Dysmenorrhoea is the medical term used to describe the pain felt during menstruation. It usually begins 2 to 3 years after menstruation occurs and can be experienced during every cycle. It usually starts a day or two before menstruation begins and continues for a couple of days into menstruation. The main symptoms are:

• Abdominal cramping or dull ache that moves to lower back and legs
• Heavy menstrual flow
• Headache
• Nausea
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Frequent urination
• Vomiting (not common)

The main treatment is to try and relieve pain and so often anti-inflammatory drugs will be prescribed or recommended. There are also a number of dietary changes that can be made to improve the situation. Some of the supplements you could take are B-complex, magnesium, vitamin E and essential fatty acids. There are a number of herbs that can also help with the situation including chaste tea, red raspberry, chamomile and ginger root. You could also consider homeopathic remedies designed specifically for your symptoms.

Acupuncture is thought to be a fantastic treatment for dysmenorrhoea. It has been shown that acupuncture is very effective at pain reduction and so could really help with relieving the symptoms of this condition. Some people also believe that chiropractic could be a very effective treatment. Also stress could contribute to the condition so taking a bath and using aromatherapies oils could help along with massage, yoga and exercise in general.