| Menopause is a transition stage in a woman's life | | | | may be necessary to get relief. Some Over the |
| when she stops menstruating for over 12 months | | | | Counter (OTC) drugs are available to reduce pain and |
| continuously. When menopause sets in, the ovaries | | | | discomfort associated with them and those |
| stop production of eggs, resulting in irregular menstrual | | | | medications that do not contain steroids are preferable. |
| activity that eventually ceases. Other hormonal | | | | Other pleasurable options (since most of the gentler |
| changes occur and symptoms like stomach cramps, | | | | species would consider a pleasurable option to a |
| pain in the leg, irritability, mood swings, hot flashes and | | | | merely therapeutic one) are, for menopausal women |
| decrease in bone density accompany menopause. | | | | to enjoy a good, long soak in a hot bath or use a |
| Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 40 | | | | heating pad on the abdomen. The heat from the hot |
| and 55, and is a natural event in every woman's life. It | | | | water or pad helps in increasing the blood flow and this |
| comes with its own string of health issues, be they | | | | reduces these or muscle spasms. |
| physical or emotional, and can be a particularly trying | | | | Menopause and Stomach Cramps: Psychological |
| time for those who suffer side effects of menopausal | | | | Counseling |
| symptoms. They are just ways in which our body | | | | A nutritionally balanced, healthy diet, regular physical |
| reacts to the decrease in production of female | | | | exercise, sufficient rest, cutting back on alcohol intake |
| hormones. | | | | and cigarette smoking also helps in reducing them |
| Menopause and Stomach Cramps: Symptoms | | | | during menopause. If the stomach cramps are so |
| Some women (the luckiest of the lot) may experience | | | | severe that they prevent you from enjoying your |
| few symptoms, while others complain of mild to | | | | routine activities and timely rest does not help, it can be |
| severe ones. However, the reassuring part is that the | | | | due to some other physical or emotional/behavioral |
| variation is normal. Women experiencing pelvic pain or | | | | disorders. |
| cramps during menopause may recall suffering the | | | | This kind of abdominal cramp can manifest itself in |
| same right before or during their menstrual periods and | | | | other ways and worsen behavioral symptoms like |
| this may have a link to their hormonal cycle. | | | | irritability, hostility, aggressive behavior, anxiety and |
| A common phenomenon during menstruation, this | | | | depression. For treating this properly, it is very |
| pelvic pain is termed as dysmenorrhea. However, if | | | | important for a woman to speak to someone she can |
| these stomach cramps occur during menopause and | | | | confide in about any troublesome issues she may be |
| are severe enough to interfere with daily activities, then | | | | facing or seek medical/psychological counseling to |
| the cause may be an underlying condition and should | | | | bring out the underlying issue so it can be dealt with |
| be checked by a doctor. | | | | effectively. |
| Menopause and Stomach Cramps: Treatments | | | | Doctors recommend a positive change in lifestyle and |
| Stomach cramps experienced during menopause may | | | | advice all such women to eat a balanced diet, take |
| be for a long period or occur infrequently for a short | | | | their vitamins on time, incorporate regular exercise in |
| spell. If intense uterine contractions occur due to the | | | | their life and learn to take things easier. These tips go |
| hormonal changes taking place during menopause and | | | | a long way in reducing stress, the underlying cause for |
| are too prolonged, medical treatment for the cause | | | | stomach cramps and menopause discomfort. |