FreeMD® Painful Menstrual Periods Underlying Cause

Painful Menstrual Periods

Underlying Cause

Painful Menstrual Periods Underlying Cause

The cause for painful menstrual periods is not clear. It may be due to the production of prostaglandin hormones, which cause the uterus to contract. The contractions cause pelvic pain and cramps.

Continue to Painful Menstrual Periods Anatomy

View more Abdominal pain lower, female topics

Related Conditions

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
Endometriosis
PID
Premenstrual syndrome
Secondary dysmenorrhea
Uterine fibroids

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Abdominal pain
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Painful menstrual periods

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Last Updated: Jul 7, 2009 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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Painful Menstrual Periods References:

Coco AS. Primary dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician. 1999 Aug;60(2):489-96.
Davis AR, Westhoff CL. Primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls and treatment with oral contraceptives. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2001 Feb;14(1):3-8.
Mehlisch DR. Double-blind crossover comparison of ketoprofen, naproxen, and placebo in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Clin Ther. 1990 Sep-Oct;12(5):398-409.