An Overview on Pain Management for Painful Menstruation among Female Adolescent

Document Type : Brief Communication

Authors
S. P. Teimuri 1
S. S. Tavafian 1
M. H. Delshad 2
1 Health Education and Health Promotion, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
10.22034/IJMPP.9.4.1095
Abstract
Aims: Dysmenorrhea is a common menstrual disorder characterized by painful uterine contractions, which often leads to absenteeism from school and decreased productivity.

Method and Materials: This article provides an overview of primary dysmenorrhea and its impact on female adolescents, emphasizing the significance of pain management strategies. The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea affects approximately 70% of young women globally, underlining its public health implications. The article explores various risk factors, including biological, psychological, social, and lifestyle influences that contribute to dysmenorrhea. Additionally, it discusses the common practice of self-medication among adolescents, primarily through the use of over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and the potential risks associated with improper use. Effective management strategies, such as physical exercise, dietary modifications, and psychological interventions, are highlighted as essential components in alleviating menstrual pain. The importance of health education, particularly in school settings, is emphasized to improve awareness, promote healthy lifestyle practices, and foster a supportive environment for adolescent girls.

Conclusion: This comprehensive approach aims to enhance the overall quality of life while addressing the specific health challenges faced by females during their critical developmental years. Ultimately, investing in the health and well-being of adolescent girls is vital for fostering future generations and advancing national progress.

