A 20-year-old female presents with pelvic and back pain severe enough to miss work. She reports that the pain occurs with the onset of menses. Physical examination fails to find pelvic pathology. The most likely cause of her condition is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The onset of pelvic and back pain with menses suggests dysmenorrhea, which is often caused by elevated prostaglandins. Lack of estrogen and poor nutrition would not typically cause severe pain, and while stress can exacerbate pain, it is not the primary cause.

A 20-Year-Old Female Presents with Pelvic and Back Pain Severe