Menstrual pain can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'very serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose menstrual pain, we could:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
IUD Complications | 99% | Confirm |
Cervical Narrowing | 15% | Unlikely |
Adrenal Fatigue | 14% | Unlikely |
Endometrial Polyps | 3% | Ruled out |
Ovarian Cysts | 1% | Ruled out |
EFA 3 Need | 1% | Ruled out |
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease | 1% | Ruled out |
Fibroids | 0% | Ruled out |
Do you suffer from painful menstrual cramps (painful menstruation)?
Possible responses:
→ Never had them / don't know→ Probably had them/minor episode(s) now resolved → Major episode(s) now resolved → Current minor/occasional problem → Current major/regular problem |
Ovarian cysts can cause symptoms resembling painful menstrual periods when the cyst grows to a larger size. A history of painful menstrual cramps can indicate hormonal problems or imbalances which can increase the risk of ovarian cysts.
In a double-blind placebo-controlled study among a group of girls suffering from dysmenorrhea, it was found that the symptoms could be significantly reduced by dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids. This particular study used fish oil. [ American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, April 1996;174(4): pp.1335-1338]
Endometriosis is the most common cause of menstrual cramps.
Dysmenorrhea caused by ovarian dysfunction may disappear when low doses of cortisol are used to improve adrenal influence on ovarian function. [The Safe Uses of Cortisol, William Mck. Jefferies, MD 1996, p.157]