Primary Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Cramps)

    Written by:
    Louie Neri, Meredith Yetter

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Morgan Pfiffner, Graham Walker
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Routine menstrual cramps are clinically called primary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain not caused by other underlying conditions or diseases. If there is an underlying condition, such as endometriosis, that diagnosis is referred to as secondary dysmenorrhea.

    12 references on this page
    7,646 participants in 20 trials and 2 meta-analyses

    Overview

    Examine Database: Primary Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Cramps)

    Research FeedRead all studies

    Frequently asked questions

    Examine Database References

    1. Dysmenorrhea Symptoms - Apay SE, Arslan S, Akpinar RB, Celebioglu AEffect of aromatherapy massage on dysmenorrhea in Turkish studentsPain Manag Nurs.(2012 Dec)
    2. Dysmenorrhea Symptoms - Ziaei S, Zakeri M, Kazemnejad AA randomised controlled trial of vitamin E in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoeaBJOG.(2005 Apr)
    3. Dysmenorrhea Symptoms - Kashanian M, Lakeh MM, Ghasemi A, Noori SEvaluation of the effect of vitamin E on pelvic pain reduction in women suffering from primary dysmenorrheaJ Reprod Med.(2013 Jan-Feb)
    4. Dysmenorrhea Symptoms - Ziaei S, Faghihzadeh S, Sohrabvand F, Lamyian M, Emamgholy TA randomised placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of vitamin E in treatment of primary dysmenorrhoeaBJOG.(2001 Nov)
    5. Dysmenorrhea Symptoms - Nikkhah S, Dolatian M, Naghii MR, Zaeri F, Taheri SMEffects of boron supplementation on the severity and duration of pain in primary dysmenorrheaComplement Ther Clin Pract.(2015 May)
    6. Dysmenorrhea Symptoms - Ozgoli G, Goli M, Moattar FComparison of effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrheaJ Altern Complement Med.(2009 Feb)
    7. PMS Symptoms - Khayat S, Kheirkhah M, Behboodi Moghadam Z, Fanaei H, Kasaeian A, Javadimehr MEffect of treatment with ginger on the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptomsISRN Obstet Gynecol.(2014 May 4)
    8. Dysmenorrhea Symptoms - Jenabi E, Fereidoony BEffect of Achillea Millefolium on Relief of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol.(2015-Oct)
    9. Cramps - Mirabi P, Namdari M, Alamolhoda S, Mojab FThe Effect of Melissa Officinalis Extract on the Severity of Primary DysmenorrhaIran J Pharm Res.(2017 Winter)
    10. Cramps - Bahrami A, Avan A, Sadeghnia HR, Esmaeili H, Tayefi M, Ghasemi F, Nejati Salehkhani F, Arabpour-Dahoue M, Rastgar-Moghadam A, Ferns GA, Bahrami-Taghanaki H, Ghayour-Mobarhan MHigh dose vitamin D supplementation can improve menstrual problems, dysmenorrhea, and premenstrual syndrome in adolescentsGynecol Endocrinol.(2018 Aug)
    11. Pelvic Pain - Zhou IW, Zhang AL, Tsang MS, Xue CCVitamin D for primary dysmenorrhea and endometriosis-related pain - A systematic review of registered RCTs.PLoS One.(2025)
    12. Pain - Mirabi P, Dolatian M, Mojab F, Majd HAEffects of valerian on the severity and systemic manifestations of dysmenorrheaInt J Gynaecol Obstet.(2011 Dec)
    13. Pain - Tsai IC, Hsu CW, Chang CH, Lei WT, Tseng PT, Chang KVComparative Effectiveness of Different Exercises for Reducing Pain Intensity in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Sports Med Open.(2024 May 30)
    14. Pain - Li X, Sun Y, Wang Y, Wang X, Yu CManual Therapy in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.J Pain Res.(2024)
    15. Pain - Rao A, Erickson J, Briskey DPalmitoylethanolamide (Levagen+) for acute menstrual pain: a randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Women Health.(2025 Mar)
    16. PMS Symptoms - He Z, Chen R, Zhou Y, Geng L, Zhang Z, Chen S, Yao Y, Lu J, Lin STreatment for premenstrual syndrome with Vitex agnus castus: A prospective, randomized, multi-center placebo controlled study in ChinaMaturitas.(2009 May 20)
    17. PMS Symptoms - Masoumi SZ, Ataollahi M, Oshvandi KEffect of Combined Use of Calcium and Vitamin B6 on Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms: a Randomized Clinical TrialJ Caring Sci.(2016 Mar 1)
    18. PMS Symptoms - Penland JG, Johnson PEDietary calcium and manganese effects on menstrual cycle symptomsAm J Obstet Gynecol.(1993 May)
    19. PMS Symptoms - Yonkers KA, Pearlstein TB, Gotman NA pilot study to compare fluoxetine, calcium, and placebo in the treatment of premenstrual syndromeJ Clin Psychopharmacol.(2013 Oct)
    20. PMS Symptoms - Sampalis F, Bunea R, Pelland MF, Kowalski O, Duguet N, Dupuis SEvaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the management of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrheaAltern Med Rev.(2003 May)
    21. PMS Symptoms - Tamborini A, Taurelle RValue of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) in the management of congestive symptoms of premenstrual syndromeRev Fr Gynecol Obstet.(1993 Jul-Sep)
    22. Estrogen - Fukui H, Toyoshima K, Komaki RPsychological and neuroendocrinological effects of odor of saffron (Crocus sativus)Phytomedicine.(2011 Jun 15)