What is dysmenorrhea?

Dysmenorrhea specifically refers to painful menstruation, which can occur without any identifiable underlying pathologic abnormality. This condition is common among menstruating individuals and can manifest as cramping pain in the lower abdomen that often begins before or during the menstrual period and can last from a few hours to several days.

The distinction between dysmenorrhea and the other options is crucial. Irregular menstruation describes deviations from the typical menstrual cycle, such as changes in frequency or duration, and does not inherently involve pain. Excessive bleeding during periods, known as menorrhagia, relates specifically to blood loss rather than pain. Lastly, a hormonal imbalance may lead to various menstrual disorders, but dysmenorrhea itself specifically describes the experience of pain associated with menstruation rather than a hormone-related condition. Understanding these definitions helps clarify why the definition of dysmenorrhea focuses explicitly on the painful aspect of menstruation devoid of pathologic findings.