Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and Its Psychological Impact on Adolescent Girls

Moustafa, Rania El-Sayed; Ahmed, Waleed Ali Sayed; Mohammed, Mariam Lotfy; Abd El-Fatah, Rasha El-Sayed

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2023.296746

Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and Its Psychological Impact on Adolescent Girls

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejhm.2023.296746

Abstract

Background: A severe, excruciatingly painful cramping sensation in the lower abdomen is known as dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation. It is the most typical gynecological condition among teenagers.
Objective: The aim of the current study is to assess the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among adolescent girls, to determine the psychological impact of dysmenorrhea on adolescent girls and to detect the differences between adolescent girls with and without dysmenorrhea regarding the frequency and severity of psychosomatic manifestations. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 520 adolescent girls from 4 Port-Fouad and Port-Said Secondary schools. The enrolled girls were evaluated for the presence of the characteristic symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea to assess the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among them. The participants were subdivided into two groups according to the presence or absence of dysmenorrhea to compare between girls with and without dysmenorrhea regarding the frequency of psychosomatic manifestations. General characteristics, gynecological data and family history were assessed and compared with presence or absence of dysmenorrhea.
Results: Prevalence of dysmenorrhea was high (74.6%); younger and obese girls were more prevalent to dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea does lead to important school absenteeism.
Conclusion: Female teenagers at Port-Fouad and Port-Said Secondary Schools had a high prevalence of dysmenorrhea. Abdominal pain was the most common type of pain, with most girls reporting a moderate level of discomfort.

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