The impact of menstrual symptoms on everyday life: a survey among 42,879 women.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional internet-based survey
PubMed 30885768 · doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2019.02.048
What was done
A nationwide, cross-sectional, internet-based survey was conducted from July to October 2017 among 42,879 women aged 15 to 45 years. The survey evaluated the presence of menstrual symptoms, pain or symptom intensity scores, and the resulting impact on everyday activities.
What was found
Dysmenorrhea was the most prevalent symptom (85%), followed by psychological complaints (77%) and tiredness (71%). During their menstrual periods, 38% of respondents reported being unable to carry out all regular daily activities. Among women who skipped or transferred tasks due to symptoms, only 48.6% disclosed to their family that menstrual symptoms were the underlying reason.
Why it matters
These findings quantify the high burden of menstrual symptoms on daily functioning across a broad population and highlight ongoing social reluctance to openly communicate menstrual-related limitations.
Limits
The study relies entirely on self-reported, retrospective survey data collected via the internet, introducing substantial self-selection bias as symptomatic women may have been more likely to participate. Objective clinical diagnoses, geographic details, and specific demographic breakdowns were not detailed in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Survey data shows that 75% to 80% of women report experiencing menstrual symptoms such as cramps, low back pain, lack of motivation, and irritability.