Dysmenorrhea | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of dysmenorrhea?
Every young woman experiences dysmenorrhea differently. Some common symptoms include:
- dull, throbbing or cramping pain in her lower abdomen
- pain that radiates to her lower back and thighs
- nausea and vomiting
- loose stools
- sweating
- dizziness
What causes dysmenorrhea?
When menstruation happens, your uterus contracts to oust its lining. Hormone-like substances, particularly prostaglandin and arachidonic acid, trigger these contractions. Young women with primary amenorrhea experience abnormal uterine contraction as a result of an imbalance of those chemicals.
Secondary amenorrhea is caused by other conditions. Common conditions include:
- endometriosis
- pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- uterine fibroids
- abnormal pregnancy (i.e., miscarriage, ectopic)
- infection, tumors, or other growths in the pelvic cavity
- cervical stenosis