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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Complications may vary, depending on the underlying cause of your menstrual cramps. For example, endometriosis can cause fertility problems, while pelvic inflammatory disease can scar your fallopian tubes, increasing the risk of a fertilized egg implanting in the tube (ectopic pregnancy) instead of in your uterus.

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  • Ectopic pregnancy

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References
  1. Lentz GM. Primary and secondary dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Etiology, diagnosis and management. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/123257502-3/810739333/1524/245.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-02951-3..50039-X--cesec1_1158. Accessed March 2, 2009.
  2. Banikarim C. Primary dysmenorrhea in adolescents. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 2, 2009.
  3. Dysmenorrhea. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp046.cfm. Accessed March 2, 2009.
  4. Smith RP, et al. Pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea in adult women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 2, 2009.
  5. Endometriosis and adenomyosis. In: Kumar V, et al. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/123257502-5/810836639/1249/260.html#4-u1.0-B0-7216-0187-1..50026-2--cesec79_3198. Accessed March 2, 2009.
  6. Peipert JF, et al. Complications of pelvic inflammatory disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 2, 2009.
  7. Ultrasound imaging of the pelvis. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=pelvus. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  8. CT: Abdomen and pelvis. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=abdominct. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  9. MRI of the body (chest, abdomen, pelvis). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=bodymr. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  10. Hysteroscopy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp084.cfm. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  11. Laparoscopy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp061.cfm. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  12. Smith RP, et al. Treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in adult women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  13. Dysmenorrhea. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50117-1--cesec17&uniq=123506366&isbn=978-1-4160-2450-7&sid=811308126#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50117-1--cesec17%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-1-4160-2450-7. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  14. Mind-body medicine: An overview. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/mind-body/mindbody.htm. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  15. An introduction to acupuncture. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction.htm. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  16. Nasir LS. Dysmenorrhea. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/123506366-5/811342293/1621/527.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4435-2..50267-3--cesec6_4271. Accessed March 3, 2009.

DS00506

May 1, 2009

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