Factors Associated with Increased Pain in Primary Dysmenorrhea: Analysis Using a Multivariate Ordered Logistic Regression Model.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: In the literature about primary dysmenorrhea (PD), either a pain gradient has been studied just in women with PD or pain was assessed as a binary variable (presence or absence). Accordingly, we decided to carry out a study in young women to determine possible factors associated with intense pain.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study.

SETTING: A Spanish University in 2016.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 306 women, aged 18-30 years.

INTERVENTIONS: A questionnaire was filled in by the participants to assess associated factors with dysmenorrhoea.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Our outcome measure was the Andersch and Milsom scale (grade from 0 to 3).

DEFINITION: grade 0 (menstruation is not painful and daily activity is unaffected), grade 1 (menstruation is painful but seldom inhibits normal activity, analgesics are seldom required, and mild pain), grade 2 (daily activity affected, analgesics required and give relief so that absence from work or school is unusual, and moderate pain), and grade 3 (activity clearly inhibited, poor effect of analgesics, vegetative symptoms and severe pain).

RESULTS: Factors significantly associated with more extreme pain: a higher menstrual flow (odds ratio [OR], 2.11; P < .001), a worse quality of life (OR, 0.97; P < .001) and use of medication for PD (OR, 8.22; P < .001).

CONCLUSION: We determined factors associated with extreme pain in PD in a novel way. Further studies are required to corroborate our results.