dysmenorrhea

Decreasing Dysmenorrhea: High Dose Vitamin D to Reduce Cramps

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Women endure menses for an average of 40 years: once a month for 12 months for four decades—about half of our lives. Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea)—to varying degrees of discomfort—are also likely to occur in about 50 percent of reproductive-age women. The cramps are caused by contractions that occur in response to elevated levels of prostaglandin (fatty acids made prior to menses) in the uterine lining. Some over-the-counter and prescription drugs may alleviate these painful cramps, but why must women tolerate menstrual discomfort? Are menstrual cramps an inevitable fact of life?

Can High Dose Vitamin D Reduce Menstrual Cramps?

It is no surprise that a small medical study published in the Archives of Internal Medicinehas garnered a lot of attention around the virtual globe. Italian researchers at the University of Messina investigated the effect of mega-dose vitamin D3 on women who had experienced at least four consecutive painful menstrual periods in the previous six months and had low, circulating vitamin D3 levels. The 60 women enrolled in the study were divided into two groups. Five days prior to the anticipated start of their periods, 30 women were administered a single oral dose of 300,000 IU vitamin D3; the other half received a placebo. On the fifth day of the study, both groups commenced daily supplementation of calcium (1,000 IU) and vitamin D3 (800 IU). After two months, average pain levels decreased by 41 percent for the women treated with mega-dose vitamin D3.  No difference in pain was reported in the placebo group. The researchers concluded that their data support the use of vitamin D3 to reduce menstrual cramps.

The Italian study itself is remarkable because it is reportedly the first research conducted to understand the effectiveness of a single high dose of vitamin D3 on menstrual cramps. Moreover, the outcome is logical.  Vitamin D3’s anti-inflammatory functions combined with the fact that the uterine lining contains vitamin D receptors suggest vitamin D3’s potential use to treat dysmenorrhea. Further, the 41 percent difference in experienced pain between the vitamin D3 and placebo groups is significant.

Questions Regarding Vitamin D and Menstrual Cramps

Some questions remain. The single mega-dose of 300,000 IU vitamin D3 is eyebrow-raising. It far exceeds a prescribed weekly dose of 50,000 IU of vitamin D3. The safety of a single administration of 300,000 IU is unknown. Additional research should be conducted to ascertain the upper limits and safety of such a high dose. We also do not know how vitamin D3 supplementation would improve menstrual cramps in women who maintain adequate levels of circulating vitamin D3 across the menstrual cycle. Is it simply a matter of maintaining adequate vitamin D3 that reduces menstrual cramps or is it the high dose?  Another question regards the length of time pain reductions would continue with the lone sky-high vitamin D3 dose. Even with these questions, however, the Italian study is positive and should encourage additional research on the role of vitamin D3 in treating pain-related conditions in women.

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Editor’s Note: Susan Rex Ryan is the author of the Mom’s Choice Award®-winning book Defend Your Life about the extensive health benefits of vitamin D. For additional information about vitamin D, check out our series of Sue’s articles, and visit her blog at smilinsuepubs.com.

Copyright © 2014 by Susan Rex Ryan. All rights reserved.

This post was published originally on Hormones Matter on July 30, 2014.

When Should Teens Go to the Gynecologist?

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When should girls start going to the gynecologist? The general consensus from the medical community and public health education is that a girl need not see a gynecologist until she becomes sexually active..I disagree.

Reproductive Care Should Begin with the First Period

Consider this; the average age of menarche in the United States is a little above 12 years of age. The average age a woman loses her virginity in the United States is 17. Based on what is taught in health class, that leaves 5 years of no reproductive care for the average American female. Although the average teenager may not need annual visits to the gynecologist, reproductive care should not be ignored. This means pediatricians must be better informed about gynecological care.

Just because a young girl is not sexually active does not mean her reproductive system does not exist. Amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome and menorrhagia are all terms (or concepts) that young girls of reproductive age should be familiar with; and yet a majority of girls of reproductive age would not be able to identify any of these terms.

Abnormal Periods are a Sign of Trouble

Young girls should be taught that abnormal periods, painful periods (dysmenorrhea), an absence of periods (amenorrhea), or extremely heavy periods (menorrhagia) are not normal and should be evaluated by a doctor. In many cases, finding the causes of abnormalities in menstruation early on, could prevent further complications down the road.

Most women who have uterine or menstrual abnormalities do not get a diagnosis or proper treatment until they discover they cannot conceive. That is because by the time these women go to the gynecologist for the first time they have been lead to believe that abnormal is their normal.

My Story

When I was twelve I was getting my period every other week and I was told that was normal and that every girls’ period takes some time to regulate – which is true.  However, it wasn’t true for me. I had endometriosis and uterine didelphys (two uteri) which required surgery, but because I was young, it was two and a half years before my painful periods were taken seriously. This is an all-too-common experience. Many women report suffering for decades.

In the case where a young girl’s menstrual problems are impacting her daily life – isn’t it better to be safe, rather than sorry? Read my full health story here.

The Need for Pediatric Gynecologists

Pediatricians and family doctors alike need to sit down with their female patients and have a detailed discussion about menstruation. No one should assume that health education in secondary schools is adequate to teach a young girl to stand up for her own reproductive care. The stigma of being too young (or not yet sexually active) to go see the gynecologist should be disregarded. Regardless of age, if any other part of the body wasn’t working one would go to the doctor to get it looked at; the same should go for the reproductive system.

How old were you at your first gynecologist appointment? When did your menstrual problems begin?