Effect of perceptions of menstrual blood loss and menstrual pain on women’s quality of life

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore Australian women’s experiences of menstruation and effect on quality of life (QoL).

Methods: A representative sample of women recruited through a commercial social research sampling organisation completed a detailed online questionnaire about menstruation. Specific detailed questions were asked about perceptions of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and menstrual pain.

Results: The questionnaire was completed by 1575 women aged 20–39 years. Most perceived their bleeding to be light (11.6%) or moderate (60.5%); 363 (22.5%) perceived it to be heavy and 86 (5.3%) very heavy. Women who experienced severe or very severe menstrual pain were significantly more likely to report periods as heavy or very heavy (p < .001). The prevalence ratios for being confined to bed during menstruation for women experiencing severe or very severe menstrual pain were 12.02 (95% CI: 5.71–25.31) and 15.93 (95% CI: 7.51–33.78), respectively, compared with women experiencing no pain. The prevalence ratios for being confined to bed were 1.58 (95% CI: 1.11–2.24) and 1.53 (95% CI: 1.04–2.25) for women with heavy or very heavy bleeding, respectively. Women who experienced severe or very severe menstrual pain associated with their HMB were >12 times more likely to be confined to bed for 0.5–1 day during menstruation than if they reported HMB without pain.

Conclusion: Severe menstrual pain with HMB has a much more profound effect on all aspects of women’s QoL than HMB alone; it accounts for more days in bed and for loss of productivity.

Chinese abstract

目的: 此研究的目的是探讨澳大利亚妇女月经期的经历及其对生活质量 (QOL) 的影响

方法: 通过一个电视广告社会研究抽样组织招募有代表性的妇女, 完成了一个详细的关于月经的网上调查问卷。特别详细询问对大量月经出血 (HMB) 和痛经的认知。

结果: 问卷由1575名年龄在20-39的妇女完成。大部分认为她们的出血量少 (11.6%) 或者中等 (60.5%); 363 (22.5%) 认为经血量多, 86 (5.3%) 认为很多。经历严重或非常严重痛经的妇女明显地更倾向于报告她们的经量多或很多 (p＜.001) 。与没有痛经的妇女相比, 经历严重或非常严重痛经的妇女月经期限制在床的发生率分别为12.02 (95% CI: 5.71–25.31)和15.93 (95% CI: 7.51–33.78)。经量多和非常多的妇女被限制在床上的发生率分别为1.58 (95% CI:1.11–2.24)和1.53 (95% CI: 1.04–2.25)。.经历严重或非常严重痛经合并HMB的妇女月经期限制在床0.5-1天的发生率是报告HMB但没有痛经妇女的12倍。

结论: 严重痛经合并HMB相比于单独HMB对妇女 QoL各方面都有更加深刻的影响; 它导致更多的卧床时间和生产能力的缺失。

Keywords:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• menstrual pain
• menstruation
• quality of life
• survey

Disclosure statement

Ian S. Fraser has given lectures, participated in advisory boards and received expenses and honoraria from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Merck/MSD, Daiichi Sankyo and Vifor Pharma. He has received occasional grants from these companies to undertake ethically approved clinical research, the results of which have been published in international journals.

Edith Weisberg has given lectures, participated in advisory boards and received expenses and honoraria from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Merck/MSD. She has undertaken ethically approved clinical research and received grants from these companies.

Kevin McGeehan has no conflicts of interest to report.

Funding

The funding was provided by Bayer Healthcare Australian Division as a special grant for a study of menstruation in Australian women.