Patient's question:
My girlfriend experiences pain during her menstrual cycle, and it usually lasts for about a day before subsiding. This condition has been ongoing since she started middle school until now.Could you please help me understand the cause of this pain? Is it something she was born with, or is it caused by a specific medical condition? Additionally, will this affect her ability to have children after marriage? Thank you!!!
First follow-up question: Besides pain, sometimes she also experiences vomiting and diarrhea during her period.
Doctor's answer:
Hello, according to your description, you have experienced dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea is a cyclical lower abdominal pain that occurs during the menstrual period and in the days before and after the period, often occurring before and during the period, and occasionally occurring a few days after the period. The lower abdominal pain is characterized as cramping and distending pain, which can radiate to the lumbar-sacral region, inner thighs, and perianal area. During dysmenorrhea, you can take oral ibuprofen or indomethacin, or oral Chinese herbal medicine to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. For primary dysmenorrhea, symptoms naturally disappear after multiple menstrual cycles or childbirth. If you experience lower abdominal pain, applying heat to the lower abdomen can alleviate the symptoms.