Survey study, 1989
Are premenstrual symptoms as common as period pain in teenage girls?
Premenstrual symptoms are very common in teenage girls (86%), as common as period pain (91%). Most girls don't know what causes these symptoms or how to treat them.
What they did
Cross-sectional survey of 88 female high school students in two physical education classes. Each girl answered questions about period pain and premenstrual symptoms, their severity, treatment, and impact on academic performance and school attendance.
What they found
76 of 88 girls (86%) reported premenstrual symptoms and 80 of 88 (91%) reported period pain. The majority identified both as problems significantly affecting academic performance and causing school absenteeism. Most girls were unaware of the causes and treatments.
What it means for you
Premenstrual symptoms are very common in adolescent girls and significantly impact school. The main limitation is that this small survey of two classes at one high school may not represent all teenagers.
86%
Girls with premenstrual symptoms
91%
Girls with period pain
88
Female students surveyed
About the study
- Original title
- A survey of adolescent dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptom frequency. A model program for prevention, detection, and treatment
- Authors
- Wilson CA, Keye WR Jr
- Journal
- Journal of adolescent health care : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None; descriptive survey
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0197-0070(89)90065-x
Topics
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