Dysmenorrhoea means painful menstruation.Dysmenorrhoea or also known as menstrual cramp, shows up in groin or abdominal region just before or during menstruation.

This periodic pain may accompany (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea), head aches, emotional problems and palpitations, and may affect the daily activities of the woman, causing a search for a treatment.It especially causes work loss and absenteesim for working and studying women.

Dysmenorrhoea is studied under two groups:

Primary Dysmenorrhoea: It commonly appears after 1 to 2 years of menstruation and continues until the woman’s 40’s.It is one of the most commonly encountered gynaecologic complaints, and primary dysmenorrhoea was observed in 50% of the post puberty cases.The cramps may alleviate after birth.The reason for this pain is the hormone called prostaglandin.Prostaglandin causes pain and contractions in the womb.The cramps start 1 to 2 days before menstruation, become more distinct on the first day and alleviate during the 2nd day.The pain progresses as periodic cramps in the lower abdominal region.The pain might also affect the back, waist, groin and vulva.Symptoms such as sweating, weariness, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, head aches, fainting and constipation may accompany the pain.

Secondary Dysmenorrhoea: Menstruation is painful due to underlying pathologic condition.Congenital intactness of the hymen, some vaginal, womb anomalies or conditions appearing after some time (PID, myoma, cystic ovaries, polypes, inner clinging in womb, infections) can be given as examples.