As the day wears on, things get worse. It's that time of the month again, and you're suffering from menstrual cramps - the "curse" of millions of women worldwide.

Menstrual cramping or dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) usually affects teenagers and women who have never been pregnant. Although it's not a serious condition, the pain and discomfort of menstrual cramps are enough to drive women crazy. These annoying and uncomfortable symptoms may last for several hours or days.

"If you're a woman, chances are you've dealt with menstrual cramps - even if you've never heard of "dysmenorrhea," the medical term for them. Menstrual cramps are dull or throbbing pains in the lower abdomen. Many women experience menstrual cramps just before and during their menstrual periods. For some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, it can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities for a few days every month," according to the Mayo Clinic.

There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is hereditary and usually begins with the onset of menstruation in adolescence. The cramps may lessen after pregnancy or become less severe with age.

Once believed to be a psychological or imaginary disorder that was dismissed by doctors, primary dysmenorrhea is now known to be caused by the release of large amounts of prostaglandin hormones just before the beginning of menstruation.

"During menstrual periods, your uterus contracts to help expel its lining. Prostaglandins, hormone-like substances involved in pain and inflammation, trigger the uterine muscle contractions. No one knows for sure, but many experts believe that prostaglandins are the direct cause of primary dysmenorrhea. Increased leukotriene levels - substances involved in inflammation - also may be a contributing factor," revealed the Mayo Clinic.

Secondary dysmenorrhea develops later in life after a woman has been menstruating for some time. It is often caused by fibroid tumors, a narrow cervix or endometriosis (the displacement of tissue from the uterine lining to areas elsewhere in the body).

"The complications of secondary dysmenorrhea depend on the underlying cause. For instance, pelvic inflammatory disease can scar your fallopian tubes and compromise reproductive health. The scarring can lead to an ectopic pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg stays in the fallopian tube rather than traveling through the tube to implant in your uterus, or it implants somewhere else outside your uterus. Endometriosis, another possible cause of secondary dysmenorrhea, can lead to impaired fertility," warned the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment for secondary dysmenorrhea depends on the underlying cause and includes antibiotics or surgery. For primary dysmenorrhea, over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are usually enough. To help you relax, take Sedamine, nature's answer to a good night's sleep. Visit for details.