The information provided is not intended to replace the medical advice of your healthcare provider. You are advised to consult a qualified healthcare provider for advice about a specific medical condition.According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, dysmenorrhea is a word used to describe painful menstruation. It is also known as painful periods, or menstrual cramps. The pain occurs during menstruation.Now what is menstruation itself'Menstruation is a discharging of blood, secretions, and tissue debris from the uterus that recurs in non pregnant breeding-age females at approximately monthly intervals and that is considered to represent a readjustment of the uterus to the non pregnant state following proliferative changes accompanying the preceding ovulation.Categories of DysmenorrheaPrimary dysmenorrhea occurs in the absence of pelvic pathology. Pelvic pathology is an inflammatory disease (PID), general acute inflammation of the pelvic cavity in women, caused by bacterial infection of the cervix, uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes. It is an STD.Primary dysmenorrhea is more common than the secondary form. The pain experienced results from contractions of the uterine walls, and ischaemia. The ischaemia is probably mediated by prostaglandins such as F2a which is a vasoconstrictor (an agent that induces or initiates vasoconstriction), and other inflammatory mediators.The pain usually begins 1 or 2days before, or when menstrual bleeding starts. Pain is felt in the thighs, back and the lower abdomen. There is also a feeling of pressure in the abdomen. In some females, the dysmenorrhea is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue.Primary dysmenorrhea occurs almost consistently in ovulatory cycles. The pain is spasmodic, which means it happens suddenly and briefly at different times in an irregular way.Factors that contribute to the primary form of dysmenorrhea include; Anxiety about menses Lack of exercise Passage of menstrual tissue through the cervix A Mal-positioned uterusSymptoms tend to lessen with age and after pregnancy.Secondary dysmenorrhea is causes by a disorder in the reproductive organs. Infections, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis and endometriosis are examples of such disorders. The most common cause is endometriosis (a condition resulting from the appearance of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and causing pelvic pain, especially associated with menstruation). To some extent, elevated prostaglandins play a role in secondary dysmenorrhea.Risk factors for secondary dysmenorrhea include the following: Endometriosis Ovarian torsion Pelvic inflammatory disease Fibroids Tubo-ovarian abscess.Secondary dysmenorrhea is suspected if Symptoms begin after adolesence Patients have known causes such as those listed aboveGeneral measuresSymptomatic treatment begins with adequate rest and sleep and regular exercise. Diet low in fat is suggested as potentially effective. Nutritional supplements such as flaxseed, magnesium, vitamin E, zinc and vitamin B, are also recommended.If pain persists, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are typically tried UPON RECOMMENDATION BY YOUR PHYSICIAN. NSAIDs relieve pain and inhibit prostaglandins.
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