Dysmenorrhea

Current medical status: Dysmenhorrhea (extreme cramps, headache, nausea etc.)
Current medical treatment: Femcon FE

Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) can be primary or secondary.
Primary dysmenorrhea is caused by increased production of prostaglandins during the menstruation in certain women. The exact cause for that remains unknown.


Secondary dysmenorrhea is due to other disorders like structural anomaly, infection, endometriosis, tumors, ovarian cysts, etc. Primary dysmenorrhea is diagnosed when all these possibilities are excluded.


Ovulatory periods are usually painful. Birth control pills are given to prevent ovulations and so indirectly calm the pain. Periods that you have now are not real periods because the ovulations are blocked.


Painkillers from the group of NSAID (aspirin, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, diclofenac…) are also given to calm the pain. They decrease the production of prostaglandins.


Severe cases can be treated with hormonal therapy (GnRH agonists) or even surgically.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is treated by treating the primary disorder and with painkillers.

I have had this problem for 14 years , in bed for days at a time with a hot water bottle and strong pain relief. I recently found some studies suggesting that women who suffer this are deficient in zinc , so for the last 3 months i have been using zinc suppliments ( chelated ) 2 x 15mg tablets a day for 5 days leading up to my period the first month , then 15mg a day for 5 days leading up to my period since then and I have had amazing results. Much less bloating, bearly any pain at all , no pain going down my thighs and lower back, no sore breasts , and no pre-mensrual symptoms either... I wish I knew about this years ago. So ladies , if you are like me and looking desperately for something to help , do yourself a favour and try this for yourself.