Many women complain of pain in the lower abdomen during the week of menstruation. In addition, the mammary glands are rude, weakness, dizziness, and nervousness appear. All these are symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
Usually discomfort is caused by fatigue, stress, inactive lifestyle, lack of vitamins. If such cases are single, then do not worry. But if premenstrual syndrome is replaced by algodismenorrhea, then it is required to find out the causes of the problem and begin treatment. In any case, if a week before the menstruation, the lower abdomen hurts, you need to contact your doctor.
Main reasons
Pain of a pulling nature in the lower abdomen usually appears either a week before menstruation, or immediately after ovulation, or a couple of days before the start of “critical” days. Many women determine their onset precisely on this basis, as well as poor health and sleep problems.
If the lower abdomen hurts, and menstruation after a week, this may be due to the anatomical features of the organs of the reproductive system. PMS causes pain in the chest, abdomen, lower back. There is weakness, irritability, tearfulness. Swells face, arms and legs. All this can cause various factors.
Hormones
In reproductive age, all the phenomena occurring in the body of a woman are associated with sex hormones. They control the menstrual cycles. Changes in the hormonal system are unstable and dynamic.
If a week before the critical days, the lower abdomen begins to pull, discomfort appears, which gradually intensifies, then the cause is most often hormonal changes.
In the second phase of the menstrual cycle, the amount of progesterone produced increases. Closer to critical days, its volume is decreasing. It is at this time that a pulling pain in the abdomen occurs. If the hormonal substance is not enough, then the discomfort becomes unbearable. A gynecologist will help get rid of them.
In addition, hormonal imbalance can cause not only PMS, but also problems with the intestines: bloating, constipation, worsening of peristalsis. During this period, the amount of endorphins decreases, due to which pain and irritability intensify.
Another reason is uterine swelling. The end of the cycle is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the body. Because of this, the electrolyte balance is disturbed.
Algodismenorea
Algodismenorea is a menstrual cycle in which severe pain is felt in the lower abdomen, in the lumbar and sacral spine. It can be of a pulling, aching or cramping type.
Primary algodismenorea can cause:
- malfunctions of the endocrine system;
- the presence of an intrauterine device;
- underdevelopment of the uterus;
- abnormal location of the organs of the reproductive system;
- overwork (both physical and mental).
Secondary type algodismenorrhea usually appears due to gynecological diseases that a woman acquires with age.
In general, the reasons may be:
- the presence of early abdominal operations;
- surgery in the genital area;
- depression or, conversely, nervous excitability;
- irregular sexuality, dissatisfaction;
- mental disorders.
These are the main factors causing algodismenorea.
Physiological reasons
The stomach aches a week before menstruation and because of a small increase in the amount of fluid that accumulates in the body of a woman before menstruation.
In addition, the uterus itself also affects. Drawing pains in the lower abdomen can occur due to its increase before bleeding begins. Genetic predisposition should also be considered.
Ovulation
If ovulation is late, then in the lower abdomen there is discomfort. It can occur on the left or right side. It depends on the location of the egg.
When the follicle ruptures, a little bleeding occurs. Liquid enters the abdominal wall, causing local irritation. Pain during ovulation is not pathological. This is a feature of the functioning of the female reproductive system.
Other reasons
Pain in the lower abdomen can be acyclic. They are always long enough, and their occurrence is not caused by ovulation. They can occur before menstruation against the background of serious diseases and pathologies.
An example are:
- cystitis;
- endometriosis;
- uterine fibroids;
- adhesions in the organs of the abdominal cavity and pelvis;
- congestion in the pelvic area;
- urolithiasis;
- varicose veins and more.
In this case, it will not be possible to do just taking painkillers. Treatment of the primary pathology is also required if the stomach hurts before menstruation.
Thrush
If aching pains appear in the lower abdomen a week before the critical days, doctors advise checking the condition of the vaginal discharge. In normal condition, they are a substance that includes many components: lactobacilli, mucus, glycogen, bacteria, excretion of Bartholin glands, dead particles of epithelial tissue.
The vaginal secretion should be transparent or whitish. Its consistency is mucous. The amount is small - a maximum of 5 ml per day. Unpleasant aroma is absent. During ovulation, the amount of glycogen increases to a maximum.
With thrush, which is also known as urogenital candidiasis, the discharge becomes thick, curdled. They smell bad of acid. Have a whitish or yellowish tint. Due to the fungus, burning and itching appears in the groin area, and when the bladder is empty, discomfort is felt. The labia and women blush, swell.
The main cause of urogenital candidiasis is a weakened immune system. The disease can appear against the background of diabetes mellitus, ailments that are transmitted sexually.
Pregnancy
In the early stages of pregnancy, an increased tone of the uterus also causes aching and pulling pains in the lower abdomen. A woman may still not be aware of the onset of pregnancy, and in anticipation of critical days, she simply feels a deterioration in well-being. First, she explains to herself the presence of discomfort with premenstrual syndrome.
If the pregnancy is ectopic, then the pain also appears, and quite intense. The lumen of the fallopian tube is narrow. A fertilized egg cannot penetrate the uterus and is fixed to the wall of the canal. Pain spreads to the rectal area too. Subsequently, in addition to pain, nausea, dizziness, and weakness appear. There may be a loss of consciousness. Urgent need to go to the hospital.
