Menstrual Cramps
Medical Author:
Frederick B Gaupp, MD
Coauthor:
Laszlo Sogor, MD, PhD
Medical Editor:
Richard Harrigan, MD
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
Lee P Shulman, MD
Menstrual Cramps OverviewMenstrual cramps are sharp pains in a woman's lower abdomen that occur when her menstrual period begins and may continue for 2-3 days. Symptoms can range in severity from a mild annoyance to severe pain that interferes with normal activities. Menstrual cramps are the leading cause of absenteeism in women younger than 30 years. Although over half of women who have menstrual periods experience some discomfort, 10% are temporarily disabled by symptoms. The following circumstances may make a woman more likely to experience menstrual cramps:
Viewer Comments & ReviewsMenstrual Pain - TreatmentThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What treatment do you use for your menstrual pain? |
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Menstrual Cramps
Endometriosis Overview
Endometriosis is a common disorder of the female reproductive organs and is the leading cause of chronic pelvic pain in women.
- In women who have endometriosis, tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) develops in other areas of the body, most commonly within the pelvic area or the abdominal cavity. The endometrial tissue may attach itself to the ovaries, the outside of the uterus, the intestines, or other abdominal organs. Rarely, endometriosis occurs outside the abdominal cavity, such as in the brain or lungs. Endometriosis may also develop in surgical scars following surgery on pelvic organs. The term "implant" is used to refer to a specific area of endometriosis in a certain tissue.
- It is estimated that over 5.5 million American women will experience problems with endometriosis, but an exact determination of the number of women affected is difficult, since many women may have ...
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Dysmenorrhea »
Dysmenorrhea is defined as difficult menstrual flow or painful menstruation.
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