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Primary dysmenorrhea in young Western Australian women: prevalence, impact, and knowledge of treatment

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(98)00147-5Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among senior high school girls in Perth, Western Australia, its impact on school, sporting, and social activities, students’ management strategies, and their knowledge of available treatment.

Methods: A total of 388 female students in Grades 11 and 12 at three metropolitan secondary schools completed an anonymous questionnaire administered during class time. The following definition of dysmenorrhoea was used: any type of pain or discomfort associated with menstrual periods including cramps, nausea, and headaches.

Results: The reported prevalence of dysmenorrhea among these girls was 80%; 53% of those girls with dysmenorrhea reported that it limited their activities. In particular, 37% said that dysmenorrhea affected their school activities. The most common medication used by those reporting dysmenorrhea was simple analgesics (53%), followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used by 42%. More than a quarter of respondents (27%) were unaware that NSAIDs were a possible treatment option for dysmenorrhea.

Conclusion: The prevalence and impact of dysmenorrhea on Grade 11 and 12 girls is high, and they lack knowledge of and experience with effective treatment. Health education measures are needed in this area to prevent unnecessary suffering and interruption to school routine.

Section snippets

Method

The subjects were girls from Grades 11 and 12 at three Perth metropolitan secondary schools, one a single-sex private school and the other two coeducational state high schools. One of the state high schools was located in an area of relatively high socioeconomic status (SES), and the other was in an area of relatively low SES. At two of the schools, the subjects comprised all of the girls in Grades 11 and 12 who were present at the time the survey was conducted. At the third and larger school,

Results

The questionnaire was handed to 389 girls and all but 1 completed it. Almost half of the respondents (47.4%) were from the private school, 34.3% from the state high school in the higher SES area, and 18.3% from the state high school in the lower SES area.

The age range of the girls was between 15 and 17 years. All except 4 of the 388 girls responding had undergone menarche. The mean age at menarche was 12.7 years, with a range of 9–16 years.

Discussion

Our study found the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in 15–17-year-old girls in Perth, Western Australia, to be 80%, which is consistent with other studies of populations of similar ages. One American study found that the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in 15-, 16-, and 17-year-old girls was approximately 65%, 70%, and 72%, respectively (4). Similarly, a more recent study of adolescents <18 years of age found a prevalence of 80% (14).

The literature quotes the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhoea to range

Conclusion

The alarmingly high prevalence and impact of dysmenorrhea, coupled with the lack of treatment knowledge, presents a significant public health problem that requires attention. Education of pre- and postmenarchal girls as well as the general community is vital in ensuring that dysmenorrhea is no longer seen as a problem that must be accepted without complaint. Promoting increased awareness and use of effective treatment measures should be a priority. It must be understood that if the employed

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Frank Sanfilippo, UWA Department of Public Health, for assistance with the analysis.

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