Pronounced: dis-men-oh-REE-ah
Dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation. It may include pain in the abdomen, back and legs, abdominal cramps, headache, and fatigue. Most women have painful periods at some time in their life. In some women, the pain is severe enough to interfere with normal activities.
There are two types of dysmenorrhea:
Primary dysmenorrhea is caused by high levels of prostaglandins in the uterus. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances normally found throughout the body.
Secondary dysmenorrhea can be caused by:
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
Risk factors for primary dysmenorrhea include:
The presence of a known cause of secondary dysmenorrhea (see “Causes”) is a risk factor for developing the condition.
The pain associated with either primary or secondary dysmenorrhea may be sharp and throbbing or dull and aching, depending on the individual. It is most typically located in the lower abdomen and may radiate to the low back or thighs. Other symptoms may include:
Your doctor will ask detailed questions about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a pelvic examination.
Diagnostic tests may include:
These tests are usually performed to look for causes of secondary dysmenorrhea.
The treatment of secondary dysmenorrhea varies depending on the underlying condition (for example, antibiotics for an infection or surgery to remove fibroids).
Primary dysmenorrhea is usually treated with medications and lifestyle changes.
If you are diagnosed with dysmenorrhea, follow your doctor's instructions.
To help reduce your chance of getting dysmenorrhea, take the following steps:
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org
Women's Health.gov
http://www.4woman.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org
Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/index.cfm
References:
Coco AS. Primary dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician . 1999;60:489-496.
Dysmenorrhea: painful menstrual periods. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.familydoctor.org/829.xml?printxml . Accessed August 10, 2005.
French L. Dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician . 2005;71:285-291.
Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00506 . Accessed August 12. 2005.
Speroff L. Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility. 6th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999.
*¹9/30/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Witt CM, Reinhold T, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhea: a randomized study on clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in usual care. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;198:166.e1-8.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Adrienne Carmack, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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