Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of
dysmenorrhea among adolescents in Dubai,
and its effect on their academic and athletic performance. Methods: This
was a cross-sectional study conducted in ten randomly selected private and government high schools in Dubai, United
Arab Emirates. Using both the English and Arabic translated version of the
Women’s Health Symptom Survey Questionnaire World, data was collected from 456
female students of grades 7-12, aged 11-19 years. Results: Dysmenorrhea was a crucial problem reported by
432 (94.7%) of the participants. Of the total number, 208 (45%) participants
reported experiencing severe pain during
menstruation and 152 (33.4%) students reported being absent from school
during every menstrual cycle. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were used by 147 (32.3%) students, and
majority reported no or little improvement. The percentage of students who experienced
menstrual pain with micturition or defecation was 43.1% and 46.7%,
respectively. None of the participants reported the use of
References
[1]
Brosens, I., Puttemans, P. and Benagiano, G. (2018) Which Cell Defines Endometriosis? Human Reproduction, 33, 357-360. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dey016
[2]
Bernardi, M., Lazzeri, L., Perelli, F., Reis, F.M. and Petraglia, F. (2017) Dysmenorrhea and Related Disorders. F1000 Research, 6, 1645.
https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.11682.1
[3]
Acién, P. and Velasco, I. (2013) Endometriosis: A Disease That Remains Enigmatic. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2013, Article ID: 242149.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/242149
[4]
Iacovides, S., Avidon, I. and Baker, F.C. (2015) What We Know about Primary Dysmenorrhea Today: A Critical Review. Human Reproduction Update, 21, 762-778.
https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmv039
[5]
Rimi, S. and Himabindu, N. (2016) A Study of Prevalence and Severity of Dysmenorrhea among University Students. Journal of Evolution of Medical & Dental Sciences, 5, 4839-4842.
[6]
(2018) ACOG Committee Opinion No. 760: Dysmenorrhea and Endometriosis in the Adolescent. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 132, e249-e258.
https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002978
[7]
Klemmt, P.A. and Starzinski-Powitz, A. (2018) Molecular and Cellular Pathogenesis of Endometriosis. Current Women’s Health Reviews, 14, 106-116.
https://doi.org/10.2174/1573404813666170306163448
[8]
Tanbo, T. and Fedorcsak, P. (2017) Endometriosis-Associated Infertility: Aspects of Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Treatment Options. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 96, 659-667. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13082
[9]
Gagua, T., Tkeshelashvili, B. and Gagua, D. (2012) Primary Dysmenorrhea: Prevalence in Adolescent Population of Tbilisi, Georgia, and Risk Factors. Journal of the Turkish-German Gynecological Association, 13, 162-168.
https://doi.org/10.5152/jtgga.2012.21
[10]
Armour, M., Parry, K., Manohar, N., Holmes, K., Ferfolja, T., Curry, C., et al. (2019) Prevalence and Academic Impact of Dysmenorrhea in 21,573 Young Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Women’s Health, 28, 1161-1171.
https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2018.7615
[11]
Sahin, S., Ozdemir, K., Unsal, A. and Arslan, R. (2014) Review of Frequency of Dysmenorrhea and Some Associated Factors and Evaluation of the Relationship between Dysmenorrhea and Sleep Quality in University Students. Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation, 78, 179-185. https://doi.org/10.1159/000363743
[12]
Kamel, D.M., Tantawy, S.A. and Abdelsamea, G.A. (2017) Experience of Dysmenorrhea among a Group of Physical Therapy Students from Cairo University: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Pain Research, 10, 1079-1085.
