Painful menstrual periods are periods in which a woman experiences crampy lower abdominal pain, sharp pain that comes and goes, aching pain, or possibly back pain.

Painful menstruation affects many women. For a small number of women, the discomfort makes it difficult to perform normal household, job, or school-related activities for a few days during each menstrual cycle. Painful menstruation is the leading cause of lost time from school and work among women in their teens and 20s.

The pain may begin several days before, or just at the start of your period. It generally subsides as menstrual bleeding tapers off.

Although some pain during menstruation is normal, excessive pain is not. The medical term for excessively painful periods is dysmenorrhea.

There are two general types of dysmenorrhea:

• Primary dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain that occurs in otherwise healthy women. This type of pain is not related to any specific problems with the uterus or other pelvic organs.
• Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that is attributed to some underlying disease or structural abnormality, either within or outside of the uterus.

Activity of the hormone prostaglandin, produced in the uterus, is thought to be a factor in primary dysmenorrhea. This hormone causes contraction of the uterus and levels tend to be much higher in women with severe menstrual pain than in women who experience mild or no menstrual pain.

• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Intrauterine Device (IUD)
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Stress and anxiety

The following steps may allow you to avoid prescription medications:

• Apply a heating pad to your lower abdomen (below your belly button). Be careful NOT to fall asleep with the heating pad on.
• Do light circular massage with your fingertips around your lower abdomen.
• Drink warm beverages.
• Eat light but frequent meals.
• Follow a diet rich in complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, but low in salt, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.
• Keep your legs elevated while lying down, or lie on your side with your knees bent.
• Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga.
• Try over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen.
• Try vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium supplements, especially if your pain is from PMS.
• Take warm showers or baths.
• Walk or exercise regularly, including pelvic rocking exercises.

If these self-care measures do not work, your doctor may prescribe medications such as:

• Antibiotics
• Antidepressants
• Birth control pills
• Stronger anti-inflammatories like diclofenac (Cataflam)
• Stronger pain relievers (even narcotics such as codeine, for brief periods)