Is dysmenorrhea a disease?

Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 24, 2024
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Dysmenorrhea is divided into primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to painful menstruation without organic lesions in the reproductive organs. It is mainly caused by an increase in chemicals during menstruation that stimulate uterine contractions and enhance vascular spasms, leading to uterine ischemia and hypoxia. This condition is not a disease, and relieving excessive tension can effectively alleviate the pain. However, if the pain is severe and unbearable, oral analgesics can be taken for symptomatic treatment. Secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, is caused by organic lesions in the reproductive organs and is considered a disease.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua
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How to quickly relieve menstrual pain?

If the symptoms of dysmenorrhea are severe, to quickly alleviate the pain, it is essential to keep warm strictly. You can use a hot water bottle to apply heat to the lower abdomen or soak your feet in warm water. Heat therapy generally quickly relieves the pain caused by the contraction of the uterine smooth muscle and spasms. If necessary, painkillers can be used for treatment, although painkillers have side effects, such as gastrointestinal damage. If you have noticeable symptoms of dysmenorrhea, you should have regular physical examinations to determine if it is related to pelvic inflammation. Some cases are due to conditions like adenomyosis or endometriosis, and targeted treatments can be performed.

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Causes of Dysmenorrhea

The general causes of dysmenorrhea include endometriosis or cold in the uterus, or stagnation of qi and blood stasis, all of which can lead to painful menstruation. Clinically, if dysmenorrhea is generally mild abdominal discomfort without affecting study or work, this mild dysmenorrhea is generally not a big problem. If dysmenorrhea shows a gradually worsening trend, it generally requires a visit to the hospital for a color ultrasound to check for endometriosis. If dysmenorrhea caused by endometriosis is present, it will show a worsening trend and in severe cases, may include symptoms of nausea and vomiting, so this situation is generally caused by a displacement of the endometrial lining. Additionally, some patients may experience cold hands and feet, and cold abdominal pain during the painful menstruation, which is mostly considered to be caused by cold in the uterus. Furthermore, stagnation of qi and blood stasis can also lead to dysmenorrhea, typically presenting with blood clots during menstruation, where pain relief follows the discharge of blood clots, suggesting a high possibility of being caused by stagnation of qi and blood stasis.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
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Does dysmenorrhea cause infertility?

The causes of dysmenorrhea are divided into primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. In primary dysmenorrhea, women do not have organic pathological changes in the reproductive system, and it usually does not affect normal pregnancy. Secondary dysmenorrhea is often caused by organic pathological changes in the reproductive system, such as submucosal fibroids, adenomyosis, ovarian endometriomas, etc. These conditions can change the internal environment of the pelvic and uterine cavities, affecting various aspects such as the implantation of the fertilized egg, thus impacting normal pregnancy. Therefore, when a woman is diagnosed with secondary dysmenorrhea, it is important to identify the cause of the pain and provide appropriate treatment to avoid affecting future normal pregnancies.

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Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
50sec home-news-image

Is dysmenorrhea a disease?

Dysmenorrhea is divided into primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to painful menstruation without organic lesions in the reproductive organs. It is mainly caused by an increase in chemicals during menstruation that stimulate uterine contractions and enhance vascular spasms, leading to uterine ischemia and hypoxia. This condition is not a disease, and relieving excessive tension can effectively alleviate the pain. However, if the pain is severe and unbearable, oral analgesics can be taken for symptomatic treatment. Secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, is caused by organic lesions in the reproductive organs and is considered a disease.

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Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
48sec home-news-image

What should I do if I experience menstrual pain and vomiting?

The factors causing dysmenorrhea are complex and often include exposure to cold, mental stress, or conditions like endometriosis and adenomyosis, which can lead to elevated levels of prostaglandins. This increase in prostaglandins causes excessive contraction of the uterine smooth muscles during menstruation, leading to local ischemia and hypoxia, and resulting in pain. This pain is usually spasmodic and can cause nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. When these symptoms occur, pain relief should be the first priority. Additionally, it is important to avoid excessive tension, maintain mental relaxation, and avoid exposure to cold.