Medically, menstruation (also termed period or bleeding) is the process in a woman of discharging (through the vagina) blood and other materials from the lining of the uterus at about one monthly interval from puberty until menopause (ceasing of regular menstrual cycles), except during pregnancy. This discharging process lasts about 3-5 days. Menstruation cycle is natural and every girl have to go through it after a certain age, usually it starts in Adolescent. But the most difficult part of menstruation is having of Cramps which can be mild to severe according to each individual.
Menstrual cramps are painful sensations that affect many women before and during a menstrual period. Most Girls typically feel their cramps just before or at the time when bleeding begins each cycle. Menstrual cramps are most likely caused by an excess of prostaglandins compounds that are released from the uterine lining as it prepares to be shed. They are a necessary part of the process, but in excess, they cause pain.
Pain that is only associated with the process of menstruation is known as primary dysmenorrhea. If the cramping pain is due to an identifiable medical problem such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or pelvic inflammatory disease, it is called secondary dysmenorrhea. Emotional stress can increase the chance of experiencing menstrual cramps. Emotional stress can increase the chance of experiencing menstrual cramps.
Menstrual cramps can be treated with over-the-counter medicine, birth control treatments, and some home remedies.
Proper diet and maintaining of good food life is one of the major measure to heal menstrual cramps. Healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains help reduce the degree of pain in that situation. Meat and Meat products should be avoided during menstruation. Besides such dietary plan, heat treatment, light exercise, yoga, drinking ample of water, busy in some creative works, less stress and positive thought are some key factors that can help in declining of dysmenorrhea in a greater extent.
To make aware about it, Mr. Ghanshayam Bhattarai had voluntarily organized an online workshop ‘Diet in Menstruation’ on April 10 2020, using e-platform to make this lockdown informative and productive as well. The main objective of the program was to aware everyone how we can use our daily food and diet as a medicine for cramps. Although there are some medicines in the market that help during menstrual cramps, it may affect the body and the reproductive system in both acute and chronic level. The program was free of cost and open to all. The program was supported by TFF and YPARD Nepal.
The main speakers of the program were Mr. Aarem Kakee, has completed her master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics, and has working experience in Diet Clinic Therapy, Om Hospital and Vayoda Hospital for many years as dietitian and Nutritionist. and Ms. Tasnina Karki, has completed her master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics, has been working at Upendra Devkota Memorial National Institute of Neurological and Applied Sciences as a Dietitian.
The topics included in the program were:
- Nutritional aspect of Menstruation
- Menstruation pain during (Dysmenorrhea)
- Symptoms of pain
- Causes
- Dietary management (Mechanisms and researches)
- Superfoods to manage pain
- Implementation in real life situation
- Conclusion
More than 150 individuals (85 % boys and 15 % girls) had registered for the program registration forms, and more than 80 participants (90% girls and 10% boys) has attended the workshop. There was more 100 + queries from the all participants. Program was hosted by Mr. Ghanshyam Bhattarai and facilitated by Ms. Anjali Shrestha (Lab Technician, NARC HRD) & Ms. Anushuya Guragain (Local Representative, YPARD Nepal). We are grateful to all the key speakers and the participants who made this program really an interactive and an informative.
The duration of program was 2 hours. It was allotted into 3 sessions; First Session was absolutely on Menstruation Cycle and Cramps, second Session was on Diet to heal cramps and Last session was Question and Answer. The outcome of program was informative and fruitful as per participants’ feedback.
