Menstrual Cramps
(Dysmenorrhea)

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr. MD, FACP, FACR

• What are menstrual cramps?
• How common are menstrual cramps?
• What is dysmenorrhea?
• What causes menstrual cramps?
• Why are some cramps so painful?
• Can menstrual cramps be measured?
• What other factors influence menstrual cramps?
• What are the symptoms of menstrual cramps?
• How are menstrual cramps diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for common menstrual cramps (primary dysmenorrhea)?
• What if the cramps are very severe?
• Are there surgical solutions?
• What is the treatment of secondary dysmenorrhea?
• What is the long term outlook (prognosis) for menstrual cramps?
• Menstrual Cramps At A Glance

What are menstrual cramps?

Menstrual cramps are pains in the abdominal (belly) and pelvic areas that are experienced by a woman as a result of her menstrual period. Menstrual cramps are not the same as the discomfort felt during premenstrual syndrome (PMS), although the symptoms of both disorders can sometimes be experienced as a continual process. Many women suffer from both PMS and menstrual cramps.

Menstrual cramps can range from mild to quite severe. Mild menstrual cramps may be barely noticeable and of short duration - sometimes felt just as a sense of light heaviness in the belly. Severe menstrual cramps can be so painful that they interfere with a woman's regular activities for several days.

Menstrual Cramps - Effective Treatments

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