Abstract
Dysmenorrhea constitutes only a small fraction of the causes of absence from work among women of childbearing age. Nevertheless, every second woman in two Norwegian industrial companies experienced pain during menstruation and one in three had to stay in bed at least one day per month. Many women attend their jobs in spite of reduced capacity for work during periods of discomfort. The consequence for work output and hence economy may be impossible to estimate.
Socially the perimenstrual period has a negative effect on many women. Poor results at examinations, greater risk of being injured and a tendency to commit offences seem to cluster at this time. The social implications of dysmenorrhea may be as important as the economic ones.