INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENSTRUAL PATTERNS AND MENSTRUAL DISTRESS IN FEMALE STUDENTS IN SARDASHT 2019

Menstrual distress and menstrual irregularities are dimensions of menstrual
disorders that have a significant impact on women's life. The aim of this study was to investigate the
relationship between menstrual distress and its dimensions with menstrual patterns in female students
in Sardasht, 2019.
Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study.
Participants were 393 female students of Sardasht universities, who were enrolled in the study. After
obtaining informed consent, participants completed a checklist for demographic and menstrual
characteristics and a menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ). Data were analyzed using descriptive
statistics, ANOVA and t-test with SPSS software (version 16). (P=0/05)
Results: The mean age of participants was 23 ± 4.08 years. 75.5% of participants had normal menstrual
duration, 73.5% had normal menstrual blood volume, and 89.4% had.normal interval between two
menstrual cycles. Examination of menstrual distress score showed that the majority of participants
(50.6%) had mild menstrual distress. Menstrual distress score was related to water retention dimension
(2.98 ± 2.78) and pain score was related to pain dimension (9.75± 4.66). There was no significant
relationship between the duration of menstrual bleeding and menstrual distress and the interval between
two menstrual cycles with menstrual distress (p>0.05). There was a significant relationship between
menstrual blood volume and menstrual distress (p <0.05). There was a significant relationship between
pain, behavioral changes and autonomic reactions with menstrual blood volume (p <0.05), but there was
no significant relationship between concentration, negative emotions, water retention, arousal and
control with menstrual blood volume (p>0.05).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that menstrual distress was associated with menstrual blood
volume. Increased menstrual blood volume is associated with increased distress and its dimensions,
except of water retention and arousal. Therefore, necessary interventions should be taken to treat high
menstrual blood volume.