A growing embryo will rupture the tube. Then sepsis appears. Possible fatal outcome. An urgent operation is required.
When is a medical consultation required?
If the woman noticed the strange changes that appear in the body before menstruation for the first time, and before such symptoms were not observed, then you need to go to the hospital and describe everything to the gynecologist.
There are a number of circumstances under which a consultation with a doctor is necessary. These include the following:
- stomach ache before menstruation;
- increase in body temperature;
- heavy periods after a painful premenstrual syndrome;
- the presence of several menstruation with a short break during one cycle;
- loss of consciousness before menstruation;
- suspected pregnancy;
- painful menstruation in the previous cycle.
In the future, the doctor will identify the causes of abdominal pain before menstruation. To do this, conduct a survey.
Treatment methods
If it pulls in the lower abdomen, and before menstruation a week, you can remove the symptoms by various methods.
First of all, it is recommended to use non-medication. For example, heat is recommended. An ordinary bottle of warm water or a heating pad helps to relax the uterus, remove cramps. A little rest will also benefit. But this method is allowed only if there are no serious pathologies. A relaxing bath with warm water will also benefit by removing unpleasant sensations in the stomach. It will calm the nervous system. The procedure will relax the muscles.
The second option, if the menstruation is in a week, and the stomach pulls, - use painkillers. They are recommended to be taken when it hurts a lot. They remove uterine contractions. They are allowed to be taken as necessary.
If the main symptoms are pain, a feeling of tension in the abdomen, cramps of the uterus and intestines, antispasmodics will be needed. For example, you can drink 1-2 tablets "Drotaverina", "Spazmalgona", "No-shp".
If the stomach is swollen, carminative agents are needed. For example, “Espumisan”, “Disflatil”, “Antareyt” will do.
With nausea, broken stool, it is recommended to use enterosorbents. These include Polyphepan, Smecta, activated carbon.
In some cases, doctors prescribe a contraceptive. They significantly reduce pain, discomfort, and sometimes completely remove them. Oral contraceptives cope with unpleasant sensations before and during menstruation. But before using them, you need to consult a doctor.
Food
Do not forget about proper nutrition. This helps prevent bloating, which often occurs before or during menstruation.
It is recommended to observe such rules that will help if your stomach hurts a week before your period:
- Reduce the amount of servings of food, but eat more often - these are the principles of fractional nutrition.
- Limit or completely remove from the diet harmful foods and foods that provoke bloating.
- Reduce salt intake. Sodium will retain water in the body, due to which there is swelling, increased stress on the heart and blood vessels, kidneys.
- Reduce the use of sweets. Sugar is converted in the body to glucose, which retains sodium.
- Keep track of your drinking regimen. Be sure to consume at least 1.5 liters of pure water per day. This improves the digestion of food, prevents constipation, removes toxic substances from the body.
- If the lower abdomen hurts a week before menstruation, you must abandon alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, tea. They cause bloating. It is best to use herbal decoctions of lingonberries, chamomiles, cranberries, mint instead. They will reduce pain, remove excess fluid from the body.
- Eat more foods that are high in fiber. This will prevent constipation. A large amount of fiber is present in legumes, mushrooms, vegetables, fruits.
- Do not overeat. Because of this, gas formation intensifies, which leads to bloating.
- Temporarily abandon dairy products. Because of them, flatulence intensifies.
Doctors advise taking complex vitamin and mineral preparations if it pulls the lower abdomen, and menstruation in a week. It is especially important to choose those in which magnesium and potassium are present. Vitamins from group B will be useful. They calm the nervous system, strengthen the circulatory system, and improve digestion.
Folk remedies
In addition to medicines, you can also use folk remedies if your stomach hurts before menstruation for a week. Here are some effective recipes:
- Plantain. 1 tbsp. l dry leaves pour a cup of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. Consume 1 tbsp. l 4 times a day on an empty stomach.
- Mushroom sushnitsa. 2 tbsp. l pour raw materials 2 cups boiling water and wait 3 hours. Drink a quarter cup three times a day before meals.
- Hop cones. 2 tbsp. l pour 2 cups boiling water and insist a couple of hours. Drink 100 ml at bedtime.
- Herbal gathering: centaury, clover, coltsfoot. Take components in equal parts. 1 tbsp. l collection pour a cup of boiling water and boil for 15 minutes. Drink a third cup up to 6 times a day.
If the lower abdomen hurts a week before menstruation, herbal gathering can help: coltsfoot, thyme, marshmallow, nettle, St. John's wort, and yarrow. Mix in equal parts. Then 20 g of the collection pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. Drink 100 ml three times a day.
Conclusion
When a recurring pain appears a week before menstruation in each cycle, then do not panic. It is necessary to go to the hospital, where after the examination they will find out the reasons and select the appropriate therapy.
Do not ignore this symptom. As a rule, a similar problem is caused by physiological and pathological reasons. In any case, you should not pay attention to discomfort, let alone self-medicate and take various medications.
Pain can be caused by menstrual irregularities, be a usual delay, or be a sign of a disease. In this case, a full examination and the appointment of complex therapy are required if the lower abdomen hurts a week before menstruation.