Menstrual pain

Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhoea) is a common complaint. Many women experience mild abdominal pain or cramps during their period, but for some the complaints are so severe that they limit daily functioning. The pain is usually low in the abdomen, but can also radiate to the lower back, hips or thighs. In addition, complaints such as nausea, diarrhoea, headache, fatigue or dizziness may occur.

For some women the pain is already present in the days before their period, while others mainly experience complaints during the first days.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been used for centuries for menstrual complaints. In Chinese medicine the focus is not only on the pain itself, but above all on the underlying cause. As a result, two women with the same diagnosis can still receive a different treatment.

How does menstrual pain arise?

During menstruation the uterus contracts to shed the uterine lining. Prostaglandins play an important role in this. An increased amount of these substances can cause stronger contractions, a temporarily reduced blood flow to the uterus and therefore more pain.

In many women there is no clear physical cause for this. This is called primary dysmenorrhoea. Sometimes menstrual pain is the result of an underlying condition of the uterus or the pelvis. This is called secondary dysmenorrhoea.

Western conditions in which menstrual pain can occur

Menstrual pain can occur with, among others:

Some women have severe menstrual pain without a clear medical cause being found. In others the pain is the result of an underlying condition, such as endometriosis or adenomyosis. It is therefore advisable to consult a doctor in the case of severe, suddenly changing or long-standing menstrual complaints.

What can acupuncture do for menstrual pain?

Acupuncture is aimed at supporting the body's natural capacity for recovery and helping to regulate bodily functions involved in the menstrual cycle. Each treatment is tailored to your personal situation. In doing so, we look not only at the menstrual complaints themselves, but also at other complaints that may be related to the cycle, such as fatigue, stress or sleep problems.

Over the course of the treatment we regularly evaluate how your complaints are developing. On that basis the treatment can be adjusted where necessary.

Depending on your situation, acupuncture can focus, among other things, on:

Many women notice that the complaints gradually decrease over several menstrual cycles.

What can Chinese herbal medicine do?

Chinese herbs are often used as a complement to acupuncture. Where acupuncture offers support during the treatments, herbs can support the body daily in between treatments. The herbal formula is tailored to your personal situation and can be adjusted over the course of the treatment when your complaints change.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are therefore regularly combined, because both forms of treatment complement each other.

Depending on your situation, Chinese herbs can be aimed, among other things, at:

How does Chinese medicine view menstrual pain?

In Western medicine the diagnosis is often central. Chinese medicine, in addition, also looks at why menstruation is painful. In doing so, it examines which bodily functions are working together less well and how different complaints are connected.

Chinese medicine describes these bodily functions in terms of organ systems. Such an organ system is not the same as an anatomical organ, but represents a group of functions within the body. In menstrual complaints the Liver, Spleen and Kidneys in particular play an important role. The Liver helps, among other things, with a smooth flow of Qi and Blood, the Spleen is involved in the production of Qi and Blood, and the Kidneys play an important role in the menstrual cycle and the reproductive function. Each organ system is moreover connected to a meridian, along which, according to Chinese medicine, Qi and Blood circulate through the body.

When one or more of these organ systems function less well, a recognisable combination of complaints often arises. Such a combination is called a pattern in Chinese medicine. As a result, two women with the same Western diagnosis can still receive a different treatment. The patterns that occur most often with menstrual pain are:

Liver Qi stagnation

Stress, prolonged tension and pent-up emotions can cause the flow of Qi to be less smooth. As a result, the flow of Blood during menstruation can also be obstructed, which can cause pain or cramps. Often associated with:

Blood stasis

When blood flow is obstructed over a long period, Blood stasis can arise. This pattern often causes the most severe menstrual pain and is regularly seen in conditions such as endometriosis or adenomyosis. Often associated with:

Cold in the Uterus

According to Chinese medicine, Cold can slow down the flow of Qi and Blood. This often gives rise to severe, cramping menstrual complaints. Often associated with:

Qi and Blood deficiency

When the Spleen functions less well, the production of Qi and Blood can fall short. As a result, the uterus is less well nourished. The pain is usually less severe and occurs more often at the end of or after menstruation. Often associated with:

Damp-Heat

In some women, Damp and Heat in the pelvis play a role. This pattern is less common, but can nonetheless contribute to menstrual pain. Often associated with:

Kidney deficiency

In long-standing or chronic menstrual complaints, a reduced function of the Kidneys can also play a role. Often associated with:

It is possible for several patterns to be present at the same time. That is why the treatment is always tailored to your personal situation and not only to the diagnosis or the menstrual pain itself.

Prognosis

The outlook is generally favourable. Many women notice that their menstrual pain gradually decreases during the first months of treatment.

Because the menstrual cycle lasts about one month, at least three menstrual cycles are usually needed to properly assess the effect of the treatment. In the case of severe or long-standing complaints, such as menstrual pain due to endometriosis or adenomyosis, a longer course of treatment is often needed.

At the start, one treatment per week is usually advised. When the complaints improve, the time between treatments can gradually be extended.

Contact

Do you suffer from menstrual pain and would you like to know whether acupuncture can mean something for you? During a first consultation we discuss your complaints, medical history and any underlying factors in detail. On that basis a treatment plan is drawn up that suits your situation. You can book an appointment online right away or get in touch for more information.

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