Dysmenorrhea – or painful cramping associated with a menstrual flow – is something that many women have to deal with each month. These cramps can be something as simple as a dull ache but may be more severe where a woman is actually in so much pain she can’t function in her daily life.

Regardless of which you call it, cramps or dysmenorrhea, women want to know what causes them and how they can treat them so they can get on with their lives.

There are two forms of dysmenorrhea, primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is characterized by severe lower abdominal cramping that is so bad women miss millions of hours of school and work each year.

Doctors believe primary dysmenorrhea is caused by an imbalance in the hormone called prostaglandin which is responsible for making the uterus contract so the lining of the uterus is expelled during a normal menstrual cycle. The problem comes when too much prostaglandin is produced, which causes the severe cramping women feel.

Secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, describes the painful cramping linked to physical problems not associated with menstruation. This could be caused by:

* Ovarian cysts, fibroids, and cervical or uterine polyps which are benign (non-cancerous) growths along the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or within the pelvic area.

* Infections within the pelvis which may be caused by sexually transmitted diseases or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

* Endometriosis which is a condition where the cells from lining of the uterus grow outside of the abdominal cavity. Adenomyosis is the same type of cells which grow into the uterine wall.

* Using an intrauterine device (IUD) for a contraceptive. This may occur during the first couple of months of use but should decline the longer you use the IUD. You may need to have your IUD removed if painful menstrual cramping continues or gets worse.

* Congenital problems including a tilted uterus or narrowing of the cervix which have been present at birth.

* Problems associated with pregnancy such as miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy.

Treatment for dysmenorrhea is determined by your gynecologist and will be made by considering the following factors: your overall health, age, and medical history, whether you have primary or secondary dysmenorrhea, what type of medication, therapy, or medications you can tolerate, the expected course the condition will follow, and your preferences.

You may be prescribed a prostaglandin inhibitor which reduces pain and are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) in nature. Some of these include aspirin or ibuprofen. If the pain is severe, they may prescribe a higher strength NSAID than what can be obtained over the counter. Oral contraceptives are another option your doctor may recommend because if they can inhibit ovulation, you won’t have the pain associated with it.

Doctors may also recommend progesterone hormone therapy, vitamin supplements, placing a heating pad across the abdomen, regular exercise, abdominal massage, or dietary modifications. Many women will take a pain reliever to try to ease the pain associated with their monthly cycle, but if the pain is very strong or occurs at times other than when you’re menstruating, it may be time to seek medical help.

There’s no reason you, or any woman you know, should have to experience the painful cramping known as secondary dysmenorrhea. Now that you know what it is, some of the causes, and some of the treatments, you can speak with your doctor in an informed manner and take control of ending this condition once and for all.

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Interested in the latest news in the field of Obstetric Ultrasound?

If you are, we have good news!

A new free Special Report is now available:

Ultrasound of the Female Pelvis: Ectopic Pregnancy, Ovarian Masses and Endometrial Carcinoma

Get the Special Report Ultrasound of the Female Pelvis: Ectopic Pregnancy, Ovarian Masses and Endometrial Carcinoma absolutely FREE when you sign up for Radiology Daily alerts.

Dear concerned radiology professional,

If you’re a practising radiologist, radiology resident or internist, you know how far Obstetric Ultrasound has advanced in recent years—even in the past few months, with newer and better imaging and more effective techniques emerging all the time.

So, what’s a busy radiologist to do?

First and foremost, stay on top of the latest research, and your CME requirements, particularly those Obstetric Ultrasound courses that address the latest technology and how to use it correctly and safely, as well as how to interpret your findings to aid in treatment decisions in the hope of the best patient outcome.

Radiology Daily was launched to help you stay on top of your CME requirements, bringing you the latest news on Obstetric Ultrasound. This is news you can use in your practice to stay on the cutting edge, or even ahead of the curve.

Radiology Daily, from Oakstone Medical Publishing, which produces the landmark Practical Reviews in Radiology, brings you the latest news in the world of radiology from over 40 journals around the globe.

Practical Reviews in Radiology brings you peer-reviewed article abstracts–essential reading for anyone in the field of radiology who wants to keep current with the latest research and findings, and meet their CME requirements at the same time.

Now you can get this invaluable free special report, Ultrasound of the Female Pelvis: Ectopic Pregnancy, Ovarian Masses and Endometrial Carcinoma, completely free.

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Each time we publish a new article on Obstetric Ultrasound at the Radiology Daily website, it will be sent to your inbox, to help keep you up to date on the news you need to know in the world of obstetric ultrasound.

To get your free copy of Ultrasound of the Female Pelvis: Ectopic Pregnancy, Ovarian Masses and Endometrial Carcinoma, simply enter your email address in the box, and click on the button below.

We will send you a confirmation email with your download link to get your PDF copy of this free report to read and use right away.

Then, each time we publish a new article at the site, about once every month, you will receive the new article via email–completely free!

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Every professional caregiver has dedicated themselves to a lifetime of learning.

You hunger for knowledge…for advanced skills…for tools that promote patient health…

Your goal is always the same:

You want to detect and diagnose disease more quickly and efficiently, in its earliest stages, when treatment is likely to be less difficult and cure is more probable.

