METHODS: A multinational, multicentre, cross-sectional study using pen-and-paper questionnaires was conducted between 2016 and 2021 to assess patterns of the menstrual cycle, menstrual pain and the use of medication for menstrual pain. Various parameters were evaluated to identify high-risk factors for severe menstrual pain in women from two HIC (n = 1550) and nine MIC (n = 7139).
RESULTS: From a total of 9114 young women, 4920 medical students (HIC n = 696, MIC n = 4224) and 3769 nursing students (HIC n = 854, MIC n = 2915) were included in this study. Compared with those from HIC, a significantly higher proportion of medical and nursing students from MIC reported cyclic pain (83.9% and 86.8%, respectively) and acyclic pain (33.8% and 31.9%, respectively) (both P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that low body mass index and early onset of menarche were independent risk factors for severe cyclic/acyclic pain among women from HIC, and a family history of menstrual pain was a risk factor for severe cyclic/acyclic pain among women from HIC and MIC.
CONCLUSIONS: Differential patterns of the menstrual cycle, menstrual pain and use of medication for menstrual pain were found between young women from HIC and MIC. A proper educational programme may be necessary for these women and healthcare providers to understand the consequences of intractable cyclic/acyclic pain, in order to facilitate early detection and timely management of menstrual pain and its negative consequences, such as endometriosis.
方法:一家跨国公司,多中心,在2016年至2021年之间进行了使用纸笔问卷的横断面研究,以评估月经周期的模式,月经疼痛和使用药物治疗月经疼痛。评估了各种参数,以确定来自两个HIC(n=1550)和九个MIC(n=7139)的女性严重月经痛的高危因素。
结果:从总共9114名年轻女性中,本研究包括4920名医学生(HICn=696,MICn=4224)和3769名护理学生(HICn=854,MICn=2915)。与HIC的相比,来自MIC的医学和护理专业学生报告周期性疼痛的比例明显更高(83.9%和86.8%,分别)和无环疼痛(33.8%和31.9%,分别)(均P<0.001)。多因素回归分析显示,低体重指数和初潮早发病是HIC患者重度循环/非循环疼痛的独立危险因素。月经疼痛家族史是HIC和MIC女性严重周期性/非周期性疼痛的危险因素。
结论:月经周期的不同模式,在HIC和MIC的年轻女性中发现了月经疼痛和使用药物治疗月经疼痛。适当的教育计划可能是必要的,这些妇女和医疗保健提供者了解顽固性循环/非循环疼痛的后果,为了促进月经疼痛及其负面影响的早期发现和及时管理,如子宫内膜异位症。