Angelah Nothando Mlotshwa
Environment and Health Reporter
Women in most cases go through excruciating pains during their menstrual cycles. Some for as long as a week and days before menstruation.
The ZIM GBC NEWS health reporter engaged the Bulawayo Obstetrician and Gynecologist Doctor Elton Sengurayi to find out why the fairer sex has to go through all that in the circle of life.
“Pain is never normal, you can see a nearby doctor or clinic”, he said in reply.
“It depends with what is causing pain. Pain is a symptom of any underlying problem, which needs to be ascertained. Adhesions, fibroids, adenomyosis, infections could cause such pains”, he added.
The Adenomyosis is a medical condition characterized by the presence of ectopic glandular tissue in the surrounding muscles, particularly of the endometrial tissue of the uterus in the myometrium.
Adenomyosis occurs when this tissue grows into the myometrium, the outer muscular walls of the uterus. This extra tissue can cause the uterus to double or triple in size and lead to abnormal uterine bleeding and painful periods.
Some people experience painful menstrual cramps (Dysmenorrhea), heavy menstrual bleeding (Menorrhagia), abnormal menstruation, pelvic pain, painful intercourse (Dyspareunia) and infertility.
Adhesions develop as the body attempts to repair itself. This normal response can occur after surgery, infection, injury (trauma) or radiation. Adhesions may appear as thin sheets of tissue similar to plastic wrap, or as thick fibrous bands.
Adhesions can affect the female reproductive organs (ovaries, fallopian tubes), the bowel, the area around the heart, the spine and the hand. They can cause a range of problems including infertility, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), pelvic pain and bowel obstruction or blockage. Adhesions can also lead to a complex set of problems called adhesion-related disorder (ARD).