Prevalence and impact of dysmenorrhea on Hispanic female adolescents

Background: Dysmenorrhea is the leading cause of short-term schoolabsenteei sm. it is associated with a negative impact on social, academic, and sports activities of many female adolescents. Dysmenorrhea has not previously bee n described among Hispanic adolescents, the fastest growing minority group in the United States. Objective: To determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among Hispanic femal e adolescents; its impact on academic performance, school attendance, and s ports and social activities; and its management. Participants and Methods: A total of 706 Hispanic female adolescents, in gr ades 9 through 12, completed a 31-item questionnaire about the presence, du ration, severity, treatment, and limitations of dysmenorrhea at a local urb an high school Results: Among participants who had had a period in the previous 3 months, 85% reported dysmenorrhea. Of these, 38% reported missing school due to dys menorrhea during the 3 months prior to the survey and 33% reported missing individual classes. Activities affected by dysmenorrhea included class conc entration (59%), sports (51%), class participation (50%), socialization (46 %), homework (35%), test-taking skills (36%), and grades (29%). Treatments taken for dysmenorrhea included rest (58%), medications (52%), heating pad (26%), tea (20%), exercise (15%), and herbs (7%). Fourteen percent consulte d a physician and 49% saw a school nurse for help with their symptoms. Mens trual pain was significantly associated with school absenteeism and decreas ed academic performance, sports participation, and socialization with peers (P<.01). Conclusions: Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent among Hispanic adolescents an d is related to school absenteeism and limitations on social, academic, and sports activities. Given that most adolescents do not seek medical advice for dysmenorrhea, health care providers should screen routinely for dysmeno rrhea and offer treatment. As dysmenorrhea reportedly affects school perfor mance and attendance, school administrators may have a vested interest in p roviding health education on this topic to their students.