Two days after our wedding, Savitri asked me to buy a pack of sanitary pads and some Meftal Spas tablets.
I asked, whether she is feeling sick. She said, yes it is time for my periods. And along with the bleeding, I feel abdominal cramps, discomfort and associated uneasiness. Around periods, women experience various symptoms like abdominal or pelvic cramping, lower back pain, bloating and sore breasts, food cravings, pimples breakout, sleeping difficulties, mood swings and irritability, headache & fatigue.
Fast forward few years, her protocol was similar during periods. Some sanitary pads and few Meftal Spas tablets. It has been like this from 2008 when she was studying MSc.
A few days ago, she had her recent periods. Savitri announced joyfully that she is no more feeling any pain, heavy bleeding or other symptoms with periods. From about an year, her periods are becoming easier. About two years ago when we were at Halligeri, she had stopped Meftal Spas tablets. The pains were not unbearable anymore. With each periods, it had become less painful, less bleeding and more bearable.
She had never actually tried to get rid of period pains and discomfort. But it happened naturally.
It is interesting when we researched about it. Let's dive into it to understand how it happened.
Ovaries produce one egg (rarely more) during one menstrual cycle. Anticipating fertilization, the inner lining of uterus (endometrium), thickens to create a bed for the embryo. After fertilization, the embryo gets attached to this bed and develop. In case, fertilization does not happen, there is no need for this thick bed. The uterus contracts/constricts/shrink to expel the bed. The constriction of uterus is mediated through a hormone called prostaglandin. The bedding tissue and associated blood is expelled through vagina. This is periods.
If the uterine contractions or/and bleeding is excessive, symptoms associated with periods are prominent.
If the quantity of prostaglandins is appropriate, the menstruation process happens easily. If the level of prostaglandins is less due to some disease, periods are either missed, delayed, happens over long duration and so on.
If the levels of prostaglandins in the body is higher, the uterine contractions are stronger, which leads to pains and increased bleeding. This is what is happening with all the girls and women who are having painful periods. About 84% of young women experience period pains. Meftal Spas or other medications or special diets taken during this time acts by lowering prostaglandins. But this won't reduce the inflammation in body and prevent recurrence of pains during next cycle. Also, there are numerous side effects of such medications.
Menstrual cycle and periods are a normal body activity. Why should there be pains and discomfort with it? This has been a steady thought in my head since long.
I was also sure that with right diet and lifestyle, the prostaglandins levels gets corrected, leading to painless periods. This is what has happened with Savitri.
Savitri has a distinct memory of starting of discomfort and pains during periods with increased consumption of dairy products when she was doing Masters studies.
Four years ago, Savitri had stopped consuming all animal products (like mutton, chicken, eggs, fish, milk, & milk products), pickles, refined oil and eating out. About two years ago, she had given up sugar and white rice. Fruits intake was increased manifold. And this year, she had stopped ghee, dry fruits and wheat. One more major change was, she is using positive millets as staple diet from last year.
Minimalism and voluntary simplicity, adopted over last 6 years have eliminated sedentary behaviors (sitting) & stress to a large extent.
All these diet and lifestyle improvements have brought down the excess prostaglandin levels to normal concentrations. Obviously, the uterine contractions, sloughing off of the endometrium and expelling out of the dead tissue and blood are happening at appropriate rate and in timely manner.
It has been proven that, animal products including dairy products like milk, cheese, curd, ghee, sugar, meat, poultry, fish, refined oil, pickles, increase inflammation in the body. Hence, women eating these have period pains. See a video below on this.
If so many women are having painful periods, it clearly indicates that their diet & lifestyles are not normal.
Plenty of women have shared their stories online about getting rid of period pains naturally by correcting diet & lifestyle.
Our favorite is Fully Raw Kristina:
Savitri is free from period pains.
It's your turn now.
Our diet and lifestyle is detailed in another blog. Click here to read it. With each step implemented, you will experience an improvement in your body.
Take Care.
Madhukar & Savitri