This invaluable Special Report, Ultrasound of the Female Pelvis: Ectopic Pregnancy, Ovarian Masses and Endometrial Carcinoma, brings you invaluable advice on how to detect and diagnose these three main women’s health concerns.

In this special report, you will learn:

• How to Identify Ectopic Pregnancy:
• Who is at risk;
• The main reasons for ectopic pregnancies;
• The 4 key observations to detect normal pregnancy on ultrasound and rule out ectopic pregnancy;
• Evaluating ovarian masses on ultrasound;
• Why size matters when it comes to ovarian masses;
• How to approach ovarian masses in pre-menopausal women;
• How to approach ovarian masses in post-menopausal women;
• The main ovarian masses you will encounter on ultrasound;
• The main types of ovarian cysts;
• The characteristic appearance on a sonograph of the main types of ovarian cysts;
• How to approach ovarian masses if you locate them on ultrasound;
• Which types of ovarian cysts can be ruled benign upon ultrasound;
• Why practice is key when it comes to evaluating ovarian masses on ultrasound;
• Evaluating endometrial thickness with ultrasound;
• What is considered normal endometrial thickness in pre-menopausal women;
• Evaluating endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women;
• How your evaluation should differ if bleeding is present;
• Why it is important to identify atrophic endometrium with ultrasound;
• The appearance of endometrial carcinoma on ultrasound;
• Why focal thickenings of the endometrium are also important;
• The difference in appearance on ultrasound between endometrial polyps and submucous myomas.
• Further resources and suggested reading;
• And more…

Oakstone Medical Publishing is your reliable source for Obstetric Ultrasound CME.

Claim your copy of our free special report, Ultrasound of the Female Pelvis: Ectopic Pregnancy, Ovarian Masses and Endometrial Carcinoma now, and download in minutes.

Simply click on the button below. We will send you a download link to your copy of this free report, and notify you by email whenever we post new information about Obstetric Ultrasound and Obstetric Ultrasound CME courses to the Radiology Daily website.

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" button="http://radiologydaily.com/wp-content/themes/oakstone/images/buttons/click_to_get_your_special_report.gif" ]

Your time is very valuable.

Keeping current on new medical technology and procedures is time-consuming, but essential to your professional career.

So we’ve distilled the most important facts about Ultrasound of the Female Pelvis: Ectopic Pregnancy, Ovarian Masses and Endometrial Carcinoma into a fast-reading report of only about 2,500 words.

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With kind regards,

Don Deye, M.D.
Medical Director

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P.S. As any radiologist knows, when it comes to Obstetric Ultrasound, experience is key in detecting and treating disease. So is keeping up to date with the latest technologies, techniques, and procedures, in the hopes of gaining the best patient outcomes.

If you agree, I’m sure you’ll want to read Ultrasound of the Female Pelvis: Ectopic Pregnancy, Ovarian Masses and Endometrial Carcinoma. Just enter your email address, download your free report, and start reading in minutes.

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" button="http://radiologydaily.com/wp-content/themes/oakstone/images/buttons/click_to_get_your_special_report.gif" ]

At least half of the time, the cause of infertility is due to unforeseen conditions.  When it comes to the female reproductive system, infertility could have more than a dozen root causes.  Keep reading to find out some reasons for female infertility.

We’d like to think that our inside is as beautiful as our outside, but that’s not necessarily so.  When it comes to female infertility, the plumbing could be the source of the problem.  As a female, there are several reasons for infertility:

* Fibroid
* Ovulation issues
* Endometriosis
* Ectopic pregnancy
* Age
* Health
* STDs

Fibroids are benign tumors of the uterine muscle.  They can resemble bumps on the uterus or one can be as large as the uterus itself.  A surgical procedure called a myomectomy can be performed to cut the fibroids out of the myometrium.  Fibroids can make it hard for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterine wall.

Ovulation is the process by which an egg is released each month for potential pregnancy.  The ovaries release an egg and it travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus.  Fallopian tubes can be narrowed or closed and prevent the egg from passing and having the opportunity to be fertilized.

Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial cells find their way outside of the uterus.  They adhere to the ovaries, outside of the uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder or other organs in the vicinity.  Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain and cramping.

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy in the fallopian tube.  The egg implants here and begins to grow.  It can only grow so large in the small tube and will abort.  Ectopic pregnancies are removed with surgery and the subsequent scarring in the fallopian tube can cause problems when trying to get pregnant in the future.

Age is also a factor.  A woman is born with all of the eggs she will ever have.  As a result, the eggs age as she does.  Women over 40 are using older eggs to try and get pregnant.  Problems with the eggs can occur when they are older.

Health is important at any age and when you want to get pregnant.  Women who are overweight or underweight have a hard time getting pregnant.  Overweight women are prone to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which is a cause of infertility.  A lifestyle that promotes the abuse of tobacco, illicit drugs and alcohol also presents problems that can result in infertility.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) contribute to infertility.  If untreated they can cause scarring that inhibits pregnancy.  STDs can also cause a woman to miscarry.

Female infertility has many causes.  If you have any of the conditions above, seek help from your doctor about ways to increase your chances of fertility.