Menstrual cramps are experienced by many women during their monthly cycle which causes dull throbbing pain in the lower abdomen. For some women the pain will be before the menstrual periods and for some it will be there for 3-5 days of the period. Many women will feel discomfort due to this dull pain and for some women it will be difficult to carry out routine work due to this throbbing pain. In medical term, menstrual cramps are called dysmenorrhea. Exact causes of menstrual cramps are not known but it can be treated easily.
How common is menstrual cramps?
More than 50% of the women are getting affected with menstrual cramps and about 15-20% of them will have severe pain. The pain may range from mild to very severe. For some women no pain is felt and only heaviness is experienced in the abdomen region and for others it can cause severe cramps also.
Types :
Two types of dysmenorrhea are recognized. First is the primary dysmenorrhea in which there will not be any underlying problem but still there will be pain. Menstrual cramps will begin within few months of getting first period and continue to cause pain during the process when the eggs are released from the ovaries. Second one is the secondary dysmenorrhea in which there can be problems in the women’s reproductive system that causes menstrual cramps.
Symptoms :