"Dysmenorrhea Affects Academic Performance" claims new research

Mexico: Among university students, primary dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent, and its symptoms significantly interfere with academic performance, concludes a study by investigators from the Institute of Health Sciences of the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, that was published in Enfermería Clinica.

Dysmenorrhea is a commonly experienced gynecologic problem highly prevalent among students. This painful condition significantly affects the quality of life and the academic performance of females. The prevalence ranges from 16 to 91% and severe dysmenorrhea constitutes 10–20%.

The previous studies mention that academic performance is affected due to recurrent school absenteeism (80%), loss of class concentration (66.8%), non-active participation (47.4%), inability do homework (21%), exam failure (15.4%), and limited activity (29.9%).

Previous studies have focused on the prevalence rates but the studies relating dysmenorrhea with severity and academic performance remains limited. This aspect was studied by a team of researchers led by Mario I. Ortiz et al to determine the prevalence, severity and impact on academic performance in Mexican university students.

The study was based on anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire and was used in class hours in the classrooms. To measure the pain, visual pain scale (VAS) was used. The program SPSS® IBM was used in the descriptive and inferential analysis of the variables studied.

The key points of the study are:

• 2154 women of average age 20.4 ± 1.9 years were surveyed.

• The general prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 78.9%.

• The psychology students had the highest value of 83.7%.

• The VAS mean pain score was 64.0

• The menstrual pain severity was reported mild in 9 % of students and moderate-severe in 91.0% of students.

• The gerontology students had higher VAS pain scores and pain intensity than dentistry and medicine students with a P value < 0.05

• 90.4% of women reported limited daily activities. This percentage was highest with medical students constituting 93.3%

• 37.0% of women reported school absenteeism with medical students presenting the highest percentage constituting 41.4%

• The severity of menstrual pain influenced students' academic performance with a P value < 0.05.

• The menstrual pain severity as a risk factor affected; minor concentration, limited activities due to pain, absenteeism, low school performance, and lower grades during dysmenorrhea.

The researcher finally concluded, "Dysmenorrhea has a higher prevalence rate and the severity interferes with the academic performance of the students."

The study highlighted the most important aspect of a women's life and concluded the results among different categories.

Further reading:

Impact of primary dysmenorrhea on the academic performance of university students. Enfermería Clínica (English Edition), Volume 32, Issue 5, September–October 2022, Pages 351-357