Menstrual cycle abnormalities in women: characteristics, perceptions, and health-seeking behaviours

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate menstruation characteristics, perceptions, and health-seeking behaviours in women.

Methods

We conducted this cross-sectional study with 394 women between February 2021 and October 2021. According to the self-perception of women, menstruation characteristics were divided into two groups, including ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Assessment Form of the Menstrual Cycle Characteristics, and Health-Seeking Behaviour Scale.

Results

Among all women, 49.7% perceived their menstruation characteristics as ‘normal’, and 50.3% perceived them as ‘abnormal’. The menstruation characteristics negatively affected the daily life of 57.6% of women in the normal group and 68.7% of women in the abnormal group. Online health-seeking behaviour was the most common behaviour of seeking remedy; however, professional health-seeking behaviour was inadequate. Among women who perceived their menstruation characteristics as ‘normal’, excessive menstrual bleeding, extreme pain, and adverse effects on daily life increased health-seeking behaviour. Among women who perceived their menstruation characteristics as ‘abnormal’, irregular cycles, frequent bleeding, low levels of bleeding, the use of too many pads, extreme pain, and adverse effects on daily life increased health-seeking behaviour.

Conclusion

The participants in this study exhibited insufficient health-seeking behaviour for abnormal menstruation characteristics. Women should be directed by health professionals to reliable online sources to seek help, and they should be encouraged to display professional health-seeking behaviour.

SHORT CONDENSATION

The knowledge and perception of menstruation characteristics among women is inadequate. The results of this study suggested that many gynecological symptoms that can affect women in their later stages of life may be unintentionally ignored.

摘要

目的: 评估女性月经特征、认知和寻求健康的行为。

方法: 我们在2021年2月至2021年10月期间对394名女性进行了这项横断面研究。根据女性的自我感觉, 将月经特征分为正常和异常两组。使用个人信息表、月经周期特征评估表和健康寻求行为量表收集数据。

结果: 在所有女性中, 49.7%的人认为自己的月经特征“正常”, 50.3%的人认为月经特征“异常”。月经特征对正常组57.6%的女性和异常组68.7%的女性的日常生活产生了负面影响。网上寻求健康的行为是最常见的寻求补救的行为；然而, 寻求专业健康的行为是不够的。在认为月经特征“正常”的女性中, 月经过多出血、极度疼痛和对日常生活的不良影响增加了寻求健康的行为。在那些认为自己的月经特征为“异常”、月经周期不规律、频繁出血、出血量低、使用过多护垫、极度疼痛以及对日常生活产生不良影响的女性中, 寻求健康的行为增加了。

结论: 本研究的参与者对月经异常特征表现出不充分的健康寻求行为。卫生专业人员应引导妇女向可靠的在线来源寻求帮助, 并鼓励她们表现出专业的健康寻求行为。

小结: 女性对月经特征的认识和感知不足。这项研究的结果表明, 许多可能影响女性后期生活的妇科症状可能会被无意中忽视。

Keywords:

• Health-seeking behaviour
• menstrual cycle
• perception
• symptom

Acknowledgements

The authors would like thankful all the women who participated in this study.

Ethics statement

Ethical approval was obtained from Dokuz Eylul University Research Ethics Board (Decision date: 06/07/2020, Protocol no: 2020/15-42).

Authors’ contributions

HÖ, DB and AB designed the study. HÖ and AB collected the data. HÖ, DB and AB analysed the data. HÖ, DB and AB prepared the manuscript. HÖ, DB and AB provide critical revisions for important intellectual content. All authors approved the final version for submission.

Disclosure statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.