What is dysmenorrhoea
According to NICE, Dysmenorrhoea, or period pain, is1:
“a cramping pain usually in the lower abdomen that occurs shortly before the onset of menstruation and persists for up to 72 hours”.
There are two types of dysmenorrhoea1:
- Primary – caused by menstruation, with no other underlying cause
- Secondary – caused by an underlying gynaecological issue, such as fibroids.
While most patients will experience primary dysmenorrhoea, few patients seek medical advice for period pain1 it is therefore important to be alert to the potential for secondary dysmenorrhoea as the underlying causes may warrant further investigation.
Dysmenorrhoea affects up to 71% of young women10
How common is dysmenorrhoea?
Dysmenorrhoea is the most common menstrual problem9. Prevalence varies widely according to data, with estimates ranging from 16–91%1. However, a more recent systematic analysis of 37 studies estimated the overall prevalence as being 71%10.
“There was a certain element of ‘this is just part of life, just get on with it” 8