About dysmenorrhea Menstruation occurs when the uterus sheds its lining once a month. Some pain, cramping, and discomfort during menstrual periods is normal. Excessive pain that causes you to miss work or school is not. Painful menstruation is also called dysmenorrhea. There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea occurs in people who experience pain before and during menstruation. If you’ve had normal periods that become painful later in life, it may be secondary dysmenorrhea. A condition affecting the uterus or other pelvic organs, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids, can cause this.

What are the causes? It’s not always possible to identify the cause of painful menstrual periods. Some people are just at a higher risk of having painful periods. These risks include: being under age 20

having a family history of painful periods

smoking

having heavy bleeding with periods

having irregular periods

never having had a baby

reaching puberty before age 11 A hormone called prostaglandin triggers muscle contractions in your uterus that expel the lining. These contractions can cause pain and inflammation. The level of prostaglandin rises right before menstruation begins. Painful menstrual periods can also be the result of an underlying medical condition, such as: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is a common condition that’s caused by hormonal changes in the body occurring 1 to 2 weeks before menstruation begins. Symptoms typically go away after bleeding begins.

Endometriosis. This is a painful medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body, usually on the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or tissue lining the pelvis.

Fibroids in the uterus. Fibroids are noncancerous tumors that can put pressure on the uterus or cause abnormal menstruation and pain, though they often don’t cause symptoms.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries often caused by sexually transmitted bacteria that cause inflammation of the reproductive organs and pain.

Adenomyosis. This is a rare condition in which the uterine lining grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, causing inflammation, pressure, and pain. It can also cause longer or heavier periods.

Cervical stenosis. Cervical stenosis is a rare condition in which the cervix is so small or narrow that it slows menstrual flow, causing an increase of pressure inside the uterus that causes pain.

When to call a doctor If menstrual pain is interfering with your ability to perform basic tasks each month, it may be time to talk to a gynecologist. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and if you experience any of the following: continuing pain after IUD placement

at least three painful menstrual periods

passing blood clots

cramping accompanied by diarrhea and nausea

pelvic pain when not menstruating Sudden cramping or pelvic pain could be signs of infection. An untreated infection can cause scar tissue that damages the pelvic organs and may lead to infertility. If you have symptoms of an infection, seek prompt medical attention: fever

severe pelvic pain

sudden pain, especially if you may be pregnant

foul-smelling vaginal discharge

Diagnosis When trying to find out what the underlying cause of painful menstruation is, your doctor will likely take your medical history and perform a physical exam. This will include a pelvic exam to check for any abnormalities in your reproductive system and to look for signs of infection. If your doctor thinks an underlying disorder is causing your symptoms, they may perform imaging tests. These can include: an ultrasound

a CT scan

an MRI Depending on the results of your imaging tests, your doctor may order a laparoscopy. This is a test in which a doctor makes small incisions in the abdomen into which they insert a fiber-optic tube with a camera at the end to see inside your abdominal cavity.