Definition:
Menstrual cramps often referred to as dysmenorrhea, is the pain in the lower abdomen experienced by women before and during their menstruation.
Diagnosis:
The patient also undergoes a physical examination and a review of his or her medical history. The doctor may also perform a pelvic exam to check for any abnormalities in the reproductive organs or indications of infection. The doctor may also request diagnostic tests such as imaging tests, laparoscopy, or hysteroscopy to rule out other causes.
Treatment:
Secondary dysmenorrhea is treated by treating the underlying cause, which may include antibiotics against an infection or surgery for the removal of fibroids or polyps, or for treating endometriosis. Some women take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen to ease their pain. Others take low-dose oral contraceptives recommended by their doctors to prevent ovulation. Preventing ovulation may reduce prostaglandin production reducing the severity of cramps.
Symptoms and Signs:
Menstrual cramps may be primary dysmenorrhea or secondary dysmenorrhea. The former does not involve any physical abnormality while the latter is caused by underlying condition such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids. A woman experiencing menstrual cramps feels a dull or throbbing pain in the lower abdomen, pain radiating to the lower back and thighs, nausea and vomiting, loose stools, sweating, or dizziness.
Causes:
Many believe that primary dysmenorrhea is directly caused prostaglandins, which trigger the contraction of the uterine muscles. The condition may also be partly caused by an increase in leukotriene levels. The former are hormone-like substances involved in pain and inflammation while the latter are substances involved in inflammation. Secondary dysmenorrheal may be caused by conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, using an intrauterine device, and uterine fibroids and uterine polyps.
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