ABSTRACT
The word dysmenorrhea is derived from the greek word meaning “difficult monthly bleeding.” Women with dysmenorrhea experience periodic cramps with or without associated vegetative symptoms during or immediately before the start of menstruation (Table 1). Dysmenorrhea is the most common form of menstrual complaint in young women. Prevalence has been reported to be as high as 90% (1-9). About 15% of adolescents and young women describe their dysmenorrhea as severe. In young women dysmenorrhea is responsible for a substantial proportion of repeated short-term absenteeism from school and work (1-9). Recent reports from the U.S.A. have stated that dysmenorrhea accounted for 600 million lost hours and two billion dollars in lost productivity annually (8,9).
