Dysmenorrhea [dismenorréia]

The dysmenorrhea is characterized by a severe uterine pain during the menstrual period. It is a condition that despite being very common, it has not an accurate diagnosis preventing the actual prevalence among women are known. It may be primary or secondary (from organic causes) and can coexist with extensive blood loss. It may precede the menstrual period over several days or simply match that period. Its differential diagnosis is based on patient's history and physical examination, and supportive methods such as transvaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy may be required. In addition to cyclical pelvic pain, other symptoms may be associated with primary dysmenorrhea, often resulting in psychological alterations. This painful condition is linked to the action of prostaglandins resulting from prior drop of progesterone levels in the pre-menstrual period. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, followed by oral contraceptives, are the most common form of treatment, although there are some alternatives. © Copyright Moreira Jr. Editora.656164168Harlow, S.D., Park, M., A longitudinal study of risk factors for the occurrence, duration and severity of menstrual cramps in a cohort of college women (1996) Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 103, pp. 1134-1142Marel, Z., Biro, F.M., Kottenhahn, R.K., Rosenthal, S.L., Supplementation with omega-3 polynsaturated fatty acids in the management of dysmenorrhea in adolescents (1996) Am J Obstet Gynecol, 174, pp. 1335-1338Reddish, S., Dysmenorrhoea (2006) Aust Fam Physic, 35, pp. 842-849Proctor, M., Farquhar, C., Diagnosis and management of dysmenorrhoea (2006) BMJ, 332, pp. 1134-1138Wang, L., Wang, X., Wang, W., Stress and dysmenorrhoea: A population based prospective study (2004) Occup. Environ. Med, 61, pp. 1021-1026Balbi, C., Musone, R., Menditto, A., Influence of menstrual factors and dietary habits on menstrual pain in adolescence age (2000) Eur J Obstet Gynecol Rep Biol, 91, pp. 143-148Liedman, R., Hansson, S.R., Howe, D., Endometrial expression of vasopressin, oxytocin and their receptors in patients with primary dysmenorrhoea and healthy volunteers at ovulation Eur J Obstet Gynecol Rep Biol, 2007. , doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2007.10.015Chapron, C., Fauconnier, A., Dubuisson, J.B., Deep infiltrating endometriosis: Relation between severity of dysmenorrhoea and extent of disease (2003) Hum Reprod, 18, pp. 760-766Harel, Z., Dysmenorrhea in adolescents and young adults: Etiology and management (2006) J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol, 19, pp. 363-371Davis, A.R., Westhoff, C.L., Primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls and treatment with oral contraceptives (2001) J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol, 14, pp. 3-8Dmitrovic, R., Peterb, B., Cvitkovic-Kuzmicc, A., Severity of symptoms in primary dysmenorrheal - a doppler study (2003) Europ J Obstet Gynecol Rep Biol, 107, pp. 191-194Dmitrovic, R., Transvaginal color Doppler study of uterine blood flow in primary dysmenorrhea (2000) Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 79, pp. 1112-1126Harel, Z., Cyclooxygenase-2 specific inhibitors in the treatment of dysmenorrheal (2004) J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol, 17, pp. 75-79Doty E, Attaran M. Managing Primary Dysmenorrhea. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2006 ;19:341e344Vichnin, M., Freeman, E.W., Lin, H., Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) in adolescents: Severity and impairment (2006) J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol, 19, pp. 397-402Creinin, M.D., Meyn, L.A., Borgatta, L., Multicenter comparison of the contraceptive ring and patch: A randomized controlled trial (2008) Obstet Gynecol, 111, pp. 267-277Witt, C.M., Reinhold, T., Brinkhaus, B., Acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhea: A randomized study on clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in usual care (2008) Am J Obstet Gynecol, 198, pp. 166-168Schiøtz, H.A., Jettestad, M., Al-Heeti, D.J., Treatment of dysmenorrhoea with a new TENS device (OVA) (2007) Obstet Gynaecol, 27, pp. 726-728Juang, C.M., Chou, P., Yen, M.S., Laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation with and without presacral neurectomy in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: A prospective efficacy analysis (2007) Reprod Med, 52, pp. 591-596White, A., A review of controlled trials of acupuncture for women's reproductive health care (2003) J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 29 (4), pp. 233-236Ziaei, S., Zakeri, M., Kazemnejad, A., A randomised controlled trial of vitamin E in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea (2005) BJOG, 112 (8), p. 116