在月經前後感到疼痛及抽筋是絕對正常的。經痛通常出現在胃部下方、腰部或腿前側[3]。
生理痛、又稱經痛,一般出現在月經來潮或之前,並可持續 1 天至數天[3]。經痛程度多為輕微,然而約有10% 的女性會經驗劇烈的經痛,使她們不能上學或工作[3]。大約 90% 的女孩子及成年女性在月經期前後會感到痛楚[1][2]。可幸的是,有很多有效紓緩痛楚的方法。
熱敷 | 在胃部上敷熱墊有助於紓緩經痛[3][4],也可利用熱貼或熱水樽來保持胃部溫暖。 |
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運動 | 有證據顯示運動可減輕經痛[5]。譬如「靠牆半蹲 (Wall Squats) 」與「貓式伸展 (Cat Stretch) 」 |
透皮神經電刺激 (TENS) | TENS儀器可傳送少量電子脈衝至胃部疼痛部位的皮膚神經,以達到止痛效果。這可能聽起來有點令人不安,但證據顯示此方法的確有助紓緩經痛[6]。 |
按摩 | 有些人會以按摩減輕痛楚。在胃部疼痛的地方輕輕轉圈按摩有助減輕經痛。[7] |
利用藥物紓緩痛楚 | 此外,非處方止痛藥亦是紓緩經痛的另一選擇 。此類藥物已經被證明能紓緩經痛[8],而研究顯示,含乙醯胺酚(acetaminophen)及咖啡因的藥物對紓緩痛症特別有效[9]。 |
參考資料
- Jamieson DJ, Steege JF.The prevalence of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome in primary care practices.Obstet Gynecol.1996; 87(1):55–58.
- Parker MA, et al.The menstrual disorder of teenagers (MDOT) study: determining the typical menstrual patterns and menstrual disturbance in a large population-based study of Australian teenagers.BJOG.2010:11:186-192.
- Patient UK.Period pain (dysmenorrhoea).Available athttp://www.patient.co.uk/health/Period-Pain-(Dysmenorrhoea).htm.Accessed July 2010.
- UK Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Dysmenorrhoea.Available at:http://www.cks.nhs.uk/dysmenorrhoea.Accessed July 2010.
- Brown J, Brown S. Exercise for dysmenorrhoea.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 2.Art.No.:CD004142.DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD004142.pub2.
- Proctor M, et al.Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for primary dysmenorrhoea.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2002, Issue 1.Art.No.:CD002123.DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD002123.
- UK NHS Choices.Periods – painful.Available athttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Periods-painful/Pages/Introduction.aspx. Accessed July 2010.
- Milsom I, et al.Comparison of the efficacy and safety of nonprescription doses of naproxen and naproxen sodium with ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and placebo in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a pooled analysis of five studies.Clin Ther.2002; 24:1384–1400.
- Ali Z, et al. Efficacy of a paracetamol and caffeine combination in the treatment of the key symptoms of primary dysmenorrhoea.Curr Med Res Opin.2007; 23:841–851.
- Medline.Menstrual periods – heavy, prolonged or irregular.Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003263.htm.Accessed July 2010.