Menstrual Cramps

Dysmenorrhea

Overview
Even if you're not familiar with the term, if you're a woman, chances are you've experienced dysmenorrhea at some time in your life. Dysmenorrhea is simply the medical term for menstrual cramps, that dull or throbbing pain in the lower abdomen many women experience just before and during their menstrual periods. For some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, it can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities for a few days every month.
Dysmenorrhea can be primary or secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea involves no physical abnormality. These so-called normal cramps affect 50 percent to 90 percent of all menstruating women. Primary dysmenorrhea usually begins within three years after a girl begins menstruating. Secondary dysmenorrhea involves an underlying physical cause, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
If you have primary dysmenorrhea, there are some measures you can take to ease the discomfort. You also can take comfort in knowing that cramps tend to decrease in intensity as you get older, and often disappear after a pregnancy. For secondary dysmenorrhea, managing your cramps involves treating the underlying cause.

Risk factors
You're more likely to have severe menstrual cramps if you have one or both of the following: A family history of painful periods Early onset of puberty (age 11 or younger)

Signs and symptoms
Most women experience menstrual cramps at some time in their lives. Cramps become problematic when they're severe enough to keep you from going about your day-to-day routine.
If you have primary dysmenorrhea, cramps most likely began within three years after you started menstruating. They may persist through your 20s or until you deliver a child; then they're likely to decrease in intensity or go away entirely, for unknown reasons. With secondary dysmenorrhea, cramps may start or return later in life, but can begin anytime after you begin menstruating. Signs and symptoms of dysmenorrhea, whether primary or secondary, may include:

Dull or throbbing pain in your lower abdomen
Pain that radiates to your lower back and thighs
Less common signs and symptoms include:
Nausea and vomiting
Loose stools
Sweating
Dizziness