When menstruation comes, there are many changes that are felt by a woman's body. Like, changes in mood, to pain in several parts of the body. 

Almost every woman will experience dysmenorrhea or menstrual pain. This pain usually occurs in the lower abdomen. This pain is usually mild. However, for some women this pain can interfere with their daily activities. When this pain comes, there are usually several things done to reduce the pain. 

Before we discuss how to deal with dysmenorrhea, we will discuss a little about dysmenorrhea or pain that occurs during menstruation. 

What is Dysmenorrhea? 

Dysmenorrhea or menstrual pain is pain or cramps in the abdomen that appear before or during menstruation. This condition is often a complaint of women. Even though this pain is mild, this pain can hinder their daily activities. 

Generally, symptoms of dysmenorrhea appear, such as pain in the lower abdomen, back pain, and a feeling of pulling in the inner thighs. In addition, other symptoms that can appear include headaches, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. 

Dysmenorrhea itself is divided into 2, namely primary and secondary dysmenorrhea: 

1. Primary Dysmenorrhea 
   Primary dysmenorrhea is pain that appears before or during menstruation. After that, the pain will disappear along with the end of the menstrual period.
   
   This condition can occur due to an increase in the hormone prostaglandin, where this hormone is produced in the lining of the uterus. Because of this increase in prostaglandins, it finally triggers contractions of the uterus. It is these uterine contractions that eventually cause pain. 

2. Secondary Dysmenorrhea 
   In contrast to primary dysmenorrhea, secondary dysmenorrhea is pain that arises due to disorders of the reproductive organs. In this condition, dysmenorrhea sufferers will feel cramps or pain that lasts longer than primary dysmenorrhea.
   
   The pain in secondary dysmenorrhea feels worse as the menstrual period progresses. This pain is still felt even though menstruation is over.
   
   This condition can occur due to pathologies in the reproductive organs. Some of the complaints that occur due to secondary dysmenorrhea are: 

• Endometriosis 
• Cyst 
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Use of intrauterine contraception 
• Fibroids 
• Uterine Polyp 
• Adhesions on the inside of the uterus 
• Transverse Vaginal Septum 
• Allen Masters Syndrome 
• Blockage of the cervix 
• Pelvic Congestion Syndrome 

Relieving Dysmenorrhea Without Medical Assistance 

When pain comes during menstruation, usually women will use drugs and herbal drinks to relieve it. But you need to know that there are other ways that you can do without medical help at home to relieve this dysmenorrhea. 

These methods include: 

1. Compress With Warm Water
   This method is quite easy and is often done by dysmenorrhea sufferers. Compressing warm water to the stomach can help relieve pain during menstruation.
   
   The trick, you can fill warm water in a bottle or heating pad. Then stick it on the stomach area. The heat that is delivered to the stomach can relax the muscles and relieve menstrual pain. 

2. Massage 
   Another way you can do this is by gently massaging the area above the stomach. This massage can relax the pelvic muscles and reduce cramps. You can also use lotion or olive oil to make your massage easier and gentler. 

3. Light exercise
   When you experience pain during menstruation, doing light exercise is certainly highly recommended. You can stretch, take a leisurely walk, or do yoga. With this light exercise, it will help release endorphins which are natural hormones for pain relief. 

4. Essential Oil
   Some people may not really care about which oil they use when pain occurs. However, a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information compared the use of essential oils with natural oils to relieve menstrual pain.
   
   This research was conducted on two women, where one woman rubbed almond oil, and the other applied essential oils consisting of cinnamon, clove, rose, to lavender.
   
   After applying it, the women who used the essential oil experienced greater relief from menstrual pain compared to the women who used almond oil.

5. Changing Diet
   The next thing you can do is to change your diet to be healthier. During menstruation, the body needs adequate nutrition.
   
   You can consume foods rich in fiber, such as vegetables, nuts, omega-3, and others. Don't forget to drink enough water to keep your body hydrated. 

Pain during menstruation is normal and often occurs in women. However, every woman has a different pain. If you experience mild menstrual pain, you can take the steps above to reduce the pain. However, if the pain persists for a long time, you can consult a doctor to get the right treatment and solution. 

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