The patient with dysmenorrhea

Although dysmenorrhea is a common gynecologic complaint, adolescents and young women frequently believe that no therapy is available and do not seek medical help. Diagnostic and therapeutic advances now allow the physician to effectively evaluate and treat patients with menstrually related discomfort. Although treatment of dysmenorrhea represents a challenge to the physician, careful assessment of the pain combined with application of new therapeutic modalities can result in successful treatment of patients who would have formerly lived with their discomfort.