Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and Its Effect on the Quality of a Female's Life

Bilal Ahmad; Sumia  Fatima; Warda Fatima Shafee; Mahnoor Asghar Keen; Marwa Mehak; Manahil Noor; Abdul Majid; Shayan Ali Khan

doi:10.33096/woh.vi.3040

Bilal Ahmad Department of Medicine, MBBS student, Saidu Medical College. Pakistan.
Sumia Fatima Department of Medicine, House Officer, Rawalpindi Medical University. Pakistan
Warda Fatima Shafee Department of Medicine, PG resident, Nishtar Hospital, Multan. Pakistan
Mahnoor Asghar Keen Department of Medicine, MO (Medical Officer), Khyber Medical College. Pakistan
Marwa Mehak Department of Nursing, BSN student, Government College of Nursing. Pakistan
Manahil Noor Department of Medicine, MBBS student, Gomal Medical College. Pakistan
Abdul Majid Department of Medicine, PG Resident, Lady Reading Hospital. Pakistan
Shayan Ali Khan Department of Physiology, Lecturer, Dow Medical College. Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33096/woh.vi.3040

Keywords: Dysmenorrhea, quality of life, menarche, prevalence, menstruation disturbances, medical students

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea, a common gynecological complaint among young females, manifested with severe pain in 36.6% (117/320) of participants and moderate-to-severe quality of life (QoL) impairment in 74.2% (222/320) among female medical students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This cross-sectional study utilized non-random convenience sampling to enroll 320 participants, who completed a reliable self-structured questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.72). Associations between dysmenorrhea factors and QoL domains (mild, moderate, severe) were evaluated using Pearson chi-square tests. No significant association was observed between menstrual pain intensity and QoL (χ2=25.932, df = 20, p = 0.168). In contrast, breakfast skipping showed a strong association with QoL (χ2=12.958, df = 2, p = 0.002). Associated symptoms (χ2=24.289, df = 10, p = 0.007) and irregular menstrual cycles (χ2=7.429, df = 2, p = 0.024) also demonstrated significant links, highlighting lifestyle and symptom clustering effects. These findings underscore that QoL burdens stem primarily from modifiable factors beyond pain severity alone. Targeted non-pharmacological interventions—such as nutritional education to encourage breakfast consumption and proactive symptom management—are recommended to mitigate dysmenorrhea's impact and enhance well-being in this population.

References

Ju H, Jones M, Mishra G. The prevalence and risk factors of dysmenorrhea. Epidemiol Rev. 2014;36(1):104–13.

Iacovides S, Avidon I, Baker FC. What we know about primary dysmenorrhea today: a critical review. Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(6):762–78.

Ferries-Rowe E, Corey E, Archer JS. Primary dysmenorrhea: diagnosis and therapy. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;136(5):1047–58.

Molla A, Duko B, Girma B, Madoro D, Nigussie J, Belayneh Z, et al. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and associated factors among students in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Womens Health. 2022;18:17455057221079443.

Acheampong K, Baffour-Awuah D, Ganu D, Appiah S, Pan X, Kaminga A, et al. Prevalence and predictors of dysmenorrhea, its effect, and coping mechanisms among adolescents in Shai Osudoku District, Ghana. Obstet Gynecol Int. 2019;2019(1):5834159.

Vlachou E, Owens DA, Lavdaniti M, Kalemikerakis J, Evagelou E, Margari N, et al. Prevalence, wellbeing, and symptoms of dysmenorrhea among university nursing students in Greece. Diseases. 2019;7(1):5.

Karout S, Soubra L, Rahme D, Karout L, Khojah HM, Itani R. Prevalence, risk factors, and management practices of primary dysmenorrhea among young females. BMC Womens Health. 2021;21(1):392.

Gebeyehu MB, Mekuria AB, Tefera YG, Andarge DA, Debay YB, Bejiga GS, et al. Prevalence, impact, and management practice of dysmenorrhea among University of Gondar students, northwestern Ethiopia: A cross‐sectional study. Int J Reprod Med. 2017;2017(1):3208276.

Vincenzo De Sanctis M, Soliman A, Bernasconi S, Bianchin L, Bona G, Bozzola M, et al. Primary dysmenorrhea in adolescents: prevalence, impact and recent knowledge. Pediatr Endocrinol Rev PER. 2015;13(2):465–73.

Sima RM, Sulea M, Radosa JC, Findeklee S, Hamoud BH, Popescu M, et al. The prevalence, management and impact of dysmenorrhea on medical students’ lives—A multicenter study. In MDPI; 2022. p. 157.

Jiang W, Hua XG, Hu CY, Li FL, Huang K, Zhang XJ. The prevalence and risk factors of menstrual pain of married women in Anhui Province, China. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2018;229:190–4.

Abu Helwa HA, Mitaeb AA, Al-Hamshri S, Sweileh WM. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and predictors of its pain intensity among Palestinian female university students. BMC Womens Health. 2018;18(1):18.

Guimarães I, Póvoa AM. Primary dysmenorrhea: assessment and treatment. Rev Bras Ginecol E ObstetríciaRBGO Gynecol Obstet. 2020;42(08):501–7.

Dai Y, Luo H, Zhu L, Yang W, Xiang H, Shi Q, et al. Dysmenorrhea pattern in adolescences informing adult endometriosis. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):373.

