1. Academic Validation
  2. Prevalence and impact of primary dysmenorrhea among Mexican high school students

Prevalence and impact of primary dysmenorrhea among Mexican high school students

  • Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2009 Dec;107(3):240-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2009.07.031.
Mario I Ortiz 1 Eduardo Rangel-Flores Lourdes C Carrillo-Alarcón Humberto A Veras-Godoy
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Area Académica de Medicina del Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. mario_i_ortiz@hotmail.com
Abstract

Objective: To evaluate factors affecting the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in a group of Mexican students.

Method: A questionnaire was administered to 1152 high school students and the obtained data about severity, symptoms, and medications used were analyzed.

Results: Dysmenorrhea had a prevalence of 48.4% and was the cause of school absences for 24% of the affected students. It was mild in 32.9%, moderate in 49.7%, and severe in 17.4% of these students, of whom 28% consulted a physician and 60.9% self-medicated. The most common over-the-counter drugs used were a combination of paracetamol, pamabrom and pyrilamine maleate; metamizol (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) plus butylhioscine; and naproxen. We found a significant correlation between the presence of dysmenorrhea and smoking, cycle pattern, cycle duration, flow duration, and amount of flow.

Conclusion: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was high in our sample. The condition caused short-term school absences and the students commonly addressed it by self-medicating.

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