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Guidelines for sites linking to mayoclinic.orgIntro: It's a fact of life for most women of childbearing age. The monthly cycle. About half of all women breeze through it with few symptoms. For the other half cramps can be a nuisance. And for eight-percent of those women who get cramps, menstrual symptoms can be so severe that they miss at least a day of work every month. These women aren't whining. The pain is real. And doctors at Mayo Clinic say there are medications that help.
| Video | Audio |
| Total running time 1:29 | "CUSTOMER SERVICE, MY NAME IS JANELL. HOW CAN I HELP YOU?" |
| EVERYDAY, FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY, 25-YEAR-OLD JANELL NELSON IS ON THE PHONE HELPING CLIENTS WITH WORK BENEFITS. | |
| Janell Nelson | "IF YOUR PHYSICIAN FINDS THAT IT IS, HE CAN SEND A PREDETERMINATION." |
| SHE HAS TO BE NICE AND CONSTANTLY THINKING. | |
| Janell Nelson | "I HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONCENTRATION LEVEL UP THERE SO I CAN BE THE BEST I CAN BE." |
| BUT JANELL WASN'T AT HER BEST ONCE A MONTH WHEN SEVERE MENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS HIT. | |
Janell Nelson Has Severe Cramps |
"WHEN YOU'RE FOCUSING ON HOW BAD YOUR CRAMPS ARE YOU CAN'T FOCUS ..." |
Graphics: Menstrual Symptoms
Standup Vivien Williams Reporting |
ON WORK OR ON MOST ANYTHING ELSE. EIGHT-PERCENT OF ALL MENSTRUATING WOMEN HAVE DEBILITATING MENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDING; CRAMPS, HEADACHES, BACK ACHES AND MOOD SWINGS. IT'S CALLED DYSMENORRHEA AND IT MAY BE CAUSED BY HIGH LEVELS OF A HORMONE-LIKE SUBSTANCE CALLED PROSTAGLANDIN. PROSTAGLANDIN SIGNALS THE UTERUS TO CONTRACT AND SHED THE TISSUE LINING DURING MENSTRUATION. |
Jo Van Winter, M.D.Mayo Clinic Gynecologist |
"AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SEVERE DYSMENORRHEA, AS OPPOSED TO WOMEN WHO HAVE MILD OR MODERATE DYSMENORRHEA, HAVE MORE PROSTAGLANDIN IN THAT TISSUE." |
To animation |
BUT DR. JO VAN WINTER SAYS YOU CAN STOP HIGH PROSTAGLANDIN LEVELS AND DECREASE SEVERE MENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS BY USING ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES. THEY STOP OVULATION WHICH REDUCES THE THICKNESS OF THE LINING OF THE UTERUS. LESS TISSUE MEANS LESS PROSTAGLANDIN AND LESS PAIN DURING MENTRUATION. |
| AND JANELLS' SYMTPOMS? | |
| FEELING BETTER AND HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE AT WORK. | |
| FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS. |
Tag: Dr. Van Winter says for women whose symptoms are not severe, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like naproxcin or ibuprofen are good options.
She also wants to make sure women know that if their menstrual symptoms continue to get worse or if they suddenly become severe, talk to a doctor. There may be other problems causing the discomfort.
Oral contraceptives may not be the right choice for all women. If you'd like more information on the risks and benefits, log onto our Web site at ...
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