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dis-men-[=o]-r[=e]'a, n. difficult or painful menstruation.--adjs. DYSMENORRHOE'AL, -IC.

(F.) Dysmenorrhee, Menstruation difficile, Regles difficiles, Strangurie menstruelle. Catamenia passed with great local pain, especially in the loins: -with sometimes a membranous discharge. Dysmenorrhoea is very difficult of removal, and prevents conception. In the married female, if she should be able to pass one period without pain, and subsequently become pregnant, the morbid action may be broken in upon by gestation, and a perfect cure be obtained. Change of air, soon after marriage, will sometimes give occasion to this desirable result. The affection generally depends upon erethism of the interior of the uterus, called into action at each catamenial period. The violence of the pain requires the liberal use of narcotics.

[Greek] Difficult menstruation, especially when attended with pain. Named according to its cause, as Obstructive (or Mechanical, due to mechanical interference with the flow from blood-clots, uterine displacements, etc.), Congestive (or Plethoric, from congestion), Inflammatory (from inflammation); or according to the site of the trouble, as Uterine, Vaginal. Ovarian; or from some associated circumstance, as Membranous, in which membranous masses are exfoliated from the uterus.