Period pains or dysmenorrhoea is caused by contractions of the uterus or womb. The muscular walls of the womb have contractions occurring everyday; these are the same contractions that occur during child birth where they are severest. During menstruation, they occur but are not as severe as childbirth.
The female reproductive cycle requires these contractions to shed the inner delicate layer of the womb as a period or bleed so that a new one may be grown ready for a fertilized egg to implant itself. Natural chemicals produced in the uterus called prostaglandins induce these same contractions. The blood supply to the womb is temporarily arrested during the contractions thereby triggering the release of pain triggering chemicals. Some women produce an excess of prostaglandin that may itself lead to excessive pain. 80% of women are affected at some point in their lives by period pains and 15% of these women have pain severe enough to interfere with their lives.
The female reproductive cycle requires these contractions to shed the inner delicate layer of the womb as a period or bleed so that a new one may be grown ready for a fertilized egg to implant itself. Natural chemicals produced in the uterus called prostaglandins induce these same contractions. The blood supply to the womb is temporarily arrested during the contractions thereby triggering the release of pain triggering chemicals. Some women produce an excess of prostaglandin that may itself lead to excessive pain. 80% of women are affected at some point in their lives by period pains and 15% of these women have pain severe enough to interfere with their lives.
