What increases my risk for secondary dysmenorrhea?

Your risk of developing secondary dysmenorrhea increases if you have a sexually transmitted disease (STD), a pelvic infection, or a family history of reproductive conditions. A sexually transmitted disease can increase your risk because it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, a common cause of secondary dysmenorrhea.

A pelvic infection can lead to intensified symptoms of secondary dysmenorrhea, with the infection heightening the pain and discomfort of menstruation. A family history of conditions like endometriosis and uterine fibroids may increase your risk of those conditions, which make you more likely to be affected by secondary dysmenorrhea.