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Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea among University Students in the South of Spain and Family Influence

Author

Listed:
  • María Laura Parra-Fernández

    (Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • María Dolores Onieva-Zafra

    (Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ana Abreu-Sánchez

    (Department of Nursing, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain)

  • Juan Diego Ramos-Pichardo

    (Department of Nursing, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain)

  • María Teresa Iglesias-López

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Crta. Pozuelo-Majadahonda Km 1,800, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain)

  • Elia Fernández-Martínez

    (Department of Nursing, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain)

Abstract

The present study analyses the management of primary dysmenorrhea by university students in the south of Spain. In this cross-sectional observational study, 224 women participated, using an ad hoc self-report questionnaire about menstrual pain and self-care and including sociodemographic and gynecological variables. Some 76.8% of participants consumed analgesics and the majority self-medicated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without consulting a health professional, with a correlation between pain intensity and the number of pills ingested during menstruation ( r = 0.151, p < 0.05). The higher proportion of women who found their analgesia effective were those who took medication after being prescribed by a health care provider (60.8%) compared to those who self-medicated (40%; p < 0.01). Only 43.8% employed non-pharmaceutical methods, most commonly antalgic positions, massages and local heat. These choices were not related to the intensity of menstrual pain nor with the severity of the dysmenorrhea, nor did these most common methods prove to be the most effective. However, a higher percentage of women using non-pharmacological methods was identified in women with family members suffering from dysmenorrhea (73.2%) compared to those without (60%; p = 0.040), which may indicate that the choice of remedies is more related to learning self-care in the family context. This study identifies the need for education on self-care and management of menstrual pain.

Suggested Citation

  • María Laura Parra-Fernández & María Dolores Onieva-Zafra & Ana Abreu-Sánchez & Juan Diego Ramos-Pichardo & María Teresa Iglesias-López & Elia Fernández-Martínez, 2020. "Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea among University Students in the South of Spain and Family Influence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-13, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5570-:d:393319
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elia Fernández-Martínez & María Dolores Onieva-Zafra & María Laura Parra-Fernández, 2019. "The Impact of Dysmenorrhea on Quality of Life Among Spanish Female University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-12, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Remedios López-Liria & Lucía Torres-Álamo & Francisco A. Vega-Ramírez & Amelia V. García-Luengo & José M. Aguilar-Parra & Rubén Trigueros-Ramos & Patricia Rocamora-Pérez, 2021. "Efficacy of Physiotherapy Treatment in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Elia Fernández-Martínez & Ana Abreu-Sánchez & Juan Francisco Velarde-García & María Teresa Iglesias-López & Jorge Pérez-Corrales & Domingo Palacios-Ceña, 2020. "Living with Restrictions. The Perspective of Nursing Students with Primary Dysmenorrhea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Juan Diego Ramos-Pichardo & Ángela María Ortega-Galán & María Teresa Iglesias-López & Ana Abreu-Sánchez & Elia Fernández-Martínez, 2020. "Why Do Some Spanish Nursing Students with Menstrual Pain Fail to Consult Healthcare Professionals?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-14, November.
    4. Ana Abreu-Sánchez & María Laura Parra-Fernández & María Dolores Onieva-Zafra & Elia Fernández-Martínez, 2020. "Perception of Menstrual Normality and Abnormality in Spanish Female Nursing Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-12, September.
    5. Elia Fernández-Martínez & Ana Abreu-Sánchez & Jorge Pérez-Corrales & Javier Ruiz-Castillo & Juan Francisco Velarde-García & Domingo Palacios-Ceña, 2020. "Living with Pain and Looking for a Safe Environment: A Qualitative Study among Nursing Students with Dysmenorrhea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-15, September.
    6. Ya-Lin Fu & Chia-Ling Yang & Shu-Chuan Yu & Yun-Hsuan Lin & Hsiao-Pei Hsu & Chiu-Mieh Huang, 2021. "Nursing Students’ Perceptions of Menstrual Distress during Clinical Practice: A Q-Methodology Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-10, March.

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