Painful menstruation

What is menstrual pain?

Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) is pain from uterine cramps that occurs during menstruation, and sometimes with ovulation. If you have a lot of pain, you may also experience nausea, vomiting, feeling sick and pain when defecating.

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What could be the cause?

Many times no cause can be found and it is then called "primary dysmenorrhea". Other causes are endometriosis, adenomyosis and infection in the uterus.

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What should I watch out for?

Although menstrual pain is common, it is important to treat it if it affects the quality of life, by, for example, avoiding participating in activities during menstruation. It is equally important to treat the symptoms regardless of whether a cause (eg endometriosis) is found or not. The pain can be just as strong.