Duman NB, Yıldırım F, Vural G. Risk factors for primary dysmenorrhea and the effect of complementary and alternative treatment methods: Sample from Corum, Turkey. Int J Health Sci. 2022;16(3):35.

Aktaş D. Prevalence and factors affecting dysmenorrhea in female university students: effect on general comfort level. Pain Manag Nurs. 2015;16(4):534–43.

Nyirenda T, Nyagumbo E, Murewanhema G, Mukonowenzou N, Kagodora SB, Mapfumo C, et al. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and associated risk factors among university students in Zimbabwe. Womens Health. 2023;19:17455057231189549.

Ozerdogan N, Sayiner D, Ayranci U, Unsal A, Giray S. Prevalence and predictors of dysmenorrhea among students at a university in Turkey. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2009;107(1):39–43.

Hu Z, Tang L, Chen L, Kaminga AC, Xu H. Prevalence and risk factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea among Chinese female university students: a cross-sectional study. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2020;33(1):15–22.

Attia GM, Alharbi OA, Aljohani RM. The impact of irregular menstruation on health: a review of the literature. Cureus. 2023;15(11).

Tavallaee M, Joffres MR, Corber SJ, Bayanzadeh M, Rad MM. The prevalence of menstrual pain and associated risk factors among Iranian women. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2011;37(5):442–51.

Latthe P, Mignini L, Gray R, Hills R, Khan K. Factors predisposing women to chronic pelvic pain: systematic review. Bmj. 2006;332(7544):749–55.

Mesele TT, Ayalew HG, Syoum AT, Antehneh TA. Impact of dysmenorrhea on academic performance among Haramaya University undergraduate regular students, Eastern Ethiopia. Front Reprod Health. 2022;4:939035.

Belayneh W, Kassaye Z, Arusi T, Abera N, Hantalo A, Melkamu B, et al. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and associated factors and its effect on daily academic activities among female undergraduate students of Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa, Ethiopia. Front Reprod Health. 2023;5:1244540.

Martire FG, Piccione E, Exacoustos C, Zupi E. Endometriosis and adolescence: the impact of dysmenorrhea. J Clin Med. 2023;12(17):5624.

Hashim RT, Alkhalifah SS, Alsalman AA, Alfaris DM, Alhussaini MA, Qasim RS, et al. Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and its effect on the quality of life amongst female medical students at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. Saudi Med J. 2020;41(3):283.

Wong CL. Health-related quality of life among Chinese adolescent girls with Dysmenorrhoea. Reprod Health. 2018;15(1):80.

Mizuta R, Maeda N, Tashiro T, Suzuki Y, Oda S, Komiya M, et al. Quality of life by dysmenorrhea severity in young and adult Japanese females: A web-based cross-sectional study. Plos One. 2023;18(3):e0283130.

Hailemeskel S, Demissie A, Assefa N. Primary dysmenorrhea magnitude, associated risk factors, and its effect on academic performance: evidence from female university students in Ethiopia. Int J Womens Health. 2016;489–96.

Armour M, Ferfolja T, Curry C, Hyman MS, Parry K, Chalmers KJ, et al. The prevalence and educational impact of pelvic and menstrual pain in Australia: a national online survey of 4202 young women aged 13-25 years. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2020;33(5):511–8.

Schoep ME, Nieboer TE, van der Zanden M, Braat DD, Nap AW. The impact of menstrual symptoms on everyday life: a survey among 42,879 women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019;220(6):569-e1.

Vlachou E, Owens DA, Lavdaniti M, Kalemikerakis J, Evagelou E, Margari N, et al. Prevalence, wellbeing, and symptoms of dysmenorrhea among university nursing students in Greece. Diseases. 2019;7(1):5.

Joshi T, Kural M, Agrawal DP, Noor NN, Patil A. Primary dysmenorrhea and its effect on quality of life in young girls. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2015;4(3):381.

Matsuura Y, Tran NH, Nguyen BT, Phan QN, Nguyen KT, Yasui T. Menstruation-related symptoms and associated factors among female university students in Vietnam. Youth. 2024;4(1):344–56.

Yonglitthipagon P, Muansiangsai S, Wongkhumngern W, Donpunha W, Chanavirut R, Siritaratiwat W, et al. Effect of yoga on the menstrual pain, physical fitness, and quality of life of young women with primary dysmenorrhea. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2017;21(4):840–6.

Itani R, Soubra L, Karout S, Rahme D, Karout L, Khojah HM. Primary dysmenorrhea: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment updates. Korean J Fam Med. 2022;43(2):101.

Kannan P, Chapple CM, Miller D, Claydon LS, Baxter GD. Menstrual pain and quality of life in women with primary dysmenorrhea: Rationale, design, and interventions of a randomized controlled trial of effects of a treadmill-based exercise intervention. Contemp Clin Trials. 2015;42:81–9.

Oboza P, Ogarek N, Wójtowicz M, Rhaiem TB, Olszanecka-Glinianowicz M, Kocełak P. Relationships between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and diet composition, dietary patterns and eating behaviors. Nutrients. 2024;16(12):1911.

Sahin S, Ozdemir K, Unsal A, Arslan R. Review of frequency of dysmenorrhea and some associated factors and evaluation of the relationship between dysmenorrhea and sleep quality in university students. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2014;78(3):179–85.

Araujo P, Hachul H, Santos-Silva R, Bittencourt L, Tufik S, Andersen M. Sleep pattern in women with menstrual pain. Sleep Med. 2011;12(10):1028–30.