primary dysmenorrhoea

Condition

• Primary dysmenorrhoea

Definition

• Primary dysmenorrhoea is the usual cause of dysmenorrhoea in adolescence

History

• Symptom onset at adolescence
• Duration: first 2-3 days of period
• No pain at other times of menstrual cycle
• No other types of pain 
• Risk factors for primary dysmenorrhoea 
• younger age at menarche
• long duration of menstrual flow 
• smoking 
• obesity 
• ETOH consumption 
• high levels of stress 
• anxiety
• depression 
• disruption of social networks

Management

• NSAIDs
• pain relief is achieved in approximately 70% of women
• Act to prevent pain rather than as an analgesic to treat pain 
• start taking the NSAIDs as soon as you know that period imminent, or as soon as the bleeding starts
• because these tablets prevent pain you need to take them at the correct dose on a regular basis for the first 1-3 days of period
• COCP is highly effective but 30 % users report no relief with use of the COCP

References:

- Check program 2011 

- eTG