dysmenorrhea

noun

dys·​men·​or·​rhea (ˌ)dis-ˌme-nə-ˈrē-ə How to pronounce dysmenorrhea (audio)
: painful menstruation
dysmenorrheic adjective

Examples of dysmenorrhea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Her journey began with a personal quest for relief from the debilitating pain of dysmenorrhea, leading her to discover the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. Javier Hasse, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Around the world in Taiwan, a study carried out by China Medical University in Taichung found that women exposed to the highest levels of air pollution were 33 times more likely to develop dysmenorrhea, or painful periods. Elizabeth Wells and Eoin McSweeney, CNN, 5 Dec. 2023 New, preliminary research found that women with PCOS or dysmenorrhea tend to have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.1 The findings from each study were presented earlier this month at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023. Lauryn Higgins, Health, 17 Nov. 2023 Do Period Symptoms Get More Intense With Age? Period pain, or dysmenorrhea, is common among people who menstruate. Kristine Thomason, Health, 17 Aug. 2023 People with secondary dysmenorrhea, like endometriosis or uterine fibroids, may need surgery to alleviate severe period pain. Kristine Thomason, Health, 17 Aug. 2023 Painful menstrual cramps are known as dysmenorrhea, and there are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary. Sophia Caraballo, Woman's Day, 6 Sep. 2022 Just like primary dysmenorrhea, secondary dysmenorrhea can come with a number of aggravating symptoms. Sophia Caraballo, Woman's Day, 6 Sep. 2022 Key Takeaways Vitamin E may be a complementary treatment for primary dysmenorrhea but studies are limited. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 28 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dysmenorrhea.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from dys- dys- + menorrhea, menorrhoea "menstrual flow," from meno- meno- + -rrhea, rrhoea -rrhea

First Known Use

circa 1810, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dysmenorrhea was circa 1810

Dictionary Entries Near dysmenorrhea

dysluite

dysmenorrhea

dysmenorrhoea

Cite this Entry

“Dysmenorrhea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dysmenorrhea. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

dysmenorrhea

noun
dys·​men·​or·​rhea
variants or chiefly British dysmenorrhoea
: painful menstruation see spasmodic dysmenorrhea
dysmenorrheic adjective
or chiefly British dysmenorrhoeic

More from Merriam-Webster on dysmenorrhea

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!