Rates of Anovulation in Adolescents and Young Adults with Moderate to Severe Primary Dysmenorrhea and Those without Primary Dysmenorrhea

Our data support previous findings of increased rates of ovulation in primary dysmenorrhea. However, menstruation after anovulatory cycles can be as painful as menstruation after ovulatory cycles. These data support the idea that regular menses do not necessarily indicate that a normal ovulatory cycle has occurred. Previous implications that ovulation is necessary for the development of substantial menstrual pain are incomplete.