What is menstrual cramps?

4 May 2021

Also known as dysmenorrhea or cramps, menstrual cramps are painful, spasmodic shooting pains in the lower abdominal area that occur before or during a menstrual period.

Depending on the person, they can be practically imperceptible, of moderate or intense discomfort, causing painful crises that prevent the affected person from performing their daily activities. When your body is experiencing menstruation, the uterus needs to contract, which is why prostaglandins appear, which are substances that cause uterus spasms and contractions.

The higher the level of prostaglandins, the more intense the colic will be. Possible causes of serious menstrual cramps can be:

Having pelvic inflammatory disease due to a sexually transmitted disease.
Narrow cervix.
Endometriosis.
Uterine fibroids.
Adenomyosis.

Signs and symptoms Menstrual cramps

Moderate or intense stabbing pain or cramps in the lower abdominal area.
Pain that lingers.
Pain that spreads to the lower back and thighs.
Fecal softening.
Headache.
Dizziness.
Nausea.

Potential risks:

Menorrhagia.
Metrorrhagia.
Family members who have suffered from dysmenorrhea.
Smoking.
Being under 30 years old.
Early onset of menstruation.

Diagnosis and treatment Menstrual cramps

Once your gynecologist analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and a pelvic exam to identify possible conditions or disorders.

If they find signs of any condition, you will be requested tests such as:

Ultrasound.
Computed tomography.
MRI.

The treatment to follow will depend on the existence of an underlying disease that is causing the cramps, but it generally includes:

Painkillers.
Anti-inflammatories.
Oral contraceptives.

If the cramps are due to conditions such as fibroids or endometriosis, corrective surgery or a hysterectomy, in more serious cases, will be required.

Comprehensive women’s health is our priority at the Women’s Center, so we offer services focused on women in all their chronological stages with the highest standards of care to improve their quality of life, through a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services. It has three specialized units:

Obstetrics Center.
Gynecology Center.
Gynecology in adolescence.

Related centers and departments Menstrual cramps

Women’s Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

cigna.com
mayoclinic.org
medlineplus.gov
topdoctors.es
msdmanuals.com
medigraphic.com
Montiel MRI, Contreras OJ, Brito SFC, et al. Eficacia de la cirugía laparoscópica radical para mejorar la dismenorrea secundaria en endometriosis grado III y IV. Rev Mex Cir Endoscop. 2020;21(3):145-148. doi:10.35366/99838.
Leyva-Vázquez JI, Martínez-Marín DG, Flores-Bello L, et al. Principales motivos de consulta ginecológica de las adolescentes. Ginecol Obstet Mex. 2021;89(05):373-377.
Garro UV, Thuel GM, Robles AV. Dismenorrea primaria en las adolescentes: manejo en la atención primaria. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2019;4(11):296.
Pereira CJ, Pereira RY, Quirós FL. Endometriosis: diagnóstico y alternativas terapéuticas. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(02):361-361.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is menstrual cramps?

Signs and symptoms Menstrual cramps

Diagnosis and treatment Menstrual cramps

Related centers and departments Menstrual cramps

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Menstrual cramps