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

The goal of treatment is to relief pain. Medicines may include:

• Anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (available over-the-counter or in prescription strengths)
• Prescription-only medications such as indomethacin

In some severe cases and disorders such as endometriosis, oral contraceptives can be helpful. They are used to regulate the hormone levels in the body (they may be prescribed even for girls who are not sexually active).

Women who continue to have severe dysmenorrhea despite the use of NSAIDS or oral contraceptives may require a surgical procedure called laparoscopy to investigate the problem of the pain.

Mild pain killers usually work to relief painful periods. Oral contraceptives generally control severe cases. Dysmenorrhea associated with a disease gets better when the underlying problem is treated. 

There are no complications from primary dysmenorrhea. Complications may develop from secondary dysmenorrhea, depending on the disease or condition present.

If you (or your daughter) experience painful menstrual periods and the pain disrupts your life, occurs frequently, or is not relieved by over-the-counter medications, see your primary health care provider or gynecologist.

Images

Painful periods (dysmenorrhea)

Normal uterine anatomy (cut section)

Uterus

Female reproductive anatomy

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Dysmenorrhea in the adolescent Symptoms

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Dysmenorrhea in the adolescent Prevention

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)