Abstract
Purpose The aim of the research was to conduct an assessment of the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and associated factors among Polish women. Patients and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Polish women using an online questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 23 ± 4 years. Out of the total of 1,317 women who took part in the study, 1,127 were included in the analysis, and 190 were excluded due to incomplete answers. The questionnaire consisted of 19 questions that were grouped into three parts. The first concerned sociodemographic data such as age, weight, education, and residence (urban or rural). The second part of the questionnaire pertained to the factors of dysmenorrhea (premenstrual syndrome, age of menarche, and family history of dysmenorrhea.). In the third part, the women were asked about their diet, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and physical activity. Results Dysmenorrhea affected 94% of the interviewed women. Dysmenorrhea was most likely to occur among respondents whose mothers had a history of dysmenorrhea (p < 0.005). Significant relationship between the occurrence of dysmenorrhea among respondents and their sisters was also observed (p < 0.005). The prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) was significantly higher in women reporting dysmenorrhea (p < 0.005). Other significant factors associated with dysmenorrhea were age of menarche (p < 0.005), stress frequency (p=0.005), lack of physical activity (p=0.037), and self-esteem (p=0.042). However, in the respondents, no significant relationship was observed between dysmenorrhea and diet, smoking, body mass index, and alcohol intake. Conclusion The study points to the fact that the problem of dysmenorrhea affects many Polish women. Women with dysmenorrhea were characterized with a family history of dysmenorrhea, occurrence of PMS, early age of menarche, stressful lifestyle, lack of physical activity, and low self-esteem. We suggest that further assessment of factors contributing for dysmenorrhea among women is necessary.
Highlights
Dysmenorrhea, known as painful periods, is a syndrome resulting in painful cramps during menstruation [1]
In the studied group of respondents, no statistically significant relationship was found between diet, body mass index (BMI), frequency of alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and dysmenorrhea in Polish women
Our results confirm previous reports of other researchers, that amount of alcohol intake had no significant effect on the occurrence of dysmenorrhea [30]
Summary
Dysmenorrhea, known as painful periods, is a syndrome resulting in painful cramps during menstruation [1]. Pain Research and Management demonstrated that dysmenorrhea is experienced by 65% of Polish women [5, 6]. Primary dysmenorrhea is attributable to excessive, pathological uterine contractions, without any other pathologic changes in the area of the pelvis minor [2]. Most commonly it appears earlier than 12 months after menarche. Dysmenorrhea is associated with a prevalence of acquired changes, such as endometriosis, chronic inflammatory condition of the pelvis minor, uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps, and cervix stenosis, as well anatomical and functional abnormalities of the generative organs [1, 3]. Abdominal pain may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, headache, back pain, diarrhoea, or fatigue [3, 10]
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