Abstract
Dysmenorrhea refers to chronic pain associated with menstruation that is often accompanied by other symptoms. Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) occurs without any associated pelvic disease. Nonetheless, it may negatively affect women’s quality of life. Among university students, dysmenorrhea decreases academic performance and is a cause of absenteeism. The purposes of our study were to describe how nursing students experienced PD and the changes affecting their body and mood. A qualitative case study was performed among 33 nursing students with PD. Data were collected through five focus groups (with two sessions each) and 10 researchers’ field notes. We used a video meeting platform to conduct the focus groups. A thematic analysis was performed, and the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines were followed. Three main themes emerged from the data: (a) living with dysmenorrhea, with two subthemes: menstruation and pain; (b) body changes and mood swings; and (c) seeking a safe environment, with three subthemes: safe environment, unsafe environment, and key safety aspects. Students considered menstruation to be negative and limiting, causing physical and mood changes, making them feel less attractive, and conditioning their way of dressing and relating.
Highlights
Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological disorder worldwide among women of childbearing age [1,2]
It is striking to consider that these are future health professionals, we have identified a tendency toward concealment and a negative connotation of menstruation as aspects that can influence the attention given by health professionals, reflecting the need for specific training in this matter
Social and cultural elements are identified, such as the influence of the family in relation to the meaning of menstruation, together with fears of rejection and discrimination. These aspects pose a challenge for health professionals and especially for nurses and midwives to intervene for the treatment of pain, and within the community, through educational and health promotion programs for women from childhood to adulthood
Summary
Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological disorder worldwide among women of childbearing age [1,2]. Dysmenorrhea is defined as chronic spasmodic pain that occurs immediately before and/or during menstruation, located in the pelvic and/or lower abdominal region, that can last for hours or several days. It is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, irritability, and depressive symptoms [7,8,9]. In the case of PD, this occurs without any associated pelvic pathology. Public Health 2020, 17, 6670; doi:10.3390/ijerph17186670 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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