Periods - painful (adolescent); Adolescent dysmenorrhea; Menstrual pain - adolescent; Painful menstrual periods - adolescent

• Lower abdominal crampy pain -- occurs before the beginning of the menstrual period and lasts 1 or 2 days into the period
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Back pain

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about the patient's medical history to determine whether or not the painful periods are due to a medical condition.

Younger females who have not become sexually active may require a pelvic examination (performed through the rectum rather than through the vagina).

Images

Painful periods (dysmenorrhea)

Normal uterine anatomy (cut section)

Uterus

Female reproductive anatomy

Previous Section

Dysmenorrhea in the adolescent Overview

Next Section

Dysmenorrhea in the adolescent Treatment

Review Date: 05/10/2006
Reviewed By: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)