title: The Treatment of Dysmenorrhea.
abstract: Menstrual disorders and abnormal uterine bleeding are common concerns of young women. Complaints include menses that are: too painful (dysmenorrhea), absent or occur irregularly (amenorrhea or oligoamenorrhea), or prolonged and heavy (menorrhagia, or excessive uterine bleeding). In providing optimal reproductive care, the medical provider must be able to distinguish between normal developmental patterns or symptoms requiring education and reassurance from pathologic conditions requiring prompt assessment and treatment. This article discusses the normal menstrual patterns seen in adolescent females and provides an evaluation and management approach to primary and secondary dysmenorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Section of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208064, 330 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. Electronic address: Sheryl.ryan@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Sheryl A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000295:Adolescent Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D060728:Reproductive Health
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral
keywords: Adolescent; Dysmenorrhea; Excessive uterine bleeding; Menorrhagia; Menstrual problems