Can dysmenorrhea cause stomach pain?

Dysmenorrhea may cause stomach pain. Increased prostaglandin secretion during dysmenorrhea may stimulate gastrointestinal smooth muscle contraction, causing gastric discomfort or pain.

Stomach pain caused by dysmenorrhea is more common in primary dysmenorrhea. Elevated prostaglandin levels not only act on uterine smooth muscle, but may also affect the peristaltic function of the gastrointestinal tract, causing cramping pain in the stomach. Some women experience digestive tract symptoms such as loss of appetite and nausea during menstruation. This kind of stomach pain is usually paroxysmal, is positively correlated with the degree of dysmenorrhea, and may last from a few hours to two days. Stomach pain symptoms often resolve on their own after menstruation. If the stomach pain symptoms are severe or persist, you need to be alert to secondary dysmenorrhea or other digestive system diseases.

To relieve stomach pain related to dysmenorrhea, you can try applying hot compresses to the lower abdomen, drinking warm ginger tea, and performing moderate abdominal massage. In the diet, you should avoid raw and cold irritating foods and choose warm and liquid foods that are easy to digest. Maintaining a regular schedule and moderate exercise can also help improve symptoms. If the symptoms seriously affect your life or are accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, etc., it is recommended to seek medical treatment in time to rule out other digestive system diseases.