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Observational Study
. 2025 May 15;25(4):e3013.
doi: 10.5867/medwave.2025.04.3013.

Menstrual management and the impact of primary dysmenorrhea intensity on quality of life: A cross-sectional study in Chilean women

[Article in English, Spanish]
Julieta Aránguiz-Ramírez  1 , Rossana Recabarren-Espinoza  1 , Juana Mora-Lara  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Menstrual management and the impact of primary dysmenorrhea intensity on quality of life: A cross-sectional study in Chilean women

[Article in English, Spanish]
Julieta Aránguiz-Ramírez et al. Medwave. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea is defined as pain during the menstrual cycle, recurrent cramping type in the absence of an identifiable cause. It can negatively affect the quality of life of those who suffer from it. The objective is to determine the association between pain intensity in primary dysmenorrhea and the impact on quality of life related to menstrual health, presenteeism, and sexual function in adult Chilean women.

Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. A sample of 392 women with painful menstruation in the last six months. A self-reported survey was distributed on social media between January and June 2024, consisting of sociodemographic questions, pain intensity and perception, the EQ5D-3L quality of life questionnaire, the Stanford Presenteeism Scale, and the Women's Sexual Function Questionnaire adapted to the study.

Results: The mean age was 29.2 +/- 8.2 years, and the mean pain intensity was 6.7 +/- 2.04 points. High pain intensity was associated with greater impairment. Those with severe or extreme pain experienced a significant impact on their quality of life related to menstrual health. Among the compromised aspects, the most notable were the performance of usual activities (OR 9.99), lower work performance (lack of concentration), and decreased social activities. The most common mitigation measures used were local heat (96.7%), herbal teas (63.5%), and medication (90%).

Conclusions: Dysmenorrhea impacts different dimensions of quality of life. Despite its high prevalence, it is often underestimated, and women often normalize pain by employing various methods to mitigate it. The concept of menstrual health is a subjective and multidimensional experience. The results suggest the importance of comprehensively updating the management of dysmenorrhea and incorporating new studies on economic evaluation, prevalence, and self-image to delve deeper into the subject.

Introducción: La dismenorrea primaria es definida como dolor durante el ciclo menstrual, tipo cólico recurrente en ausencia de una causa identificable. Esta puede afectar negativamente la calidad de vida de quienes la padecen. El objetivo es determinar la asociación entre la intensidad del dolor en la dismenorrea primaria y el impacto en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud menstrual, presentismo y función sexual, en mujeres adultas chilenas.

Métodos: Estudio observacional transversal. Muestra de 392 mujeres con menstruaciones dolorosas en los últimos seis meses. Encuesta auto reportada difundida en redes sociales entre enero y junio de 2024, compuesta por preguntas sociodemográficas, intensidad y percepción del dolor, cuestionario de calidad de vida EQ5D-3L, escala de presentismo de Stanford y el cuestionario de cambios del funcionamiento sexual de la mujer adaptados al estudio.

Resultados: La media de edad de las participantes fue de 29,2 +/- 8,2 años. La intensidad media del dolor fue de 6,7 +/- 2,04 puntos. La alta intensidad del dolor reportado se asoció con un mayor deterioro. Aquellas personas con dolor severo/extremo vieron afectada su calidad de vida relacionada con la salud menstrual. Entre los aspectos perjudicados destacan la realización de actividades habituales ( 9,99), menor desempeño laboral (desconcentración) y disminución en el área social. Como medidas de mitigación utilizadas destacan en 96,7% calor local, 63,5% infusiones de hierbas y 90% algún medicamento.

Conclusiones: La dismenorrea impacta en diferentes dimensiones de la calidad de vida. A pesar de su alta prevalencia, es infravalorada y las mujeres normalizan el dolor utilizando diferentes formas de mitigarlo. La concepción de salud menstrual en sus diferentes aristas son experiencias subjetivas y multidimensionales. Los resultados sugieren la importancia de actualizar el manejo integral de la dismenorrea, así como la incorporación de nuevos estudios en torno a evaluación económica, prevalencia y autoimagen para profundizar en esta temática.

Keywords: Dysmenorrhea; Menstrual management; Menstruation; Presenteeism; Quality of life; Women.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors completed the ICMJE conflict of interest disclosure form and declared that they have no financial relationships with organizations that may have an interest in the article published in the last three years and no other relationships or activities that could influence its publication.

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