Signs and Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea is characterized by crampy pelvic pain that begins shortly before or at the onset of menses and lasts for 1–3 days. The pain usually develops within hours of the start of menstruation and peaks during the first or second day of the cycle.
Other symptoms that are commonly observed include
In oligomenorrhea, menstruation occurs less frequently than every 35 days.
In menorrhagia, menstruation occurs at regular cycle intervals but is associated with excessive flow and duration.
Hypomenorrhea refers to the diminution of the flow or a shortening of the duration of menstruation.
In case of polymenorrhea, the menstrual cycles are shortened.
Metrorrhagia is characterized by bleeding from the uterus that may be intermittent or continuous and is generally superimposed over a normal menstrual cycle.1
Next page: Diagnosis of dysmenorrhea and other menstrual problems
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: April 22, 2012