Measuring menstrual discomfort: A comparison of interview and diary data

A.M.Z. Jukic, C.R. Weinberg, D.D. Baird, P.P. Hornsby, A.J. Wilcox

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND:: Menstrual discomfort is common among women of reproductive age and can be debilitating. The accuracy of self-report of menstrual discomfort is unknown. METHODS:: At enrollment into the DES Reproductive Health Study in 1990, premenopausal women classified their frequency of any menstrual discomfort as always, often, sometimes, and never. Subsequently, women provided daily diary information for up to 6 months regarding any menstrual discomfort and medication used for menstrual pain. RESULTS:: A total of 324 women contributed data on 4 or more menstrual cycles in the prospective study. At enrollment, 10% had reported never having menstrual discomfort. Of these, 65% recorded at least 1 day of menstrual discomfort during follow-up. For the 27% who had reported always having discomfort, 88% recorded discomfort in all cycles. The enrollment statement of discomfort was more strongly correlated with the percentage of cycles in which women took medication for menstrual pain; respondents who said they never had menstrual discomfort reported use of pain medication in 3% of cycles; sometimes, 36%; often, 67%; and always, 92%. The average number of days per cycle with prospectively recorded menstrual discomfort was also correlated with the enrollment response. CONCLUSIONS:: A single question regarding frequency of menstrual discomfort was positively correlated with prospectively recorded menstrual discomfort and especially with pain requiring medication. © 2008 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)846-850
Number of pages5
JournalEpidemiology
Volume19
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

Bibliographical note

Cited By :5

Export Date: 26 December 2018

CODEN: EPIDE

Correspondence Address: Jukic, A. M. Z.; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 TW Alexander Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States; email: [email protected]

Keywords

  • acetylsalicylic acid
  • paracetamol
  • adult
  • article
  • comparative study
  • controlled study
  • female
  • follow up
  • human
  • interview
  • major clinical study
  • measurement
  • menstrual cycle
  • menstruation disorder
  • premenopause
  • priority journal
  • prospective study
  • reproductive health
  • self report
  • cohort analysis
  • dysmenorrhea
  • health survey
  • questionnaire
  • Adult
  • Cohort Studies
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Questionnaires

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