Painful Menstrual Periods

Definition

Painful menstrual periods (also called dysmenorrhea) may include pain in the abdomen, back and legs; abdominal cramps; headache; and fatigue. Most women have painful periods at some time in their lives. In some women, the pain is severe enough to interfere with normal activities.

There are two types of dysmenorrhea:

• Primary dysmenorrhea—painful regular (ovulatory) menstrual cycles caused by uterine muscle contractions (due to high levels of prostaglandins produced in the lining and body of the uterus after ovulation)
• Secondary dysmenorrhea—painful periods due to an underlying condition, such as endometriosis (a condition involving the lining of the uterus) or infection

Menstrual Flow

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Causes

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:

• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the female reproductive organs)
• Uterine fibroids (noncancerous growths in the uterus)
• Intrauterine device (IUDs)
• Scars inside the abdomen from previous surgery
• Tumors
• Inflammatory bowel disease

Risk Factors

Risk factors include:

• Ovulatory menstrual cycles (a normal condition)
• Age: younger than 20 years old
• Early onset of menstruation (younger than 12 years old)
• Depression or anxiety
• Attempts to lose weight (in women 14-20 years old)
• Heavy bleeding during periods
• Nulliparity (never having delivered a baby)
• Smoking

You are also at risk if you have a related condition, such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts.

Symptoms

The pain associated with either primary or secondary dysmenorrhea may be sharp and throbbing or dull and aching. It is most typically located in the lower abdomen and may radiate to the low back or thighs. Other symptoms may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Irritability

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask detailed questions about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a pelvic examination.

Tests that may be done to look for causes of secondary dysmenorrhea include:

• Pelvic ultrasound —a test that uses sound waves to examine structures in the pelvis
• Hysteroscopy —a test that uses a long, thin telescope with a camera on one end to view the inner uterus
• Hysterosalpingogram —a test that uses x-rays to view the uterus and fallopian tubes
• Pelvic laparoscopy —a test that uses a thin, lighted tube to view structures in the pelvis

Treatment

Primary dysmenorrhea is usually treated with medicines and lifestyle changes.

The treatment of secondary dysmenorrhea varies depending on the underlying condition (for example, antibiotics for an infection, surgery to remove fibroids).

Prevention

To help reduce your chance of painful menstrual periods, take the following steps:

• Exercise regularly.
• If you smoke, quit.
• Drink only moderate amounts of caffeine and alcohol.