https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S132544
[13]
Dun, E.C., Kho, K.A., Morozov, V.V., Kearney, S., Zurawin, J.L. and Nezhat, C.H. (2015) Endometriosis in Adolescents. Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons, 19, e2015.00019. https://doi.org/10.4293/JSLS.2015.00019
[14]
Agarwal, S.K., et al. (2019) Clinical Diagnosis of Endometriosis: A Call to Action. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 220, 354.e1-354.e12.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2018.12.039
[15]
Casper, R.F. (2017) A Focus on the Medical Management of Endometriosis. Fertility and Sterility, 107, 521-522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.01.008
[16]
Benagiano, G., Brosens, I. and Habiba, M. (2015) Adenomyosis: A Life-Cycle Approach. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 30, 220-232.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2014.11.005
[17]
Dietrich, J.E. (2010) An Update on Adenomyosis in the Adolescent. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 22, 388-392.
https://doi.org/10.1097/GCO.0b013e32833cefaf
[18]
Unsal, A., Ayranci, U., Tozun, M., Arslan, G. and Calik, E. (2010) Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and Its Effect on Quality of Life among a Group of Female University Students. Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences, 115, 138-145.
https://doi.org/10.3109/03009730903457218
[19]
The Original Questionnaire. https://www.endometriosisfoundation.org
[20]
Alsaleem, M.A. (2018) Dysmenorrhea, Associated Symptoms, and Management among Students at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 7, 769-774.
https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_113_18
[21]
Abd El-Mawgod, M.M., Alshaibany, A.S. and Al-Anazi, A.M. (2016) Epidemiology of Dysmenorrhea among Secondary-School Students in Northern Saudi Arabia. Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 91, 115-119.
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.EPX.0000489884.20641.95
[22]
Al-Matouq, S., Al-Mutairi, H. and Al-Mutairi (2019) Dysmenorrhea among High-School Students and Its Associated Factors in Kuwait. BMC Pediatrics, 19, Article No. 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-019-1442-6
[23]
Ibrahim, N., Al Ghamdi, M., Al-Shaibani, A., AlAmri, F., Alharbi, H., Al-Jadani, A., et al. (2015) Dysmenorrhea among Female Medical Students in King Abdulaziz University: Prevalence, Predictors, and Outcome. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 31, 1312-1317. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.316.8752
[24]
Karout, N., Hawai, S.M. and Altuwaijri, S. (2012) Prevalence and Pattern of Menstrual Disorders among Lebanese Nursing Students. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 18, 346-352. https://doi.org/10.26719/2012.18.4.346
[25]
Al Asadi, J. and Abdul Qadir, R. (2013) Dysmenorrhea, and Its Impact on Daily Activities among Secondary School Students in Basra, Iraq. Journal of the Faculty of Medicine Baghdad, 55, 339-344.
[26]
Liisu, S., Oskari, H., Aila, T. and Paivi, H. (2016) Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis Affecting the Urinary Tract—Surgical Treatment and Fertility Outcomes in 2004-2013. Gynecological Surgery, 13, 435-444.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10397-016-0958-0
[27]
Chapron, C., Barakat, H., Fritel, X., Dubuisson, J.-B., Bréart, G. and Fauconnier, A. (2005) Presurgical Diagnosis of Posterior Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis Based on a Standardized Questionnaire. Human Reproduction, 20, 507-513.
https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deh627
[28]
Riazi, H., Tehranian, N., Ziaei, S., Mohammadi, E., Ebrahim, H. and Ali, M. (2015) Clinical Diagnosis of Pelvic Endometriosis: A Scoping Review. BMC Women’s Health, 15, Article No. 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-015-0196-z
[29]
Harel, Z. (2012) Dysmenorrhea in Adolescents and Young Adults: An Update on Pharmacological Treatments and Management Strategies. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 13, 2157-2170. https://doi.org/10.1517/14656566.2012.725045
[30]
Soliman, A.M., Surrey, E., Bonafede, M., Nelson, J.K. and Castelli-Haley, J. (2018) Real-World Evaluation of Direct and Indirect Economic Burden among Endometriosis Patients in the United States. Advances in Therapy, 35, 408-423.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-018-0667-3
