S Ohde1, Y Tokuda, O Takahashi, H Yanai, S Hinohara, T Fukui. 1. Clinical Practice Evaluation and Research Center, St Luke's Life Science Institute, St Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. saohde@luke.or.jp
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiology of dysmenorrhea in Japanese women of menstrual age. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted using a health diary in a sample representative of Japanese women. Information on health care use was also collected. RESULTS: Among 823 enrolled participants (age range, 18-51 years), dysmenorrhea (mean duration 1.75 days; range 1-5 days) was reported in 15.8% (95% CI, 13.3-18.3) during the 1-month study period. Common associated symptoms included headache (10.77%), back pain (6.92%), and fatigue (5.38%). No participant with dysmenorrhea visited a physician, while 51.5% of the women used self-medication, and 7.7% used complementary/alternative medicine. CONCLUSION: Dysmenorrhea is common in Japanese women. In our study, about half used self-medication, while some preferred complementary/alternative medicine. Dysmenorrhea is significantly associated with younger age and employment status.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiology of dysmenorrhea in Japanese women of menstrual age. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted using a health diary in a sample representative of Japanese women. Information on health care use was also collected. RESULTS: Among 823 enrolled participants (age range, 18-51 years), dysmenorrhea (mean duration 1.75 days; range 1-5 days) was reported in 15.8% (95% CI, 13.3-18.3) during the 1-month study period. Common associated symptoms included headache (10.77%), back pain (6.92%), and fatigue (5.38%). No participant with dysmenorrhea visited a physician, while 51.5% of the women used self-medication, and 7.7% used complementary/alternative medicine. CONCLUSION:Dysmenorrhea is common in Japanese women. In our study, about half used self-medication, while some preferred complementary/alternative medicine. Dysmenorrhea is significantly associated with younger age and employment status.
Authors: Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi; Marysabel Pinto Telis Silveira; Ana M B Menezes; Maria Cecília Formoso Assunção; Helen Gonçalves; Pedro Curi Hallal Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2012-11-10 Impact factor: 5.012