What causes menstrual cramps?
101615
Cramps are caused by the uteris contracting (to push the unused menstral lining out).
84769
Leg cramps are muscle spasms anywhere in the leg. They usually occur at night and can result in sudden, painful spasms. \nIf you are frequently bothered by leg cramps, check with your doctor to rule out medical conditions that may be causing the problem. Many different factors can promote cramping, including low blood levels of calcium, magnesium, or vitamin E. Circulation disorders, anemia (a low level of blood cells), and improper functioning of the thyroid gland can also cause leg cramps. Other causes include dehydration, heat stroke, inactivity, and strenuous exercise. Cramps can also occur for no apparent reason. \n\nHere are a few tips that may help prevent leg cramps:\n\n\nDrink plenty of water throughout the day. Doctors recommend six to eight glasses everyday.\nMassage your muscles before going to bed.\nStretch daily, before and after exercise.\nMaintain a well-balanced diet and eat foods high in calcium (such as milk and cheese), potassium (bananas and dates), and Vitamin E (spinach and sweet potatoes).\nIf you have a leg cramp, gently stretch and massage the muscle. You can apply a warm heating pad to the area to help calm the cramping muscle and reduce discomfort.
826105
Water.\nZinc, calcium, and B vitamins obtained in food and supplements have been found to reduce cramps, bloating and other symptoms.\n\nCramps are caused by the contraction of the uterus during menstruation and vary in intensity from mild to debilitating.\nInstructions \nSTEP 1: Reduce your consumption of salt, sugar and caffeine during the week before your period to prevent cramps or reduce their severity. \nSTEP 2: Increase your intake of calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt or leafy green vegetables. \nSTEP 3: Keep in mind that a high-potency B-complex vitamin may help if you're susceptible to menstrual cramps. Vitamin B 6 is especially important, but don't take more than 100mg per day. \nSTEP 4: Apply heat to your muscles when cramps occur. Take a hot bath or place a hot water bottle on your abdomen or lower back. \nSTEP 5: Get moving. Sitting or lying around may actually make you feel worse. Swimming and walking are good activities because they are gentle and not too stressful. Certain stretches and yoga positions will also help to relieve the pain. \nSTEP 6: Avoid standing for long periods if you have pain in your lower back. \nSTEP 7: Massage your lower back to relieve tension and pain. \nSTEP 8: Take ibuprofen or naproxen to help relieve cramps. \nSTEP 9: Take a break, breathe deeply and listen to soothing music.
110721
Lower back pain can be cramps, just like many women experience cramps in their lower abdomen during their periods.  In fact, until I was in labor, I didn't really get the idea that cramps could be in the front . . . I also have a tilted uterus and have always had strong cramps in my lower back with my period.  So, normal cramps remedys will probably help (ibuprofen, heat).
143189
lots of things...intense menstrual cramping, kidney stone, bladder or kidney infection, labor.
482867
Maybe nothing. It could be stress that's making you have another period. If you have abnormal bleeding or cramping you may want to see a doctor.
161713
You should start taking an over-the-counter pain reliever (the best for menstrual pain is Aleve), two tablets 3 times daily, 2-3 days BEFORE your period is due to start and continue until it stops. Also, put a heating pad or hot water bottle in your lower abdomen at the first sign of cramps. For pain relief on-the-go, you can use a self-heating, self-sticking pad like "CUREHEAT Menstrual Relief" or "ThermaCare Menstrual" (look for them on the woman's care section of your local pharmacy). Since menstrual pain is often caused by blood clots that are too large to pass through your cervix (the opening of the uterus), you can do what I do myself, and have teached my teen daughter to do: sit on the toilet and strain like you do when trying to hard to urinate; most of the time, this dislodges the clots and offers great relief when they are expelled. Get lots of rest and keep yourself well hydrated. If these measures don't help, go to your gynecologyst, since you could have a condition such as ENDOMETRIOSIS or an hormonal imbalance that might require medical treatment like oral hormonal medications (usually the Pill), stronger analgesics, or even surgical intervention (in extreme instances). Only your doctor can accurrately diagnose and treat these conditions. I hope that my advise has been helpful, and that you get better soon.
1123245
Do you mean muscle cramp?  If so, it's usually an electrolyte imbalance, caused by sweating too much during exercise without replenishing electrolytes.  A good energy drink, taken regularly during exercise, should help avoid it.
156927
Yes. Any ill health, physical, emotional or psychological stress can cause menstrual irregularities.
