All About Long Menstrual Periods

Thankfully there are several different options available for dealing and living with long painful periods so that you don't have to live a life of misery and suffering all because of your menstrual cycle.

Long Menstrual periods

The medical term for this condition "Dysmenorrhea" is one of the most common gynecological problems reported with estimates citing that nearly fifty percent of all menstruating women are suffering each and every month from long painful menstrual periods.

Fortunately, as we age and become nearer to menopause long menstrual periods tends to become less and less of a problem for most all women, but how can we cope and function normally in the meantime.

The Causes of Dysmenorrhea

An accurate diagnosis of dysmenorrhea (long painful period) will be based upon your personal medical history as well as a thorough gynecological examination. If no apparent cause is found with these two sources of information, laboratory or imaging tests may be necessary. However, if no underlying disease is found to be the cause of the problem, these tests may actually be unnecessary and instead, an effective treatment plan is in order to help you with the long menstrual period.

Common Causes

While certainly not always the case, long menstrual periods may be two indicators that something is amiss within the reproductive system. Also, keep in mind that what seems heavy or bleeding for an excessively long time to one woman may be perfectly normal to the next. It is generally advisable to see a doctor if your cycle is lasting longer than seven days, if there are any sudden or noticeable changes from norm, or if your menstrual flow is very heavy.

An abnormally heavy and long menstrual periods(flow) is often defined as clotting and needing more than one tampon or pad per hour for more than two hours,(Menorrhagia) . Another time you should check with your doctor as soon as possible include having persistent pain in the pelvic area that doesn't occur near menstrual bleeding.

Diagnose, treat and live with PMDD and PMS. PMDD treatment information is hard to find. There are limited resources for this painful condition which affects a small but growing number of the female population. The PMDD-Treatment book aims to provide information on PMDD treatment to sufferers, the partners of sufferers or just those inquisitive to know more about this extreme form of pre-menstrual stress. To Learn More Click Here......

Endometriosis

Painful cramps often accompanied by long, heavy periods may sometimes be a sign of endometriosis which is a condition where the lining of the uterus, normally shed each month through menstruation, is found on the outside of the uterus.

Endometriosis causes chronic pain in the pelvic region and if left untreated, possible infertility.

Other women suffer from fibroids, which are non-cancerous growths within the uterus, or experience dysmenorrhea due to causes such as hormonal imbalances, some type of blood disorder, obesity, uterine cancer, or even taking too much aspirin. Secondary dysmenorrhea on the other hand is caused by a pelvic condition that causes pelvic pain.

Some non-pharmacological treatments to try for easing the symptoms of long and painful periods include the use of heat, dietary changes, vitamins and herbs, yoga and exercise.

Using a heating pad, hot water bottle, or the newer self-heating patches, can significantly relieve pain from menstruating or cramping beforehand. When using heat, always be careful not to burn or irritate your skin, keeping the temperature around 104 degrees Fahrenheit (or 40 degrees Celsius) and applying as often as you need to releave your long menstrual periods.

While not always as effective as medical treatments, many non-pharmacological treatments can be used in conjunction with other remedies to increase the amount of pain relieving benefits. Exercise has been shown in several studies to reduce menstrual symptoms in women, although others find it far too painful to even consider without the use of some type of pain reliever first.

If the use of NSAIDs or hormonal treatments like birth control pills have no positive effect on your symptoms after two or three months, further medical intervention may be necessary.

It is extremely important to discuss what's happening with your gynecologist or healthcare provider and realize that there is absolutely no reason to be embarrassed as they've certainly heard or have been trained to deal with all of these very issues. Thankfully there are several different options available for dealing and living with long painful periods so that you don't have to live a life of misery and suffering all because of your menstrual cycle.