Dysmenorrhea – colloquially called menstrual cramps – (synonyms: Menstrual pain; period pain; ICD-10-GM N94.6: Dysmenorrhea, unspecified) refers to painful menstruation in women.The pain usually occurs shortly before the onset of menstruation and is most severe on the first day of menstruation.
One can distinguish primary from secondary dysmenorrhea:
- Primary dysmenorrhea (ICD-10-GM N94.4) – ie, since menarche/first menstrual period);
- Secondary dysmenorrhea (ICD-10-GM N94.5) – painful menstrual bleeding in women who have already had painless menstrual bleeding.
Frequency peak: the maximum occurrence of primary dysmenorrhea is preferentially in adolescence (transitional stage from childhood (puberty) to full adulthood) (about 80% at the age of 15 to 17 years).
The prevalence (disease frequency) is up to 80% of women in Germany, again about 30% of them need analgesics (painkillers) during menstruation for this reason.
Course and prognosis: Since dysmenorrhea occurs cyclically and in most cases lasts only a few days, the quality of life of the women is only slightly or not at all restricted. Treatment of primary dysmenorrhea is symptomatic, whereas treatment of secondary dysmenorrhea also focuses on eliminating the organic cause.
