Survey study, 2021
How common are period problems like painful periods and PMS in teenage girls?
Period problems were very common in this group of teenage girls. Painful periods affected more than two thirds of them, and nearly half had premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
What they did
Researchers gave a self-reported questionnaire about menstrual patterns and premenstrual symptoms to 897 adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 in two regions of northeastern Iran (Mashhad and Sabzevar). Answers were compared using statistical tests.
What they found
The girls had a mean age of 14.0 years. Average age at first period was 12.57 years in Sabzevar vs 12.68 years in Mashhad, a clear difference. Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) were reported by 617 girls (68.8%), irregular cycles by 168 (18.7%). PMS was reported by 47.6%, clearly linked to painful periods. Backache (60%) and an urge to cry easily (31.8%) were the most common premenstrual symptoms. 21% had delayed first periods, 2.1% had heavy periods (menorrhagia). Painful periods and obesity were clearly more common in girls who started periods early than those who started late.
What it means for you
Period pain, irregular cycles and PMS affect a large share of teenage girls, and many may need medical help for painful periods. The study only looked at girls in one part of Iran and relied on girls reporting their own symptoms, so it cannot show what causes these problems or how they compare elsewhere.
68.8%
Had painful periods (dysmenorrhea)
47.6%
Had PMS
18.7%
Had irregular cycles
About the study
- Original title
- The prevalence of menstrual problems amongst adolescent girls in northeastern Iran
- Authors
- Afsane Bahrami, Fatemeh Ariakia, Gordon A. Ferns et al.
- Journal
- Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
- Year
- 2021
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- No treatment tested; this was a survey of menstrual symptoms
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.30699/jambs.30.e55702
Topics
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