Dysmenorrhea Treatment & Management

  • Author: Karim Anton Calis, PharmD, MPH, FASHP, FCCP; Chief Editor: Michel E Rivlin, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 8, 2011
 

Medical Care

  • Grading dysmenorrhea according to severity of pain and limitation of daily activity may help guide the treatment strategy.
  • In addition to pain relief, other mainstays of treatment include reassurance and education.
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Surgical Care

  • Surgery is generally not indicated for patients with primary dysmenorrhea.
  • In patients with secondary dysmenorrhea, treatment of the underlying pathology may necessitate surgical intervention.
  • In refractory cases of dysmenorrhea, laparoscopic presacral neurectomy (PSN) or uterosacral nerve ablation (LUNA) have been efficacious in some patients for as long as 12 months after treatment.[37, 38, 39]
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Consultations

In patients with refractory symptoms, a multidisciplinary approach may be indicated.

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Diet

Both a low-fat vegetarian diet[40] and fish-oil supplements[41] have been reported to reduce menstrual pain in some women.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Karim Anton Calis, PharmD, MPH, FASHP, FCCP  Adjunct Clinical Investigator, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health; Clinical Professor, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; Clinical Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Karim Anton Calis, PharmD, MPH, FASHP, FCCP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Vaishali Popat, MD, MPH  Clinical Investigator, Intramural Research Program on Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health

Vaishali Popat, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Devra K Dang, PharmD, BCPS, CDE  Associate Clinical Professor, University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Clinical Faculty, Burgdorf Health Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sophia N Kalantaridou, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ioannina Medical School, Greece

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Anthony Charles Sciscione, DO  Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drexel University College of Medicine; Director, Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Christiana Care Health System; Director, Delaware Center for Maternal and Fetal Medicine

Anthony Charles Sciscione, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

A David Barnes, MD, PhD, MPH, FACOG  Consulting Staff, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mammoth Hospital (Mammoth Lakes, California), Pioneer Valley Hospital (Salt Lake City, Utah), Warren General Hospital (Warren, Pennsylvania), and Mountain West Hospital (Tooele, Utah)

A David Barnes, MD, PhD, MPH, FACOG is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Forensic Examiners, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, and Utah Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Frederick B Gaupp, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Family Practice, Hancock Medical Center

Frederick B Gaupp, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michel E Rivlin, MD  Professor, Coordinator of Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi School of Medicine

Michel E Rivlin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, Mississippi State Medical Association, and Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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