Demystification of All Too Common Disease: Period Pain
What is the mechanism of menstrual pain-alleviating medicines? How can we guide research pathways to treat menstrual pain?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.1569Keywords:
Period cramp, Dysmenorrhea, Pharmaceutical, NSAID, Oral contraceptive, Period pain, Women's reproductive healthAbstract
The prevalence of menstrual pain is high yet there is a lack of research and understanding of it. There are three main categories of menstrual pain-alleviating medicines that are commonly prescribed: NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), acetaminophen and oral contraceptive pills. Two of these types of drugs are broad pain alleviators whereas oral contraceptive pills play a role specifically within reproductive organs. Much research has been dedicated to understanding the biochemistry of the mechanisms of these medicines and how pain is generated at a molecular level. Genetics vary from human to human and can also play a role in menstrual pain and its alleviating methods. So far, some research efforts have focused primarily on menstrual pain, but most people who experience pain have little access to information on how pain alleviation works, what the source of menstrual pain is, and what ongoing efforts could be made to improve the quality of life. I argue that future research should focus on menstrual pain specifically and how to alleviate it with more targeted therapies. These broad efforts will enhance our understanding of reproductive health sciences and have a significant impact on a large portion of the human population.
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