Home » Health Conditions » Women's Health » Menstrual Disorders

Types of Dysmenorrhea

There are two types of dysmenorrhea which is a fairly common condition that causes severe pain and cramping during a woman’s menstrual period. While no monthly period is enjoyable there are causes of dysmenorrhea that can be relieved by tweaking some things at home or with the help of a physician to provide pain relief.

Types Of Dysmenorrhea

The two types of dysmenorrhea are primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. These two types of menstrual disorders are quite different but both cause similar symptoms. Primary dysmenorrhea occurs in young women just after menarche occurs and before a regulated ovulation pattern has developed. When young women first start menstruating several types of menstrual disorders can occur which result in severe pain, cramping, water retention, headaches, vomiting and more.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is another of the types of dysmenorrhea that occurs years after menarche has begun. Oftentimes an interruption of a regular ovulation pattern can occur. Similar symptoms arise as in primary dysmenorrhea including severe cramping, pain, water retention, headaches and migraines, nausea and vomiting and even depression.

The causes of dysmenorrhea consist of obesity, cigarette smoking, increased levels of stress, a family history of the menstrual disorder, past histories of pelvic issues and STD infections. Consuming a diet rich in fiber and taking in daily vitamins containing both magnesium and can help decrease the symptoms related to dysmenorrhea. Increasing your daily exercise along with drinking more water can also help in the fight against menstrual pain. Excessive salt intake can cause water retention which in turn promotes painful symptoms of menstrual cramps associated with this condition.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.