Keywords

Subjects

1. Critchley HO, Babayev E, Bulun SE, Clark S, Garcia-Grau I, Gregersen PK, et al. Menstruation: science and society. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. 2020;223(5):624-64.
2. Harel Z. Dysmenorrhea in adolescents and young adults: from pathophysiology to pharmacological treatments and management strategies. Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy. 2008;9(15):2661-72.
3. Hadjou OK, Jouannin A, Lavoue V, Leveque J, Esvan M, Bidet M. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea in adolescents in France: Results of a large cross-sectional study. J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod. 2022;51(3):102302.
4. Wang L, Yan Y, Qiu H, Xu D, Zhu J, Liu J, Li H. Prevalence and risk factors of primary dysmenorrhea in students: a meta-analysis. Value in Health. 2022;25(10):1678-84.
5. Sharghi M, Mansurkhani SM, Larky DA, Kooti W, Niksefat M, Firoozbakht M, et al. An update and systematic review on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. JBRA Assist Reprod. 2019;23(1):51-7.
6. Gutman G, Nunez AT, Fisher M. Dysmenorrhea in adolescents. Current problems in pediatric and adolescent health care. 2022;52(5):101186.
7. Iacovides S, Avidon I, Baker FC. What we know about primary dysmenorrhea today: a critical review. Human reproduction update. 2015;21(6):762-78.
8. Itani R, Soubra L, Karout S, Rahme D, Karout L, Khojah HM. Primary dysmenorrhea: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment updates. Korean journal of family medicine. 2022;43(2):101.
9. Ferries-Rowe E, Corey E, Archer JS. Primary dysmenorrhea: diagnosis and therapy. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2020;136(5):1047-58.
10. Armour M, Parry K, Manohar N, Holmes K, Ferfolja T, Curry C, et al. The prevalence and academic impact of dysmenorrhea in 21,573 young women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of women's health. 2019;28(8):1161-71.
11. Kharaghani R, Damghanian M. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2017.
12. Mizuta R, Maeda N, Tashiro T, Suzuki Y, Oda S, Komiya M, Urabe Y. Quality of life by dysmenorrhea severity in young and adult Japanese females: A web-based cross-sectional study. Plos one. 2023;18(3):e0283130.
13. Fernández-Martínez E, Onieva-Zafra MD, Parra-Fernández ML. The impact of dysmenorrhea on quality of life among Spanish female university students. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2019;16(5):713.
14. Group W. The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): position paper from the World Health Organization. Social science & medicine. 1995;41(10):1403-9.
15. Kaplan RM, Hays RD. Health-related quality of life measurement in public health. Annual review of public health. 2022;43:355-73.
16. Solera-Sanchez A, Adelantado-Renau M, Moliner-Urdiales D, Beltran-Valls MR. Health-related quality of life in adolescents: individual and combined impact of health-related behaviors (DADOS study). Quality of Life Research. 2021;30:1093-101.
17. Sahin N, Kasap B, Kirli U, Yeniceri N, Topal Y. Assessment of anxiety-depression levels and perceptions of quality of life in adolescents with dysmenorrhea. Reproductive health. 2018;15:1-7.
18. Latthe P, Latthe M, Say L, Gülmezoglu M, Khan KS. WHO systematic review of prevalence of chronic pelvic pain: a neglected reproductive health morbidity. BMC Public Health. 2006;6:177.
19. Li R, Li B, Kreher DA, Benjamin AR, Gubbels A, Smith SM. Association between dysmenorrhea and chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. 2020;223(3):350-71.
20. Al-Matouq S, Al-Mutairi H, Al-Mutairi O, Abdulaziz F, Al-Basri D, Al-Enzi M, Al-Taiar A. Dysmenorrhea among high-school students and its associated factors in Kuwait. BMC pediatrics. 2019;19:1-12.
21. Hu Z, Tang L, Chen L, Kaminga AC, Xu H. Prevalence and risk factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea among Chinese female university students: a cross-sectional study. Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology. 2020;33(1):15-22.
22. Bajalan Z, Moafi F, MoradiBaglooei M, Alimoradi Z. Mental health and primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019;40(3):185-94.
23. Evans S, Dowding C, Olive L, Payne LA, Druitt M, Seidman LC, et al. Pain catastrophizing, but not mental health or social support, is associated with menstrual pain severity in women with dysmenorrhea: A cross-sectional survey. Psychology, Health & Medicine. 2022;27(6):1410-20.
24. Doğan H, Eroğlu S, Akbayrak T. The effect of kinesio taping and lifestyle changes on pain, body awareness and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea. Complementary therapies in clinical practice. 2020;39:101120.
25. Armour M, Parry K, Al-Dabbas MA, Curry C, Holmes K, MacMillan F, et al. Self-care strategies and sources of knowledge on menstruation in 12,526 young women with dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS one. 2019;14(7):e0220103.
26. Parra-Fernández ML, Onieva-Zafra MD, Abreu-Sánchez A, Ramos-Pichardo JD, Iglesias-López MT, Fernández-Martínez E. Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea among University Students in the South of Spain and Family Influence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(15):5570.
27. McKenna KA, Fogleman CD. Dysmenorrhea. American family physician. 2021;104(2):164-70.
28. Armour M, Smith CA, Steel KA, Macmillan F. The effectiveness of self-care and lifestyle interventions in primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC complementary and alternative medicine. 2019;19:1-16.
29. Bajalan Z, Alimoradi Z, Moafi F. Nutrition as a potential factor of primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review of observational studies. Gynecologic and obstetric investigation. 2019;84(3):209-24.
30. Lee H, Kim J. Direct and Indirect Effects of Stress and Self-Esteem on Primary Dysmenorrhea in Korean Adolescent Girls: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study. Iranian Journal of Public Health. 2024;53(1):116-25.
31. Adib-Rad H, Kheirkha F, Faramarzi M, Omidvar S, Basirat Z, Ahmadi MH. Primary dysmenorrhea associated with psychological distress in medical sciences students in the North of Iran: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Fertility & Sterility. 2022;16(3):224.
32. Ullah A, Fayyaz K, Javed U, Usman M, Malik R, Arif N, Kaleem A. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and determinants of pain intensity among university-age women. Pain Medicine. 2021;22(12):2851-62.
33. Borjigen A, Huang C, Liu M, Lu J, Peng H, Sapkota C, Sheng J. Status and factors of menstrual knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and their correlation with psychological stress in adolescent girls. Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology. 2019;32(6):584-9.
34. Li Y, Kang B, Zhao X, Cui X, Chen J, Wang L. Association between depression and dysmenorrhea among adolescent girls: multiple mediating effects of binge eating and sleep quality. BMC women's health. 2023;23(1):140.
35. Panjalipour S, Bostani Khalesi Z, Rezaei Chamani S, Kazemnejad Leili E. Prioritizing the Healthcare Needs of Adolescent Girls in Iran. Journal of Guilan University of Medical Sciences. 2020;29(3):58-71.
36. Xu T, Tomokawa S, Gregorio Jr ER, Mannava P, Nagai M, Sobel H. School-based interventions to promote adolescent health: A systematic review in low-and middle-income countries of WHO Western Pacific Region. PloS one. 2020;15(3):e0230046.
37. Li AD, Bellis EK, Girling JE, Jayasinghe YL, Grover SR, Marino JL, Peate M. Unmet needs and experiences of adolescent girls with heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea: a qualitative study. Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology. 2020;33(3):278-84.
38. Glanz K, Rimer BK, Viswanath K. Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice: John Wiley & Sons; 2015.
International Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain Prevention
Volume 9, Issue 4
November 2024
Pages 1095-1099