Researchers have identified a genetic variant associated with severe menstrual cramps. This is the first genome-wide association study of this form of chronic pain. Known as dysmenorrhea, it is the...

Two universal milestones in a woman’s life are menarche, the first menstrual period in girls, and menopause, when menstruation stops. Research suggests that the age at which menarche and menopause occur is about 50% influenced by genetics.