Health

25 Reasons Why Your Stomach Hurts

20. Menstrual Cramps

3D 4 Medical

Menstrual cramps are painful feelings that many women experience before and throughout their menstrual cycle. The discomfort, commonly known as dysmenorrhea or period pain, can be subtle and irritating or severe and excruciating. Menstrual cramps often start shortly after ovulation, when the ovaries release an egg that travels down the fallopian tube. Lower abdominal and lower back pain can occur. Around 10% of menstruating women experience severe enough pain to interfere with their everyday lives for 1–3 days per month. Primary dysmenorrhea is pain that only occurs during menstruation. Period pain caused by a medical condition, such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or pelvic inflammatory disease, is referred to as secondary dysmenorrhea.