‘Painful menstrual periods occur frequently on women, particularly in young women where 50 to 75percent suffer from dysmenorrhea,’ according to study lead author, Dr. Ingela Lindh.
Period pain is caused by hormones called prostaglandins, produced by the lining of the womb to make it contract.
Menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea normally last for a couple of days and tend to be worse during teenage years, gradually easing off with age.
Contraceptive pills could help ease excruciating cramps that affect some women during their periods.
The Scandinavian study, reported in the journal Human Reproduction, found women on the pill reported slightly less severe period pains.
Dr. Lindh and her colleagues at Gothenburg University, Sweden, believe that the contraceptive pill prevents the production of these hormones and thereby reduces these
cramps.
One American survey suggested that the condition of women who suffers dysmenorrhea could cause lost working hours in the United States each year.
“Effective management of dysmenorrhea is beneficial for both the women affected and society.”
The Scandinavian study, reported in the journal Human Reproduction, found women on the pill reported slightly less severe period pains.
