primary dysmenorrhea
- noun
- /ˈpraɪˌmɛri dɪsˌmɛnəˈriə/
- Specialized
:
dismenorrea primaria
- Many teenage girls experience primary dysmenorrhea as a part of their monthly cycle, which can cause significant discomfort.
Examples
-
Primary dysmenorrhea, painful menstruation in the absence of detectable pelvic pathology, generally starts a year or so after menarche, once ovulatory cycles are established.
Academic text (2012) -
The doctor explained that primary dysmenorrhea is common and usually not due to any serious health issues.
-
During her periods, she suffers from primary dysmenorrhea, which makes it hard for her to attend school.
Synonyms
1
9.9
Pain in the lower belly during a woman's period
Problems with a woman's monthly period, such as heavy, painful, or missed periods
How Painful
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The head noun 'dysmenorrhea' already gives the basic meaning 'menstrual pain', so a learner who knows both words can infer this is a type of menstrual pain. However, the specific medical nuance of 'primary' (i.e. pain that is part of the normal cycle and not caused by another condition) relies on technical usage of 'primary' that B1 learners are unlikely to predict, so the relation is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The medical term primary dysmenorrhea comes from old Greek words: dys meaning 'painful', men meaning 'month' or 'period', and -rrhea meaning 'flow'. So the name paints a simple picture of 'painful monthly flow', and primary shows this is the common kind not caused by another disease.