913495
Getting cramps can mean a multitude of things.\n\nFirst of all, you should always stretch every day.  This should be done even if you are not going to do any type of organized exercise.\n\nAre you dehydrated?  Drinking more water can help the cramping in your muscles.\n\nAre you breathing correctly when you are walking?  When you breathe in, your stomach should go out so that you fill your diaphram completely.\n\nMaking sure that you get enough potassium in your diet can help.  Try bananas.\n\nIf these things do not work, I recommend consulting your physician.
1128526
basically your uterine line is shedding. and to help it shed, your uterus contracts. thats what causes the cramps. its trying to get all that crap out.
532622
Aleeve or Nuprin can help that.\n\nI did find this on natural alternatives:\n\nAre there any alternative treatments?\n\nYes. Although few scientific studies have been done in this area, many women have reported benefits from acupressure, acupuncture, and various herbal remedies, which are believed to help lessen menstrual cramps as well as the symptoms of PMS. The ancient Chinese arts of acupuncture and acupressure are based on the belief that by stimulating specific points on the body with hair-thin needles or a practitioner's hand pressure can unblock the flow of energy within the body and relieve pain.\n\n\n\nIn the herb department, cramp bark or black cohosh are thought to safely relieve menstrual cramps. Many women also swear by evening primrose oil, though no scientific evidence yet proves its effectiveness.\n\n\n\nObstetrician/gynecologist Christian Northrup, author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, also reports that dietary changes have brought her patients relief from menstrual cramps. She recommends that women can decrease their intake of eggs, red meat, and dairy products or switch to organic dairy foods, on the theory that milk containing added hormones and antibiotics may stimulate female hormones in ways we don't yet understand. Among her other recommendations:\n\n\n\n•Get plenty of essential fatty acids, which are found in canned sardines, salmon, flaxseed oil, and ground flaxseed, among other things (according to Northrup, this seems to moderate cramps even if you don't change your diets in other ways). \n•Take extra magnesium and a multivitamin-and-mineral supplement. \n•Take extra vitamin E during your menstrual cycles. \n•As much as you can, eliminate trans-fatty acids from your diet (these are found in foods like commercially prepared pastries, which contain margarine, solid vegetable shortening, and other partially hydrogenated oils). \n•Cut down on stress.  \n•Try yoga or massage.
584682
Leg cramps could also be caused by a sodium or potassium imbalance. Try drinking Gatorade or eating a bannana and make sure that if you increase your water intake you also increase your sodium and potassium intake as well.
653444
Almost all women have some cramping and aching during their periods, classified as either primary dysmenorrhea (which refers to "normal" menstrual pain) or secondary dysmenorrhea (which is a result of an underlying disease or disorder).\n\n"Normal" cramps occur in almost all women due to the release of prostaglandins, which are hormones produced by the endometrium (the lining of the uterus). Prostaglandins cause the uterus to contract (sometimes quite painfully) in order to expel the menstrual debris (and henceforth, start the period). Some women produce higher levels of prostaglandins than others, so they may hurt more. \n\nHOWEVER, killer cramps and debilitating abdominal pain are NOT normal and are in most cases due to secondary dysmenorrhea. Most frequently this is because of a disease or disorder like Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, cervical stenosis, structural abnormalities in the vagina or uterus itself, fibroids, etc. If your cramping disables you, see your gyn to talk about options.\n\nNon-steroidal inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen may help relieve cramping...your doc can also prescribe oral contraceptives that will prevent ovulation and reduce prostaglandin production, thereby alleviating cramping. Use of heating pads, avoidance of salt, sugar, alcohol and caffeine, intake of vitamin B6, calcium and magnesium supplements, and pelvic massage are all said to be helpful as well. \n\nIt is important to determine if the cramps are "normal," or if they could be due to another cause like Endometriosis (www.endocenter.org). Pain that is crippling is never normal and should be investigated ASAP so that appropriate diagnosis and treatment can be rendered.  Hope that helps.
900420
You may have what is called endometriosis - it's a condition where uterine tissue grows in places other than the uterus, and it can cause very painful periods with extreme cramping.\n\nI have this, and what has worked for me is going on the pill continuously - I don't take the sugar pills so that I don't have periods anymore.  This has made my life a lot easier; before, cramping was so bad that I would have to take sick days because I physically couldn't get out of bed.  \n\nIn terms of a short-term fix, maybe the school nurse would let you rest in his/her office?  If you've already taken advil/midol, there's probably not much else you can do.  Good luck!
601495
some females have ovalution cramps.\nunless its sharp pain, or have abnormal blood discharge, it shld b fine.\n\nif u are still worried, see ur gynae.
66828
Well, after your ovary discharges an egg, and it travels down the fallopian tube, if it isn't fertilized, the lining in your uterus (flesh and blood that collects to give a baby nutrients) begins to shed. That is why you cramp when you have your period. Then the body begins to collect a new bed for the next egg to attach to. After another month, the process begins again.