Prevalence, Wellbeing, and Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea among University Nursing Students in Greece

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea (pain during menstruation) is one of the most common medical conditions among women of reproductive age. Dysmenorrhea has been studied around the world but not yet in Greece. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of dysmenorrhea on the wellbeing (exercising, and social and academic functioning) among nursing students in Greece. A cross-sectional study of 637 nursing students was conducted by administering a questionnaire at a university in Athens. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 89.2% and the rate of severe intensity was 52.5%. Factors that were associated with severe dysmenorrhea were family history (p = 0.02), early menarche (p = 0.05) and menstruation duration (p = 0.05). Women with moderate and severe pain reported using pain relievers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol etc., p < 0.0005). Finally, activities affected by severe pain were class attendance (p = 0.01), personal studying (p < 0.0005), exercising (p < 0.0005), and socializing (p < 0.0005). Exam attendance (p = 0.27) and clinical placement attendance (p = 0.48) were not affected by severe dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea has a high prevalence among nursing students and seems to affect important aspects of wellbeing and academic performance when the pain intensity is severe. The present findings lay the foundation for further investigation of dysmenorrhea both in the Greek population and cross-culturally.

Type of Dysmenorrhea, Menstrual Characteristics and Symptoms in Nursing Students in Southern Spain

“…However, this is lower than the prevalence reported in the Spanish region of Ciudad Real (74.8%), the only study on this subject conducted among Spanish university students [ 19 ]. Compared to European studies, the prevalence was lower than a study carried out on Greek nursing students which identified 89.2% of young people with dysmenorrhea [ 28 ] and lower than a prevalence of 89% identified in young Swedes [ 29 ], although similar to the 62.8% identified in Portuguese women [ 30 ]. These differences among European countries may be related to differences affecting the climate, lifestyle and diet.…”

Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and its effect on the quality of life amongst female medical students at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“… 2 , 3 , 13 It is well known that increased psychological stress is a predisposing factor for developing dysmenorrhea; therefore, the stressful lifestyle of medical students could explain the high prevalence of dysmenorrhea in our studied population. 14 , 15 Moreover, in another Nepalese study, up to 85% of students experienced an increase in the frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea after enrolling in medical school. 16 However, some studies have reported prevalence as high as 94% and others, as low as 53% or 43%.…”

The Relationship between Pain and Vascular Function Biomarkers in Dysmenorrheal University Students

“…This condition can occur without any pathological pelvic disease (primary dysmenorrhea) or borne of a pelvic disease (secondary dysmenorrhea) usually in women above 20 years of age. 1 2 Symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea include diarrhoea, headache, nausea, and vomiting. 3 Various studies have reported varying dysmenorrhea prevalence across varying ages and ethnicities.…”