to enter the body. Inflammation is accompanied by temperature readings above 37.5 degrees, weakness, strong throbbing pain in the abdomen, radiating to the back and legs, the discharge becomes yellowish-purulent shade.
Adhesions of the pelvic organs - fusion of the vessels connecting the organs
Lower back pain during menstruation may appear due to the formation of adhesions. They can appear due to inflammation and infectious diseases, after surgery and injuries. The pain with adhesions is acute, it becomes stronger on palpation. They are accompanied by weakness, nausea, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, high fever.
Tumors - malignant neoplasms
Among the symptoms of "female" oncology, pain in the sacrum and lumbar spine is often observed. This symptom at different stages accompanies all types of cancer of the pelvic organs. With cervical cancer, discomfort increases with the growth of the neoplasm, and with a tumor in the ovaries and endometrial cancer, it appears only in the later stages. And also symptoms include bleeding between periods, discomfort during intercourse, a feeling of pressure on the bladder.
Salpingitis - inflammation of the fallopian tubes
The disease can occur due to such factors:
- infections and viruses;
- trauma and surgery;
- decreased immunity due to hypothermia, overwork and stress.
Salpingitis is characterized by a slight increase in temperature, pain in the abdomen and lower back during menstruation, discomfort during urination, fever and chills.
Endometriosis - overgrowth of the layer of the uterine endometrium outside the uterus
With endometriosis, discomfort in the lumbar spine appears during the period of menstruation, a few days before and after their end.
The pain is usually pulling and pressure is felt in the lower abdomen. Pulling the lower back can not only during menstruation, but in other periods of the cycle can cause concern, arising during and after intercourse or in connection with physical exertion. And also among the symptoms there is a decrease in mood and intermenstrual bleeding. The exact causes of the disease are unknown.
Doctors note the onset of the disease in conjunction with factors such as surgery and abrupt changes in hormonal levels.
Exacerbation of diseases not related to gynecology
The menstrual cycle can affect the exacerbation of processes that are not related to gynecological pathologies. Among them:
- inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and bladder: pyelonephritis, cystitis, urolithiasis;
- diseases of the thyroid gland, in which the wrong hormonal background increases the painful discomfort during menstruation;
- neurological disorders are characterized by spasms and "lumbago" that radiate into the chest and legs;
- back and pelvic injuries.
Health care
If the pain syndrome persists, has a growing tendency and is accompanied by any other symptoms of malaise, you should not resort to self-medication methods. Antispasmodics in such cases are not beneficial and can only drown out the signs of the disease, and unauthorized warming up - in general, they are contraindicated in many serious gynecological pathologies and can provoke bleeding.
Only a qualified doctor can understand the reason why during menstruation the stomach and lower back constantly hurt. Therefore, if atypical lower back pain occurs with the onset of menstruation, you should immediately seek medical help.
Thorough diagnostics, ultrasound of the pelvic organs and laboratory tests of blood tests and gynecological smears will help determine the cause of the pain. Having received accurate results of the examination, the specialist will be able to establish a diagnosis, prescribe effective treatment and take medications.
Pain in the lower back during menstruation is not a reason for panic. Often this phenomenon has completely natural physiological reasons. If you are overwhelmed by anxiety for your own health, consult a doctor, get answers to your questions and be healthy!