Scientists discover why periods hurt so much

THAT TIME OF THE MONTH: A study suggests period pain is triggered by a biomarker called C-reactive protein. Picture: WEB

THAT TIME OF THE MONTH: A study suggests period pain is triggered by a biomarker called C-reactive protein. Picture: WEB

Published Jun 22, 2016

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Siobhan Fenton

The Independent

LONDON: Scientists have finally discovered why periods hurt so much, following a groundbreaking study into menstrual pain.

Research has suggested PMS is caused by acute inflammation triggered by a biomarker called C-reactive protein (CRP).

This indicates that the best way to battle the symptoms of PMS may be by using specific anti-inflammatory medications.

The study, which is published in the Journal of Women’s Health, surveyed 3 302 women and found the presence of CRP appears to be linked to PMS symptoms.

Previous research on CRP in relation to heart attacks has found CRP presence is linked to inflammation.

The study’s authors suggest: “Premenstrual mood symptoms, abdominal cramps/back pain, appetite cravings/weight gain/bloating, and breast pain, but not headaches, appear to be significantly and positively related to elevated hs-CRP levels, a biomarker of inflammation, although with modestly strong associations, even after adjustment for multiple confounding variables.

“The results also suggest that the factors associated with each premenstrual symptom are complex, suggesting potentially different mechanisms for the etiologies of some symptoms.

“These results suggest that inflammation may play a mechanistic role in most PMS, although further longitudinal study of these relationships is needed.

“However, recommending to women to avoid behaviours that are associated with inflammation may be helpful for prevention, and anti-inflammatory agents may be useful for treatment of these symptoms.”

The study’s journal editor, Dr Susan Kornstein, said: “The majority of women experience at least some premenstrual symptoms.

“Recognising an underlying inflammatory basis for PMS would open the door to additional treatment and prevention options, and create a new opportunity for long-term risk intervention.”

Although many women and transgender men have periods regularly, social taboos about menstruation mean that the issue has received scant scientific research and remains unexplored compared to other health-care issues.

Around 80% of people who menstruate say they experience premenstrual symptoms, or PMS, which can exclude abdominal pain, migraines, bloating, nausea and lethargy.

In February, Professor John Guillebaud, of reproductive health at University College London, reignited debate about the quality of scientific research on menstrual pain, after saying that period pain is “as bad as a heart attack”.

“Men don’t get it and it hasn’t been given the centrality it should have.

“I do believe it’s something that should be taken care of, like anything else in medicine.”

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