Painful menstrual periods (also called dysmenorrhea) may include
pain in the abdomen, back and legs; abdominal cramps; headache;
and fatigue. Most women have painful periods at some time in
their lives. In some women, the pain is severe enough to
interfere with normal activities. There are two types of
dysmenorrhea: - Primary dysmenorrhea—painful regular (ovulatory)
menstrual cycles caused by uterine muscle contractions (due to
high levels of prostaglandins produced in the lining and body of
the uterus after ovulation) - Secondary dysmenorrhea—painful
periods due to an underlying condition, such as endometriosis (a
condition involving the lining of the uterus) or infection
Primary dysmenorrhea is caused by high levels of prostaglandins
in the uterus. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances
normally found throughout the body. Secondary dysmenorrhea can
be caused by: Risk factors include: - Ovulatory menstrual cycles
(a normal condition) - Age: younger than 20 years old - Early
onset of menstruation (younger