The attitudes towards menstruation among Icelandic nursing students--their relationship with menstrual preparation and menstrual characteristics.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the attitudes towards menstruation of Icelandic female nursing students and see if a relationship exists between the attitudes with recollection of menarche and characteristics of present menstruation. Findings show that the students (N = 178) view menstruation as natural, not very predictable or debilitating, even though they do not deny that menstruation can effect behaviour in some way. Findings also indicate that the heavier the menstrual flow, the less likely the student is to deny all affects of menstruation as well as finding menstruation more debilitating and more predictable; the longer the menstrual period the more predictable is the coming of the next menstrual period and the less likely is the student to deny all effects of menstruation. It is suggested that inconveniences brought about by menstruation influence the formation of menstrual attitudes.