Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE
To describe both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments used by adolescents with dysmenorrhea.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.
SETTING
Urban academic medical center.
PARTICIPANTS
Healthy adolescents aged 19 years or younger (n = 76) with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea were included; those using hormonal contraception were excluded.
INTERVENTION
We collected baseline data via interview from adolescent girls at enrollment in a clinical trial of oral contraceptives versus placebo for primary dysmenorrhea. The interview data, collected prior to any intervention, included information on demographics, dysmenorrhea duration and severity, and self-treatment. We used the validated pain subscale of the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire and a 0-10 pain rating scale to estimate pain severity.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Investigator-administered questionnaire.
RESULTS
Adolescents' mean age was 16.8 years (SD = 2). Similar proportions described themselves as white (26%), black (30%) or Hispanic (28%). Dysmenorrhea was moderate in 42%, severe in 58%, associated with nausea in 55%, and vomiting in 24%. Of those attending school (n = 66), 46% reported missing one or more days monthly due to dysmenorrhea. Nearly all discussed their pain with someone; however, a minority sought formal medical care. All used nonpharmacological remedies such as sleeping and heat application. Nearly all used at least one medication, 31% reported using two, and 15% used three medications (not concurrently). Many participants reported using medication at sub-therapeutic doses for pain.
CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents with moderate and severe dysmenorrhea reported high morbidity. Girls used numerous non-pharmacologic remedies as well as medications for pain but infrequently accessed formal medical care. Medication dosing was often sub-therapeutic.
TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-treatment patterns among adolescent girls with dysmenorrhea.
AU - O'Connell,Katharine,
AU - Davis,Anne Rachel,
AU - Westhoff,Carolyn,
PY - 2006/7/29/pubmed
PY - 2006/12/9/medline
PY - 2006/7/29/entrez
SP - 285
EP - 9
JF - Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology
JO - J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol
VL - 19
IS - 4
N2 - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments used by adolescents with dysmenorrhea. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Urban academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy adolescents aged 19 years or younger (n = 76) with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea were included; those using hormonal contraception were excluded. INTERVENTION: We collected baseline data via interview from adolescent girls at enrollment in a clinical trial of oral contraceptives versus placebo for primary dysmenorrhea. The interview data, collected prior to any intervention, included information on demographics, dysmenorrhea duration and severity, and self-treatment. We used the validated pain subscale of the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire and a 0-10 pain rating scale to estimate pain severity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Investigator-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Adolescents' mean age was 16.8 years (SD = 2). Similar proportions described themselves as white (26%), black (30%) or Hispanic (28%). Dysmenorrhea was moderate in 42%, severe in 58%, associated with nausea in 55%, and vomiting in 24%. Of those attending school (n = 66), 46% reported missing one or more days monthly due to dysmenorrhea. Nearly all discussed their pain with someone; however, a minority sought formal medical care. All used nonpharmacological remedies such as sleeping and heat application. Nearly all used at least one medication, 31% reported using two, and 15% used three medications (not concurrently). Many participants reported using medication at sub-therapeutic doses for pain. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with moderate and severe dysmenorrhea reported high morbidity. Girls used numerous non-pharmacologic remedies as well as medications for pain but infrequently accessed formal medical care. Medication dosing was often sub-therapeutic.
SN - 1083-3188
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/16873033/Self_treatment_patterns_among_adolescent_girls_with_dysmenorrhea_
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
