Dysmenorrhea in Adolescents — Definition and Treatment

Dysmenorrhea in adolescents is a very common problem that can be either primary or secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is a condition that is characterized by cyclic lower abdominal painful cramps, nausea and vomiting. Secondary dysmenorrhea is usually caused by endometriosis and patients usually present with both cyclic and acyclic lower abdominal pain. The management of primary dysmenorrhea mainly revolves around the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or oral contraceptive pills. Patients who fail to respond to this conservative approach should undergo a diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy to exclude endometriosis.