Evaluation of the relationship between the severity of primarydysmenorrhea and anthropometric measurements

Primary dysmenorrhea is quite common in young adult women, and the severity of the pain can affect daily activities, leading to negative outcomes such as school and work absenteeism. Identifying and improving physical parameters and behavioral risk factors that could influence pain severity is important. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the severity of primary dysmenorrhea and anthropometric measurements. The study is descriptive and cross-sectional in design, conducted between April 15, 2023, and December 15, 2023, with a total of 235 female participants aged 18-30 who applied to the family medicine outpatient clinics of Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine and Beytepe Gun Hospital. Participants who agreed to participate in the study were interviewed face to face, a 25-question survey form was filled out, and anthropometric body measurements were recorded. The mean age of the participants was 21.8±2.2 years (min=18; max=30) and 97.9% were single. The mean pain score of the participants was 6.8±1.4 (min=3; max=10) and 67.7% experienced moderate pain. The rates of drug use and alternative method use for the treatment of dysmenorrhea is 74.0% and 85.1%, respectively, and the source of information about the treatment is family and relatives at a rate of 46.2%. While 79.6% of the participants have never consulted a family physician due to dysmenorrhea, the frequency of visitsto a family physician increases as the severity of pain increases(p=0.001). Waist circumference (p=0.014), waist/hip ratio (p=0.004) and waist/height ratio values (p=0.004) of participants with severe pain are lower than participants with mild-moderate pain. No relationship was found between other anthropometric measurements and pain intensity. These findings show that dysmenorrheic women have low rates of consulting a clinician and there may be a relationship between pain intensity and some anthropometric measurements. It is very important for family physicians to screen primary dysmenorrhea, which is common in the society, and to make appropriate lifestyle interventions by identifying physical parameters and behavioral risk factors that may affect the severity of pain.