The present invention relates to a method for the management of dysmenorrhea involving administration of an estrogenic component which is preferably selected from the group consisting of estetrol and estetrol-like compounds. Estetrol-like compounds have been surprisingly found to be capable of mitigating dysmenorrhea, either when used alone or in combination with progestogenic components, and this to an extent surpassing the effect obtained with other compositions and with a favourable side-effect profile compared to currently available methods.