Is Tramadol for period cramps effective?

During menstruation, every female experiences some period cramps but their intensity is different for everyone. While some experience mild but for some, it can be extremely severe. Therefore, many use tramadol for period cramps.

The medical term for period cramps is known as Dysmenorrhea. Menstrual cramps are throbbing or aching pain in the lower abdomen. Therefore, every menstruator experiences cramps before or during the periods.

How do period cramps occur?

There are different chemicals in the body that regulate its functioning. Similarly, there are prostaglandin chemicals that are present in the uterus during menstruation. Now, these chemicals help with the uterus contraction to shed the lining which causes menstruation.

So, during muscle contraction, due to lack of oxygen, and muscle disturbance, cramps occur. But there are various other factors that determine the intensity of these cramps.

What do cramps feel like?

Apart from the pain, there are other symptoms that can occur along with it. These are:

Cramps in the lower belly
Pain in the lower back, hips, and thighs
Pain before 2-3 days of period
Nausea, vomiting, and Dizziness
Loose stools or upset stomach
Headaches

Causes of Period cramps

There are two types of cramps i.e. primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. While primary is normal and anyone can experience it. But secondary dysmenorrhea causes severe pain and is often a result of some other health disorder. Therefore, the causes for this are:

Endometriosis
Cervical Stenosis
Adenomyosis
Uterine fibroids
PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Apart from health disorders, there are some other causes that lead to painful periods:

Early puberty
Family history of menstrual cramps
Smoking
Heavy bleeding (menorrhagia)
Irregular bleeding (metrorrhagia)

How to know if period cramps are not normal?

Having severe pain is not normal. But there are other signs that indicate the presence of a problem. So, look for the signs below:

Chronic pelvic pain: Pelvic pain appears below the belly button and between the hip bones. So, it is considered chronic if the pelvic pain lasts for six months. The pain can be continuous or intermittent. So, if you experience chronic pelvic pain, it may be the culprit of your severe menstrual cramps.

Ovarian Cysts: PCOS is a condition with cysts, it can affect period pain. But some cysts are large and painful known as endometriosis. These cysts can worsen period pain.

Painful intercourse: Sometimes, due to some internal problems, intercourse can be painful for some women every time.

Extreme pain: Some amount of pain may be normal, but feeling extreme pain stops you from doing daily activities is not normal.

Infertility: When a woman is not able to conceive even after one year of trying, it is considered infertility. Not being able to conceive for one year when performing sexual intercourse regularly without protection requires treatment.

Blood clots: Some small blood clots are normal during menstruation. But passing frequent large blood clots can indicate a problem.

So, along with severe pain, if you experience these symptoms or problems, you need to contact a doctor. Tell your doctor about every symptom which will make it easy for them to diagnose and make a treatment plan.

Risk Factors

There are various factors that increase the risk of severe menstrual cramps. These can include:

Using birth controls
Older age
Smoking
Poor diet
Obesity
Depression or history of sexual abuse
Extreme stress
Heavy period flow
Age under 30
Early puberty

Diagnosis

You will need to contact a doctor if your period cramps are disrupting your daily life activities. Also, if the cramps last for more than 2-3 days and worsen with each cycle. In addition, if you notice a sudden change in cramps, especially after the age of 25, you will need a physical examination.

So, firstly the doctor will ask for your symptoms and medical history. You will probably be asked for a pelvic examination. This will help the doctor to know about any problem with the reproductive system or an infection. For a more thorough checkup, there can be tests performed by your doctor. So, these tests can include:

Ultrasounds: Gives image of ovaries, cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes.
Laparoscopy: Detects underlying health conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, etc.
Other imaging tests: Includes tests like CT scans or ultrasounds. These tests produce images of internal bones, organs, and soft tissues.

Treatment for period cramps

Firstly, if your cramps are not due to some severe health condition, your doctor will ask you to make lifestyle changes and also may prescribe some painkillers. One needs to make lifestyle changes in diet, regular activity, and much more. Home remedies can help relieve menstrual cramps if it is not a result of some other health condition.

Other Treatments include:

Painkillers like NSAIDs, or acetaminophen like Tramadol
Hormonal Birth control and IUD (Intrauterine device)
Surgery if someone has endometriosis, fibroids, or other such health conditions

Tramadol for Period Cramps

Tramadol is a pain relieving medication that you will see on the market under the name of Ultram. The medication helps with the treatment of moderate to severe pain.

Tramadol belongs to the Schedule IV controlled substance and hence has a potential for abuse, addiction, and dependence. However, it belongs to the drug class of narcotic analgesics and works on the opioid receptors in the central nervous system.

Thus, when the opioid drug attaches to the opioid receptors, it stops the signals of pain which induce the feeling of relief. Therefore, Tramadol for period cramps is one of the good choices to get relief.

Does Tramadol affect period flow?

There is no evidence that limited intake of tramadol under the doctor’s supervision can restrict or change your blood flow. However, as it is a controlled substance, it may have harmful effects on the body. Therefore, the FDA has made it a prescription medicine. So, one should use it according to the prescription.

Moreover, for quick access, one can buy Tramadol online for period cramps via online stores. Therefore, one of the reliable pharmacies is Rite Aid pharmacy. It provides genuine medications and you can also get Tramadol overnight delivery. Additionally, they have 24/7 customer support for any health query.

Last Words

Menstruation is a natural process and there are many factors that can disrupt the natural flow. Also, periods come with further symptoms and problems. While some amounts of cramps are normal but severe cramps interfering with daily activity can indicate health problems.

Lastly, you can take tramadol for period cramps or other painkillers according to your doctors. Also, if you experience any symptoms or problems, contact your healthcare provider without any delay.