menstrual disorders and abnormal vaginal bleeding
women s health issues
Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual cramps may Have no identifiable cause (called primary dysmenorrhea) Result from another disorder (called secondary dysmenorrhea) Primary dysmenorrheausually starts during adolescence and may become less severe with age and after pregnancy. It is more common than secondary dysmenorrhea. Secondary dysmenorrheausually starts during adulthood (unless it is caused by a birth defect of the reproductive system). More than 50% of women with dysmenorrhea haveprimary dysmenorrhea. In about 5 to 15% of these women, cramps are severe enough to interfere with daily activities and may cause them to miss school or work. Experts think that primary dysmenorrhea may be caused by release of substances called prostaglandins into the blood or tissues during menstruation. Prostaglandin levels are high in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Prostaglandins may cause the uterus to contract (as occurs during labor), reducing blood flow to the uterus. These contractions can cause pain and discomfort. Prostaglandins also make nerve endings in the uterus more sensitive to pain. Anxiety may also contribute to the pain. Secondary dysmenorrheais caused by abnormalities in the reproductive system. It is commonly caused by Endometriosis : Uterine Adenomyosis : Uterine Fibroids : There are many less common Some Causes and Features of Menstrual Cramps . They include Cysts and tumors in the ovaries Use of an Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) (IUD) Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) None Scar tissue in the uterus Female Genital Defects None IUDs that releasecopperare often associated with painful periods. Those that release a progestin (a synthetic form of the female hormoneprogesterone) usually do not cause painful periods. In a few women, pain occurs because the passageway through the cervix (cervical canal) is narrow. A narrow cervical canal (cervical stenosis) may develop after a procedure, as when a precancerous condition (dysplasia) of the cervix is treated. 