Menstrual pain, menarcheal age and lifestyles in Spanish adolescents

Abstract

The prevalence of menstrual pain and its relationship with developmental variables, cycle indicators and habits has been evaluated in a sample of 1147 adolescents aged 14–20. Menstrual pain was reported by 63% of the girls and automedication was the most common behaviour to combat it. Among developmental variables, only menarcheal age shows explicative power for menstrual pain, as early maturers have a significantly greater prevalence. Duration of the flow, presence of clots, and premenstrual symptoms were also correlated with menstrual pain. Smoking and dieting are also significantly related with an increase in meanstrual pain in all age groups. We posit the hypothesis that the prevalence of dysmenorrhea might be increasing in Western populations because: 1) the prevalence of early menarches is increasing and 2) the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles such as sedentism, smoking and uncontrolled dieting are also increasing.