Is Dysmenorrhea Disrupting Your Life?
Is Dysmenorrhea Disrupting Your Life?
The Big Picture
Dysmenorrhea, or painful periods, affects many women and can seriously impact daily life. Understanding its causes and symptoms can help in managing this common condition.
Contents
- What is Dysmenorrhea?
- Common Symptoms
- Who is at Risk?
What is Dysmenorrhea?
Dysmenorrhea refers to painful menstrual cramps that can either be primary, with no identifiable cause, or secondary, due to conditions like endometriosis. It typically occurs as crampy, lower abdominal pain during menstruation.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms include intense, crampy pain during periods, often accompanied by nausea, fatigue, and headaches. The pain usually begins just before or at the start of menstruation and can last up to 72 hours.
Who is at Risk?
Younger women, smokers, and those with high stress levels are more prone to dysmenorrhea. Family history can also play a role, as well as the age at first childbirth and hormonal contraceptive use.
FAQs
What causes dysmenorrhea?
Prostaglandins causing uterine contractions are a major cause.
How common is dysmenorrhea?
It affects 50-90% of reproductive-age women worldwide.
What are primary and secondary dysmenorrhea?
Primary has no clear cause; secondary is due to other conditions.
What age group is most affected?
Adolescents and young women are most affected.
Key Takeaways
Understanding dysmenorrhea is the first step to finding relief.
Additional References
- Burnett MA, Antao V, Black A, et al. Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea in Canada. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2005; 27:765.
- Ju H, Jones M, Mishra G. The prevalence and risk factors of dysmenorrhea. Epidemiol Rev 2014; 36:104.
- Schoep ME, Adang EMM, Maas JWM, et al. Productivity loss due to menstruation-related symptoms: a nationwide cross-sectional survey among 32 748 women. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e026186.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.