dysmenorrhoea

n.

painful menstruation, of which there are two main forms. Primary (spasmodic) dysmenorrhoea usually begins with the first period and is heralded by cramping lower abdominal pains starting just before or with the menstrual flow and continuing during menstruation. It is often associated with nausea, vomiting, headache, faintness, and symptoms of peripheral vasodilatation. The cause is thought to be related to excessive prostaglandin production. Secondary (congestive) dysmenorrhoea usually affects older women who complain of a congested ache with lower abdominal cramps, which usually start from a few days to two weeks before menstruation. Causes include pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, fibroids, and the presence of an IUCD.