Dysmenorrhoea - Period Pain

Period pain can severely disrupt a womans life, resulting in lost hours at work, work and relationship strain. Dysmenorrhea is a widespread problem, and while there are no figures available for its incidence in New Zealand, we most likely are comparable with American where half of all menstruating women suffer regularly from period pain.

Period pain can range from a nagging ache in the lower abdomen or lower back, through to severe, incapacitating cramping similar to birthing pains. When the pain i severe, it may be accompanied by other symptoms such as fainting, trembling, pallor, vomiting or nausea.

There are two main classifications of dysmenorrhea — primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea usually begins within the first few years of menstruation. Gynecological examination fail to find any kind of disease of the uterus. The cramps usually begin within a few hours before or after bleeding begins. This is by far the most common type of period pain. The pain is the result of the uterus contracting (in much the same way as it does during childbirth) under the influence of a type of local inflammatory hormone called a prostaglandin.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is the result of some organic abnormality of the uterus, such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, polyps, cancer, or the presence of an IUD. This type of menstrual pain tends to start as a dull aching in the abdomen, sometimes for as long as 10 days before the actual onset of the period. The pain may go away when your period starts, or it may persist right to the end of the period.

 The following products are indicated for Dysmenorrhoea/period pain:

VITAMIN-E COMPLETE Vitamin E. is the body’s lipid (fat) soluble antioxidant and protects fatty acids such as the Omega 3 and 6 series. Retail Price: $28.00 + GST

FISH OIL HI STRENGTH 60 caps 1020mg of fish oil per capsules, containing 300mg of EPA and 200mg of DHA. Retail Price: $26.25 + GST

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL HI STRENGTH A high strength source of omega-6 fatty acids (GLA). Retail Price: $20.93 + GST

CARLSON FISH OIL 500ml The Very Finest Fish Oil comes from deep, cold, ocean-water fish. It is processed and bottled in Norway to insure maximum freshness. Retail Price: $56.00 + GST

TOCOSPAN 180 Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol ±), 400 IU Retail Price: $41.85 + GST

MEGA MAG 60 tabs A magnesium formula containing 500mg of magnesium amino acid chelate (meta mag) per tablet. Retail Price: $23.20 + GST

B COMPLEX 60 caps Vitamin B Complex - very important for the health of skin, hair, eyes and liver, may assist bowel function and mucus membrane health, nervous system health, energy production, protein/amino acid metabolism. Retail Price: $20.12 + GST

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