Interview study, 2021
What do Spanish women think about their healthcare for premenstrual discomfort?
Women feel healthcare is inadequate because doctors only provide medication without investigating underlying causes. They want providers to address root causes and prefer education over medication alone.
What they did
Researchers interviewed 16 Spanish women in detail about their experiences with premenstrual discomfort and the healthcare they received.
What they found
Premenstrual discomfort disrupts daily life and leads to self-medication. Women believe healthcare is deficient and relies only on medication without investigating the source. Women hold different beliefs about PMS: some think it is inherent to the menstrual cycle, others attribute it to genetics or hormonal imbalances, and others link it to stress, diet, or exercise. Some would consider menstrual suppression but hesitate due to concerns about side effects. Women propose health education programs and better training for healthcare professionals.
What it means for you
Spanish women with premenstrual discomfort want doctors to explore underlying causes rather than just prescribing medication. This very small study of 16 women from one Spanish region may not represent all women with premenstrual discomfort.
16
women interviewed
About the study
- Original title
- [Healthcare for premenstrual discomfort patients. Women's perspective]
- Authors
- García-Toyos N, March-Cerdá JC, Chillón-Martínez R et al.
- Journal
- Semergen
- Year
- 2021
- Study design
- Interview study
- Participants
- 16
- What was tested
- None - qualitative interviews
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.semerg.2020.05.019
Topics
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