Dysmenorrhea means painful menstruation and comes from the Greek (dys - painful, abnormal; men - month; rhein  – to flow).  It is considered primary if there is no pathological physical findings that cause it and  secondary if there is an underlying structural cause.

It is staged as mild, moderate or severe based on the number of days and accompanying symptoms the patient experiences:

• mild – cramping and pelvic discomfort on the 1st day of menses without other symptoms
• moderate – cramping/pelvic discomfort lasts 2-3 days and is accompanied by headache, diarrhea and a general feeling of discomfort
• severe – as above with discomfort sometimes lasting for 7 days and pain radiating to the back.

Primary dysmenorrhea is caused by an elevated production of prostaglandins, which are extremely potent mediators in the body that can produce uterine contractions, inflammation and increased sensitivity to pain.

Secondary dysmenorrhea can be caused by any structural abnormality and is much less common.

Treatment includes NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen) and/or oral contraceptives. Primary dysmenorrhea generally resolves with age. It is also recommended that women who suffer from primary dysmenorrhea exercise in order to raise the bodies natural pain killers, endorphins.

You can read  more about dysmenorrhea at the following link.