Beware of the four most dangerous types of dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea can be divided into primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. Generally, dysmenorrhea in young girls is primary dysmenorrhea, a functional disease mainly related to mental stress, uterine spasm and physical weakness. It is usually not accompanied by temperamental pelvic lesions and most of them can heal themselves after marriage. Secondary dysmenorrhea is more common in women after childbirth and in middle age. It is caused by pelvic inflammation, tumors or endometriosis and requires targeted treatment. Secondary dysmenorrhea may be a sign of these diseases:

1. Endometriosis

Multiple reproductive organ diseases can cause secondary dysmenorrhea, among which endometriosis is the main culprit causing secondary dysmenorrhea. The main manifestation is progressive dysmenorrhea. The pain is mostly located in the lower abdomen and lumbosacral region, and may radiate to the vagina, perineum, anus or thigh.

Many pains often begin 1-2 days before menstruation, are most severe on the first day of menstruation, and gradually subside after menstruation. Therefore, those with longer menstrual periods often have longer durations of pain. This is most prominent in patients with endometriosis.

2. Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are uterine tumors that grow protruding into the uterine cavity. Because the surface of the fibroids is covered with the endometrium and they occupy space in the uterine cavity, affecting the discharge of menstrual blood, they can cause abnormal contraction of the uterus, dysmenorrhea, heavy menstrual flow and irregular menstruation. The adjacent organs will experience compression symptoms, and severe abdominal pain may occur when the fibroids degenerate or the pedicles of subserosal fibroids twist.

3. Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic infection is one of the important causes of dysmenorrhea. The so-called pelvic infection refers to the inflammation of the female internal reproductive organs, surrounding connective tissue, and pelvic peritoneum. Severe cases may cause serious consequences such as diffuse peritonitis and septic shock. Mild cases are long-lasting and repeated attacks cause pain to patients.

Once a pelvic infection occurs, symptoms may include chills and fever, loss of appetite, back pain, and increased vaginal discharge. The symptoms vary depending on the severity and extent of the inflammation. For example, the formation of a mass can compress the bladder and rectum, causing a series of accompanying symptoms such as anal distension and frequent urination. It often worsens after fatigue, sexual intercourse, and before and after menstruation. If you go to the hospital for a check-up, you may find cervical motion pain, uterine tenderness, adnexal masses, etc.

1. Severe dysmenorrhea that cannot be relieved by painkillers

Period cramps that suddenly become severe and difficult to relieve are often a warning sign of endometriosis, which is the shedding of some of the uterine lining outside the uterus. In addition, severe pain during sexual intercourse or when bending over in daily life may also be caused by this disease.

2. Sudden severe pelvic pain

Severe lower abdominal pain may be caused by a ruptured ovarian cyst. The severe pain caused by this rupture usually starts on one side of the lower abdomen and quickly spreads to the entire lower abdomen. This pain is completely different from dysmenorrhea.

3. Rapid increase in menstrual volume

This condition may mean that you have uterine fibroids. This is a benign tumor that grows on the wall of the uterus. It is usually harmless to the human body, but the increased menstrual bleeding caused by it can lead to anemia. This tumor also has a small chance of causing blockage of blood vessels in the uterus or turning into a malignant tumor.

4. Heavy bleeding accompanied by severe dysmenorrhea

The combination of these two symptoms may mean that you have pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the reproductive system that is usually caused by the chlamydia bacteria. Another sign of pelvic inflammatory disease is bleeding after sexual intercourse. If not diagnosed and treated in time, pelvic inflammatory disease can easily cause infertility.