Menstrual cramps

Christopher Hobbs:

“Menstrual cramps can accompany menstruation and are an unpleasant symptom that can arise during a woman’s cycle.”

Etiologic and Other Factors of Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps, or dysmenorrhea, can occur due to various underlying causes:

Primary Dysmenorrhea

• Cause: Overproduction of prostaglandins (hormone-like chemicals) in the uterus, leading to stronger and more painful uterine contractions.
• Symptoms: Pain typically begins 1-2 days before or at the start of menstruation and lasts 1-3 days.
• Risk Factors:
  • Early onset of menstruation (before age 12)
  • Heavy or irregular periods
  • Family history of dysmenorrhea
  • Smoking or stress

Secondary Dysmenorrhea

• Cause: An underlying condition such as:
  • Endometriosis: Uterine lining grows outside the uterus.
  • Adenomyosis: Uterine lining grows into the muscular wall.
  • Fibroids: Noncancerous growths in the uterus.
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Infection of the reproductive organs.
  • Uterine or cervical structural abnormalities.
• Symptoms: Pain tends to worsen over time, lasts longer, or occurs outside menstruation.

When to Seek Professional Help

• Severe pain that interferes with daily activities.
• Pain that does not improve with over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers.
• New or sudden onset of severe menstrual cramps, especially in older adults.
• Menstrual pain accompanied by:
  • Heavy bleeding or passing large clots.
  • Irregular periods or missed periods.
  • Pain during intercourse or bowel movements.
  • Symptoms of infection: fever, foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
• No relief from non-pharmacological treatments or worsening symptoms.