"Fish Oils are a Women's Best Friend!"

Can you use fish oils on menstrual cramps and is it an effective treatment for PMS?

Menstrual cramps can occur during a woman's menstrual cycle and are characterized by painful cramps in the pelvic and lower abdominal regions.

The cramps are caused by the uterus contracting due to prostaglandins and other hormonal chemicals.

Research shows women experiencing painful menstrual cramps have higher levels of prostaglandins compared to women with low levels that don't experience cramps.

Treatment for menstrual cramps may involve pain relief medication and diuretics. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed to lower prostaglandin levels to reduce cramping. Doctors may prescribe oral contraceptives to reduce ovulation and lower the amount of prostaglandins.

Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS is a set of physical and emotional symptoms some women may experience prior to menstruation.

Physical symptoms may include bloating, breast tenderness, changes in appetite and fatigue; emotional symptoms may mood swings, irritability and depression.

PMS may be caused by alterations in sex hormones (Progesterone) and chemicals in the brain; however, the wide range of symptoms associated with this condition has made it difficult for researchers to pinpoint a specific cause.

Why Omega 3 Fatty Acids help Women's Health

Omega 3 soft gels

Omega 3 fatty acids have been found to influence the production of prostaglandin. An April 2006 article at ScienceDaily.com reports omega 3 fatty acid's anti-inflammatory effects are linked to lowering prostaglandin levels.

Dr. William Smith, a University of Michigan biochemist, found omega 3 fatty acids from fish oils produce fewer prostaglandins compared to omega 6 fatty acids from vegetable sources

Further research showed prostaglandins produced by omega 3 fatty acids are 2 to 50 times less active than those formed by omega 6 fatty acids from plants.

Researchers have confirmed there's a delicate and intimate relationship between prostaglandins and progesterone levels in women.

Based on this research, is it possible to use omega 3 fish oils to reduce menstrual cramps and treat premenopausal symptoms through alterations in prostaglandin?

The following medical studies look at omega 3 fatty acids, fish oils and menstrual cramps:

1. Importance of Omega 3 Fatty Acids for Women

Paris, France- A review in the 2007 February issue of Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy detailed why omega 3 fatty acids are essential for women.

Among the benefits of fatty acids for healthy development of a growing fetus, researchers believe omega 3 fatty acids could play a positive role in reducing or preventing menstrual symptoms and hot flashes associated with menopause. Scientists suggest the best sources of omega 3 fatty acids are from fish, seafood and omega 3 enhanced eggs.

2. Low Intake of Omega 3 Fatty Acids linked to Painful Menstruation

Denmark- Painful menstruation can be caused by prostaglandins (fatty acids that have hormone-like effects). Researchers believe prostaglandins derived from fish oil omega 3 fatty acids are less aggressive and cause milder menstrual symptoms.

To prove this hypothesis, two hundred and twenty (220) Danish women were surveyed on their dietary habits over a 4 day period. The women were 20 - 45 years old, not on contraceptives and not pregnant.

Researchers found women with menstrual pain showed an average 80% lower intake of omega 3 fatty acids. Women with higher intakes of marine omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) and vitamin B12 had lower incidence of menstrual pain.

3. Fish oils improve Menstrual Cramps in Teenagers

Cincinnati, Ohio- A study published in the April 1996 issue of American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology noted omega 3 fish oils improve menstrual symptoms in young women.

Forty-two (42) teenage girls with dysmenorrhea were split into 2 groups:

• The first group received fish oil (1080 mg. eicosapentaenoic acid, 720 mg. docosahexaenoic acid) and 1.5 mg. vitamin E daily for 2 months followed by a placebo for another 2 months. These fatty acids are the two most common omega 3 fatty acids in fish oils.

• The second group received a placebo for the first 2 months, followed by fish oil for 2 more months.

All study subjects were assessed with the Cox Menstrual Symptoms (CMS) scale to measure any response to treatment. The CMS scale is used by health care professionals to assess level of menstrual symptoms.

Researchers found no change in the 2 groups at baseline after using the placebo. However, after 2 months of fish oil treatment there was a significant reduction in the Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale.

Researchers concluded that marine fish oil supplements improve menstrual symptoms in adolescent girls.

Why Fish Oils are a Girl's Best Friend

Omega 3 fish oils

Omega 3 fish oils may not be as good as diamonds, but these healthy fats appear to have a profound impact on how a woman's body functions.

Prostaglandins are produced by fatty acids. The presence of prostaglandins can play a key role in the symptoms and intensity of painful menstrual cramps.

Research on fish oils and menstrual cramps shows omega 3 fatty acids affect the ratio of prostaglandins in a woman's body. It appears that prostaglandins produced by omega 3 fatty acids are less active and in fewer supply; resulting in less intense menstrual cramping and premenstrual symptoms.

Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oils can offer many benefits for a woman's health:

• Promotes an environment for pregnancy.

• May lower your risk of premature birth - omega 3 fatty acids have been found to increase the length of pregnancy and infant birth weight due to increased uterine blood flow. Read more about the benefits of fish oils and pregnancy.

• Reduces menstrual cramps - omega 3 in fish oils lower prostaglandins resulting in less blood clotting and vasoconstriction - the main causes of menstrual cramps.

There's further evidence omega 3 fatty acids may help prevent preeclampsia, menopausal problems, postmenopausal osteoporosis and even reduce the risk for certain breast cancers.

One of the unfortunate side effects of hormone therapy is a possible increase in your triglyceride levels. Women on some types of hormone therapy would benefit from the cardiovascular benefits of omega 3 fatty acids.

Boost your Feminine Health with Omega 3's

Increasing your omega 3 fatty acids can be as simple as eating more fatty fish. If you're concerned about mercury from fish you can use a pharmaceutical-grade fish oil supplement.

Pharmaceutical grade fish oils are specialized supplements that have undergone a unique manufacturing process that provides that highest concentration of omega 3 fatty acids and the lowest possible levels of detectable mercury, PCB's, dioxins and other contaminants.

If you're going to use fish oils for menstrual cramps, you should use a fish oil supplement that:

• contains high concentrations of omega 3 fatty acids to get maximum anti-inflammatory effects.

• provides omega 3 fatty acids in their most natural state to enhance absorption.

• be highly purified and laboratory-tested

OmegaRX - an omega 3 concentrate

Various studies support the application of high quality omega 3 fatty acid fish oils for treating menstrual cramps and improving cardiovascular health.

Optimizing your diet will help give your body the nutrients it needs to become balanced and healthy. Fish oils and omega 3 fatty acids play a vital role in women's health and can help you reach your health goals.

Research References for Fish Oils and Menstrual Cramps:

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