Skip to main content
dysmenorrhea

dysmenorrhea

1 9.9
Pain in the lower belly during a woman's period
  • noun
  • /ˌdɪsˌmɛnəˈriə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : dismenorrea
  • A 38-year-old woman complains of dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia.
  • painful dysmenorrhea
  • painful menstruation
  • women with dysmenorrhea

Examples

  • Plenty of women are prescribed contraceptives for dysmenorrhea.

    Blog text (8)
  • Many women experience dysmenorrhea during their menstrual cycle, which can lead to significant discomfort.

  • I suffer from dysmenorrhea too; extremely painful periods.

    Blog text (14)
  • What are the management options for dysmenorrhea in a 16-year-old girl?

    Academic text (2012)
  • During the ice-water test, women with dysmenorrhea were more sensitive to the cold than those with normal menstrual cycles.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Painful periods (dysmenorrhea).

    Academic text (2012)
  • 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)
  • She took pain relief medication to help manage her dysmenorrhea each month.

  • To cope with dysmenorrhea, her doctor recommended a combination of exercise and dietary changes.

Synonyms

primary dysmenorrhea
vsdysmenorrhea
  • Specialized
6.3

Painful cramps in the lower belly that happen during a normal period

is the general term covering both cycle-related and disease-caused pain
secondary dysmenorrhea
vsdysmenorrhea
  • Specialized
8.7

Pain during a woman's period caused by another medical problem like endometriosis

is the general term that does not specify an underlying cause

Antonyms

menorrhea
  • Specialized
7.2

Monthly flow of blood from a woman's uterus during the years when she can have children

Compounds

primary dysmenorrhea
  • Specialized
6.3

Painful cramps in the lower belly that happen during a normal period

8.7

Pain during a woman's period caused by another medical problem like endometriosis

Surface Forms

dysmenorrhea singular
dysmenorrheas plural

Morphology

dysmenorrhea = menorrhea (opaque) = dys + menorrhea

The elements are Greek medical combining forms (dys- + menorrhea) that are unfamiliar to average learners, so the meaning is not easily derived by a B1 learner.

Etymology

Dysmenorrhea starts with dys- meaning 'bad' or 'difficult', and the rest breaks into men- 'month' and -rrhea 'flow', the same 'flow' you see in diarrhea. So dysmenorrhea is a 'bad' or painful monthly flow, which is why it means painful menstruation or period pain.