Menstrual symptometrics: a simple computer-aided method to quantify menstrual cycle disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To validate a menstrual symptometrics device that can quantify menstrual blood loss, dysmenorrhea, and the premenstrual syndrome against traditional methods of collecting data on symptoms.
DESIGN: Validation study.
SETTING: Academic research clinic for menstrual cycle disorders. PARTICIPANT(S): Women 18-50 years of age who presented with menstrual cycle disorders. Controls were recruited from lists of patients requesting sterilization and from hospital staff. INTERVENTION(S): Participants were asked to complete the menstrual symptometrics device and to record pain, blood loss, and premenstrual symptoms by using traditional methods (paper-based scales and the alkaline hematin method) for two cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Agreement between traditional methods of quantifying menstrual cycle disorders and data obtained from the menstrual symptometrics device, and acceptability of the latter technique to patients. RESULT(S): A high level of agreement was observed between the traditional methods and the menstrual symptometrics device in quantifying and diagnosing menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, and the premenstrual syndrome. Most patients preferred the menstrual symptometrics device as a data collection tool. CONCLUSION(S): The menstrual symptometrics device is a rapid and accurate method of quantifying blood loss, pain, and premenstrual symptoms. It has a high level of patient acceptability and can provide instant pictorial feedback on symptoms for patients and clinicians.