What term refers to painful menstruation?

Dysmenorrhea is the medical term used to describe painful menstruation. It encompasses the abdominal pain and cramping that many individuals experience during their menstrual period. This condition can result from various factors, including hormonal changes and underlying health issues such as endometriosis or fibroids.

Understanding dysmenorrhea is important in medical practice, as it helps healthcare providers identify and manage the pain effectively, ensuring better quality of life for those affected. Recognizing this term is also crucial for medical scribes, as they need to document patient complaints accurately and support clinicians in delivering appropriate care.

The other terms presented refer to different medical conditions: cephalgia relates to headaches, dyspepsia refers to indigestion, and cerumen is the term for earwax. Each of these terms serves a specific function in medical terminology but does not relate to menstruation pain like dysmenorrhea does.