Menstrual Cramps
When you have your menstrual period, you may get mild to bad menstrual cramps or pain in your abdomen or back. You may also have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, a headache, or lightheadedness. Some or all of these problems may start a day or two before your menstrual period and last for part of or all of your menstrual period. Menstrual cramps are caused by contractions of your uterus as the blood leaves your uterus.
The lining of your uterus releases special substances called "prostaglandins." These substances increase the contractions and can cause nausea and lightheadedness. When you are having regular menstrual periods, or when you are ovulating (when your ovaries release an egg each month), your body releases more "prostaglandins". When you first get your menstrual period, it is common for you not to have regular menstrual periods and you may not ovulate for a few months, or even for a few years. So you may not have menstrual cramps when you first begin your menstrual period. After one or two or three years, when your hormone system is more mature, you might have more severe menstrual cramps.
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