Cause of menstrual pain, no pain is also possible

We think it’s normal, menstrual pain. That we have to writhe in our beds and barely function. But is that really true? Isn’t pain a sign from the body that something is wrong inside? In this blog, we will explore how menstruation doesn’t have to be painful.

Menstruation Shouldn’t Be Painful

This week, I watched the program Op1. One of the guests was Emma Lok from Women Inc. Her goal is to get women's health higher on the agenda because it is sorely lacking. For example, men's ailments receive more research funding than women's ailments. Think of the female heart. The warning signs of a heart attack in women are completely different from those in men. Yet, there is hardly any knowledge about this among regular doctors.

To emphasize her point, Emma offered male Members of Parliament the opportunity to wear a so-called menstruation vest. The man would then feel what the average woman experiences during her period. Average woman, so there’s still a lot of pain above that for many women. Also on the program were two men who wanted to try the vest. You could see their faces turn pale, and participating in the conversation became difficult for them. And yes, women have to function despite this monthly pain. Attend a job interview while in pain, take care of their families, talk to customers, and so on. And some women can barely stand for four days a month due to the pain. Yet, no one really talks about it.

The program also mentioned that menstruation isn’t supposed to be painful. I completely agree. When your menstruation is (very) painful, it’s a sign from your body that something is wrong. The cause could be endometriosis or fibroids, but most women have menstrual pain due to estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency.

How Do Estrogen Dominance, Progesterone Deficiency, and Menstrual Pain Relate?

Estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency are two hormonal imbalances that can cause menstrual pain, also known as dysmenorrhea. Estrogen and progesterone are two key female sex hormones that fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. Estrogen, produced by the ovaries, promotes the growth of the uterine lining in preparation for a possible pregnancy. Progesterone, also produced by the ovaries, is released after ovulation to prepare the uterus for the implantation of a fertilized egg.

Estrogen dominance occurs when the ratio between estrogen and progesterone is imbalanced, usually because estrogen levels are too high compared to progesterone. This can lead to excessive growth of the uterine lining, causing severe menstrual pain. Excess estrogen can also cause inflammatory reactions and uterine contractions that worsen the pain.

On the other hand, progesterone deficiency can cause the uterus to be inadequately prepared for menstruation. This can lead to the uterine muscles contracting spasmodically to shed the lining, causing intense pain.

Treatment of Menstrual Pain

Treatments for menstrual pain can focus on restoring hormonal balance through hormone therapy, such as birth control pills. However, the downside is that this often comes with many side effects. The pill can make things worse for the woman. The alternative is to use bio-identical progesterone cream.

The conclusion is that there is a clear relationship between estrogen dominance, progesterone deficiency, and menstrual pain. The solution lies in eliminating estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency.