Dysmenorrhea may be primary, existing from the beginning of periods, or secondary, due to an underlying condition. Symptoms may include cramping or pain in the lower abdomen, low back pain, pain spreading down the legs, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, weakness, fainting, or headaches.
The pain of dysmenorrhea is crampy and usually located in lower abdomen; some people also have severe pain in the back or thighs. The pain usually begins just before or as menstrual bleeding begins, and gradually improves over one to three days. Pain usually occurs intermittently, and can range from mild to disabling.
Summary. Dysmenorrhoea is the term used to describe painful periods. Period pain may consist of cramping in your pelvic area, pain in your stomach, lower back and legs or a constant ache.
“Dysmenorrhea” is the medical term for painful periods (menstruation) or menstrual cramps. In addition to cramping, you might have other symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue and diarrhea. It's most common to have menstrual cramps the day before or the day you start your period.
Headache, nausea, constipation or diarrhea, lower back pain, and urinary frequency are common; vomiting occurs occasionally. Sometimes dysmenorrhea is accompanied by symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or heavy menstrual bleeding and passage of blood clots.
If you experience severe period pain that stops you from doing day-to-day things, or that worries you at all, you should speak to your doctor. It's important to get checked if you have any worries – you don't need to suffer.
Many women experience pain in their abdomen from time to time that feels like period pain and cramps; however your period may not be the cause of this pain. These feelings of discomfort could be because you are ovulating, constipated or feeling overly stressed.
Primary dysmenorrhea is the cramping pain that comes before or during a period. This pain is caused by natural chemicals called prostaglandins that are made in the lining of the uterus. Prostaglandins cause the muscles and blood vessels of the uterus to contract.
Secondary dysmenorrhea refers to painful menses due to pelvic pathology or a recognized medical condition. Endometriosis is the leading cause of secondary dysmenorrhea in adolescents.
To diagnose dysmenorrhea, your health care provider will evaluate your medical history and do a complete physical and pelvic exam. Other tests may include: Ultrasound. This test uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the internal organs.
During the menstrual cycle, the lining of the uterus produces a hormone called prostaglandin. This hormone causes the uterus to contract, often with pain. If you have severe cramps, you may be producing higher-than-normal amounts of prostaglandin. Or you may be more sensitive to its effects.
Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) can start before a woman's period and last for several days. Cramps are caused by an increased production of hormones during a woman's menstrual cycle, including prostaglandin, which causes the uterus to contract and shed the monthly lining.
The Pain Is More Than Physical
“As a practitioner, I describe endometriosis pain [as] sharp, stabbing, achey, twisting, or burning, and it may or may not correlate with your period … As a patient, I would [add that] endometriosis pain is like a gut-wrenching bomb that goes off in your insides.
Make sure you have clear facts to state your case. It is much more effective to have facts and figures, rather than vague statements. Be specific and direct. For example, it may be better to say “I have had to take 5 days off in the last 6 months due to menstruation” rather than “I've struggled with my periods”.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is the less common type of cramps and is caused by a medical condition like an infection, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), endometriosis, uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts. These menstrual cramps often worsen with age and can last for the entire duration of your period.
Primary dysmenorrhea involves pain that is cyclical and caused by menstruation itself. Secondary dysmenorrhea involves non-cyclical (unrelated to menstruation) pain that may be triggered by an underlying condition such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or fibroids.
It is most often observed in women aged 30-45 years. The following risk factors are associated with more severe episodes of dysmenorrhea : Earlier age at menarche.
Painful periods don't always point to endometriosis; sometimes they're a separate condition known as dysmenorrhea. Pelvic pain can also be caused by scar tissue, previous infections or a history of appendicitis. Irritable or inflammatory bowel syndromes can also cause pelvic pain.
Dysmenorrhea is most common in women between the ages of 20 and 24 years, with most of the severe episodes occurring before 25 years of age. Primary dysmenorrhea also occurs more frequently in unmarried women than in married women (61% vs.
Menstrual cramps don't cause other medical complications, but they can interfere with school, work and social activities. Certain conditions associated with menstrual cramps can have complications, though. For example, endometriosis can cause fertility problems.
Periods without actual flow, also known as phantom periods or phantom flow, have symptoms that are very similar to those of a normal periods except that there is no actual blood release. Phantom periods can occur due to a variety of reasons including stress and endometriosis.
If you notice it only when wiping or can easily absorb any light bleeding with a pantyliner (or even just underwear), it's spotting. If you need a pad or tampon to absorb bleeding between periods, it generally wouldn't be considered spotting.
Infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can cause bloody vaginal discharge. A few of these include: Vaginitis. This inflammation of the vagina is often caused by three types of infections: yeast, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis.
Dysmenorrhea is a common symptom secondary to various gynecological disorders, but it is also represented in most women as a primary form of disease.