Relation of Anthropometric and Lifestyle Related Factors with Primary Dysmenorrhea

Menstrual cycle is a cycle of natural changes that occurs in the uterus and ovaries as an essential part of making sexual reproduction possible. The biological activity of the menstrual cycle is created by coordination among hypothalamic, hypophyseal and ovarian hormones. Many females suffer from dysmenorrhea, painful cramping sensation in the lower abdomen during menstruation. It is one of the most frequently encountered gynaecological disorders, often accompanied by other biologic symptoms, including fatigue, dizziness, sweating, headaches, back ache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, all occurring just before or during menses

Our aim was to assess the anthropometric measurements during the different phases of menstrual cycle in premenopausal girls and women. The present study was targeted at further unveiling the effect of menstrual cycle on weight changed during its different phases. Body mass index was calculated and the interconnection of the same with the prevalence and the severity of dysmenorrhea was sought.. The major findings of the present study are high prevalence of dysmenorrhea (68%) among healthy female volunteers. Among them 36% suffered from severe pain during their menstruation when they had to cut down on their activities and take medications to ameliorate their pain. There is no significant relation existed between dysmenorrhea and age at menarche, nature of diet, and BMI. On the other hand, weight changes were of equal significance in women afflicted and not afflicted with dysmenorrhea. Hence they are not related to occurrence of painful periods.