---
title: What causes period pain and how is it treated? | Niyora
description: Period pain is caused by increased muscle activity in the uterus and is effectively treated with birth control pills or medications called prostaglandin inhib
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/primary-dysmenorrhea-current-concepts-1981/
---

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- What causes period pain and how is it treated?

Review, 1981

# What causes period pain and how is it treated?

Period pain is caused by increased muscle activity in the uterus and is effectively treated with birth control pills or medications called prostaglandin inhibitors.

 Moderate study design

People with primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain not caused by pelvic disease)

## What they did

This is a review article summarizing medical knowledge about primary dysmenorrhea, which is menstrual pain that is not related to pelvic disease.

## What they found

Period pain usually starts after ovulatory cycles begin, typically in the year after first menstruation, and increases over time. Pain is associated with increased muscle activity in the uterus. Birth control pills and prostaglandin inhibitors are effective treatments. Doctors must rule out other conditions like endometriosis first.

## What it means for you

If you have period pain, your doctor should first check that it is not caused by other conditions before treating it. Birth control and pain relievers usually work well. The limitation is that this is a 1981 review reflecting medical knowledge from that era.

## About the study

Original title Primary dysmenorrhea: current concepts Authors Jay MS, Taylor W Journal American family physician Year 1981 Study design Review What was tested Oral contraceptives and prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7197460/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7197460/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Endometriosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-endometriosis/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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