(no subject)

[princessern.livejournal.com]

sometimes things get me thinking and i was wondering, since motrin is a blood thinner, if you take motrin for menstrual cramps, it will make you bleed more, correct?

Comments

[stinkythecat.livejournal.com]

Your period isn't solely blood. A lining is being shed, so it's not as if there is a laceration in your uterus for blood to be thinned out from. So in my way of thinking, I don't think so. I could be wrong, but I don't think it would make you bleed more.

[princessern.livejournal.com]

oh yea, good point. i was just wondering because yesterday i had killer cramps so i took a bunch of motrin and i was bleeding really heavy and today i havent taken any motrin and im bleeding a lot less. its probably just a coincidence though.

[lindz2183.livejournal.com]

In my experience if I take anything but Ibprofen, then I bleed more heavy... Ibprofen is good to take when you have your period both for the cramps.. and for you flow.. Ibprofen make you bleed 40% less. My doctor told me that because I suffer from really heavy menstral periods.... and it works great.. I bleed a lot less.. and it doesn't thin your blood

[angelslyz.livejournal.com]

from what i know of blood and meds...with all due respect, your dr. is out in left field. the fact that you bleed less is coincidental. ibuprofen shouldn't have any effect on your blood flow. the old dead tissue is already there to be excreted...it can't affect the amount of tissue that is already in place to be discharged. although, it could possibly, but highly unlikely, have an effect if you were to take it throughout the month, as opposed to just during your menstral period.

[smallstar.livejournal.com]

It seems to me that if you take ibuprofen throughout your period, the anti-prostaglandin effects will cause a noticeable reduction in cramping. Since it reduces the uterine muscle contractions, then you'll probably have the same amount of blood coming out, but more gradually since it won't be squeezed out so forcefully. So you have the sensation of less 'heavy' bleeding.

Also, it's actually contractions in the arteries that supply the endometrium that causes the dead tissue in the first place: the arteries constrict, and then the tissue that they supply starts to die due to the poor blood flow. So... if it also causes a reduction in those arterial contractions (I'm not sure if it does or not), it could theoretically result in less total flow.

[angelslyz.livejournal.com]

I agree with your reasoning that ibuprophen, (and other NSAIDS) which inhibit cyclooxygenase, will cause a decrease in cramping. Since women who suffer from dysmenorrhea produce greater levels of prostaglandins, the lack thereof will often decrease the contractions which cause cramping. However, it is important to note that this treatment often proves futile for women with Secondary Dysmenorrhea (usually about 1/2 of all cases). Secondly, I agree that decreasing the contractility of the uterine muscles will create the 'sense' that there is less bleeding, but the reality is that all of the necrotic tissue will be excreted, regardless of the force at which this occurs.

Prostaglandins not only increase uterine hypercontractility, but also decrease blood flow, cause ischemia, and uterine hypoxia. Considering this, administration of NSAIDS target the hypothalamus to decrease prostaglandin synthesis, resulting in increased blood flow. However, this will not significantly change the amount of menstral lining expelled. At the point of menstruation, the arterial flow is not a factor in the amount of lining that will slough off. Although I agree that the arterial flow has significant effects on the shedding of the lining, it is more importantly the hormonal levels that dictate the thickness of the lining, the prostaglandin levels, and the resulting flow rate. If we accept your theory that lessening arterial blood flow through anti-prostaglandins will promote lighter menses (which I don't believe it would cause a significant difference), then the administration would have to be on a continual basis in order to promote a more hypoxic state throughout the month, rather than just during menstruation.

Not only that...

[angelslyz.livejournal.com]

but...'Motrin, like other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, can inhibit platelet aggregation but the effect is quantitatively less and shorter duration than that seen with asprin. Motrin has been shown to prolong bleeding time (but within the normal range) in normal subjects. Because this prolonged bleeding effect may be exaggerated in patients with underlying hemostatic defects, Motrin should be used with caution in persons with intrinisc coagulation defects and those on anticoagulant therapy.' Pfizer - motrin site. In short, it means that it *may* stop blood from clotting as much...but this does not mean that it's a anticoagulant per se, such as heparin. It's effects are very minimal. The benefits for taking it with your period are that it's an anti-inflammatory, such as advil ;) no worries!

Re: Not only that...

[princessern.livejournal.com]

wow thanks for all the info...

[katlynel.livejournal.com]

Why not just take Tylenol instead if you're worried?

[princessern.livejournal.com]

oh no, not worried just curious :o)