Period Pain

What Is It?

The medical term for period pain is dysmenorrhea. It is simply the pain or cramping associated with menstruation. This pain is most frequently experienced in the abdomen and it usually feels like a pressure sensation. It can also extend to the hips, lower back and the inner thighs. When the pain is severe, other symptoms such as an upset stomach (with possible vomiting) and loose stools may manifest.

What Are The Causes?

It is possible to experience period pain with an absence of an identifiable cause. Though there are some common risk factors which may contribute to period pain. These include: heavy bleeding during menstruation; smoking; irregular periods; onset of early puberty; never giving birth; and being under the age of 20 years.

Period pain can also be caused by an underlying medical condition. Such conditions include: endometriosis; uterine fibroids; pelvic inflammatory disease; and some sexually transmitted diseases.