Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for painful cramps that occur in the lower abdomen before or during a woman’s menstrual period. Menstrual cramps usually are felt as dull, throbbing or cramping pains. There are two types of dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is another name for common menstrual cramps, which can be mild or severe enough to disrupt daily activities. These cramps often start just before or when the period begins and last one to three days. Secondary dysmenorrhea is pain caused by a disorder in the reproductive organs. These cramps begin earlier in the cycle and last longer than common menstrual cramps. Cramps tend to disappear once a woman has given birth.

UAB Obstetrics and Gynecology offers comprehensive women’s health care in a private, personal environment, with physicians and nurses who are dedicated to delivering excellent care. Because our physicians are nationally recognized specialists in their fields, you can rest assured that you are receiving the most advanced care available. UAB Obstetrics and Gynecology is consistently ranked among the best programs of its kind in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

As part of the UAB Division of Women’s Reproductive Healthcare, UAB Obstetrics and Gynecology’s services range from complete obstetric care to the medical and surgical treatment of complicated gynecological concerns. We work closely with the UAB Medicine Interventional Radiology team to diagnose and treat your condition, using the latest and most accurate technology and imaging methods, including fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and CT scans. Because UAB Medicine is an academic health center, patients may be offered participation in clinical research trials, which can give you access to new techniques and treatments that are not available elsewhere in the area. Our physicians are here for you at all times, from your first routine gynecological exam, to delivering your baby, to guiding you through menopause. When you establish a relationship with our doctors, you can rely upon that relationship throughout your lifetime.

Care Providers

Janeen Arbuckle, MD, PhD Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Margaret Boozer, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology Brian Gleason, MD Gynecology Kim Hoover, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology Tom Howard, MD Pediatric Hematology, Pediatric Medical Oncology, Pediatrics Todd Jenkins, MD Gynecology Chere' Stewart, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology Audra Williams, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology Ashley Wright, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology

Resources

• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Menstruation

Related Specialties

• Hysterectomy
• Maternal and Fetal Medicine
• Menorrhagia
• Robotic Hysterectomy