What is Painful Menstrual Periods?
Painful Menstrual Periods, also known as Dysmenorrhea, painful periods, female cramps, menstrual cramps, are periods in which a woman experiences cramping in the lower abdominal area, sharp pains that come and go, aching pain, or possibly back pain. The pain may begin several days before, or just at the start of your period. It generally subsides as menstrual bleeding tapers off. Cramping is caused by the muscles of the uterus as it contracts and relaxes. Most uterine contractions are never noticed, but strong ones are painful.
Painful menstrual cramps affect many women, and for a small number of women, the discomfort makes it difficult to perform normal household, job, or school-related activities for a few days during each menstrual cycle. Painful menstruation ranks as the leading cause of lost time from school and work among women in their teens and 20s.
In addition to painful uterine cramping with menses, women with dysmenorrhea may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, weakness, and/or fainting. Symptoms may vary in severity from cycle to cycle, but generally continue throughout the reproductive years.
Dysmenorrhea can be an incapacitating problem, causing significant disruption in a woman's life each month.*
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine
