Women with dysmenorrhea may experience headaches due to the hormonal fluctuations that occur during menstruation and lead to water and sodium retention, which can cause an increase in intracranial pressure, leading to headaches. Many women may also experience slight edema in both lower extremities and weight gain during menstrual cramps. Also some women may begin to experience pain in the lower abdomen and headache manifestations before the onset of menstruation. It is often recommended that women with this type of dysmenorrhea with pain may have to take painkillers specifically for pain relief and also short-acting contraceptives for management.