Abstract
Which treatments are used in case of dysmenorrhea and with which results? A questionnaire was sent to 2400 female apprentices and students, using a retrospective treatment-result approach (response rate: 22%).
The most frequent treatments were: ibuprofen (53%), paracetamol (51%), hormonal contraception (40%), hot water bottle on the stomach (35%), food supplements or phytotherapy (23%).
To treat dysmenorrhea, self-treatment is the rule, with the family serving as the basis of information in 80% of cases; the health professional is rarely consulted. Surprisingly, because it is rarely mentioned in official recommendations, a "grandmother's remedy", the hot water bottle, is among the methods whose effect is best reported (satisfactory effect for 92% of users).
Introduction
Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological complaint in women of childbearing age. According to a study conducted in Switzerland,1 86.6% of young women between 16 and 20 years of age suffer from it, compared with 25% of the general female population of childbearing age.2
It is responsible for short-term but recurrent absences. In addition, adolescents with severe dysmenorrhea (defined by its impact on daily activities) are more likely to also suffer from depressive symptoms.3 Dysmenorrhea thus has a significant impact on the lives of young women.
Symptoms usually begin 2-3 years after menarche, when cycles become ovulatory.1 With the average age of menarche in Switzerland being about thirteen years, most young women experience their first symptoms of dysmenorrhea at the end of compulsory school.
In Switzerland, according to the SMASH school survey,4 one out of two young women between 16 and 20 years of age takes medication to reduce pain in case of dysmenorrhea. At the same time, there are many other approaches in the field of complementary medicine, including so-called "grandmotherly" methods such as hot water bottles. Cultural factors certainly influence the response to pain.5
In view of this multiple and heterogeneous offer of means of relief, we wondered whether young women have access to the information they want concerning their menstruation and ways of treating dysmenorrhea, and whether they obtain improvement and with which methods.
Method
Dysmenorrhea is defined by the presence of abdominal or back pain during menstruation ("sometimes" or "always or almost always").
The severity of dysmenorrhea is assessed according to the impact on daily life (disruption of normal activities, absence from work or school).
We targeted two groups of young women aged 15-20 years, the age group with the highest prevalence of dysmenorrhea. The 1700 female apprentices of the Ecole professionnelle commerciale de Lausanne (EPCL) and the 695 female students in Bachelor's programs in biology, medicine or theology at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) were contacted.
The participants were invited to answer an online questionnaire (Lime Survey program). The questionnaire used was mainly inspired by two previous studies: the SMASH 2002 study (Swiss multicenter adolescent survey on health 2002)4 on adolescent health in Switzerland and an English study on self-care.6
The results were analyzed descriptively with SPSS software. It was considered preferable not to use statistical tests in order to avoid over-interpretation of the results of this research which was intended to be purely descriptive.
Results
Five hundred and twenty-seven students and apprentices responded (65 questionnaires had to be removed from the analysis because only the first page was completed), giving a final response rate of 22% (16% at EPCL and 35% at UNIL), with an average age of 19.7 years (p25 = 18 years; p75 = 21 years). 82% of the participants were of Swiss nationality (87% university students and 78% apprentices).
92% of the participants met the criteria for dysmenorrhea, including 14.6% with severe dysmenorrhea.
Discussion
Two-thirds (65%) of the young women in the study were taking or had taken treatment for dysmenorrhea. Most of these treatments were self-medication or self-treatment. The choice of treatment was most often discussed with family or friends.
Dysmenorrhea is sometimes tolerated without treatment; however, the perceived effectiveness of treatments is generally very good. The most popular treatment is the hot water bottle (Figure 3), followed closely by ibuprofen and hormonal contraception, with 92, 90 and 90% satisfaction respectively.
Source: https://www.revmed.ch/revue-medicale-suisse/2014/revue-medicale-suisse-452/dysmenorrhee-patience-pilules-ou-bouillotte
