Dysmenorrhea

Painful menstruation is affecting more than 50% of women. In most cases, this pain lasts for 1-2 days and is mild. However, sometimes the pain is severe preventing that person from normal social activities. There are two types of dysmenorrhea, primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is pelvic pain that comes from having your period and the natural production of prostaglandins. Often it begins soon after a pre-teen or teen starts having periods. In many cases, a woman's periods become less painful as she gets older. Secondary dysmenorrhea has causes other than menstruation and the natural production of prostaglandins. It may begin later in life than primary dysmenorrhea. This type of pain often lasts longer than normal cramps. For instance, it may begin long before your period starts. The pain may get worse with your period and not go away after your period ends. Some of the most common causes of secondary dysmenorrhea are endometriosis and uterine fibroids. In most cases, dysmenorrhea can be treated using medical or surgical managements. Things you may do to relieve the pain include taking over-the- counter pain medications like Naproxen or Ibuprofen, heat therapy, exercise, acupuncture, and massage.