What causes severe cramps during menstruation?
Painful cramps during menstruation are caused by prostaglandins, hormone-like proteins released by the endometrium (uterine lining). They are designed to help slough the lining by stimulating muscle contractions, which can cause severe pain. The main symptom is spasmodic pain in the lower abdomen, which can radiate to the back and the thighs. Prostaglandins are also released into the bloodstream and can cause other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, nervousness, diarrhea, headache, and backache. Cramping during menstruation is very common, occurring in over 50 percent of all women; 10 percent of the female population are affected by symptoms sufficiently severe to keep them in bed for 1 to 3 days a month. Severe cramps, also known by the medical term dysmenorrhea, usually begin 6 to 12 months after menarche (the first menstruation). Luckily, they usually decrease by age 20. Sometimes, though, cramps may be a sign of other problems such as infection, benign uterine growths, or
