Effect of Menstrual Pain on Sleep Quality and Anaerobic Performance

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effect of menstrual pain on sleep quality and anaerobic performance in women and the relationship between menstrual symptoms, sleep quality, and anaerobic performance. The study consisted of 22 (20.64 ± 1.91 years) healthy young women. The participants were divided into two groups according to their verbal expressions as menstruating with pain (n=11) and menstruating without pain (n=11). The study used a calendar-based counting method reported by women and an ovulation prediction kit to determine urinary LH surge. After the menstrual cycle phases were determined, Wingate anaerobic performance test measurements were applied to the participants in three phases (late follicle, ovulation and mid-luteal phase). Besides, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index was used to determine women’s sleep quality, and the menstrual symptom scale was used to measure menstrual symptoms. Mann-Whitney U test, one of the non-parametric tests, was used in the data analysis. In statistical analysis, the level of significance was accepted as p < 0.05. Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between menstrual pain, sleep quality and anaerobic performance. As a result, the average sleep quality of the participants was higher than the painless group. Menstrual symptom scale "pain symptoms", and "coping methods" scores and menstrual symptom scale total scores differed between the groups. The study found that the power drop score, one of the anaerobic performance scores, differed between the groups in the mid-luteal phase. As a result of the correlation test, menstrual pain and sleep quality were associated with anaerobic performance.