How common are period pain and PMS in Spanish university students, and do lifestyle choices affect them?

Background: Menstruation is a physiological process that may be accompanied by pain, headache, edema, emotional changes, and other symptoms, all of which affect quality of life. Although the results of some studies indicate lifestyle habits can affect the menstrual cycle and associated symptoms, few have investigated this issue, and even fewer have explored the impact of these symptoms on quality of life, in Spanish women. Purpose: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among students at a Spanish university, assess the impact of these conditions on quality of life, and analyze the relationship among lifestyle habits, dysmenorrhea, and PMS. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 743 women enrolled at the University of Extremadura in the 2021-2022 academic year. Data related to the menstrual cycle, pain, and PMS-related physical and emotional symptoms were collected. Quality of life related to menstruation was evaluated using the CVM-22 scale. Lifestyle data collected included adherence to a Mediterranean diet (PREDIMED [Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea] questionnaire), level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), and alcohol and tobacco consumption (Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test Version 3). Also, other clinical data were recorded. Results: In terms of the sample, the median age was 21 (19-23) years, the prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 57.9%, 92.7% reported premenstrual physical symptoms, and 55.6% reported experiencing premenstrual emotional changes. Having a low level of adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with the presence of dysmenorrhea, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.47 (95% CI [1.06, 2.03]). Having a low level of physical activity was strongly associated with the presence of premenstrual physical symptoms, with an aOR of 5.89 (95% CI [1.71, 20.26]). Also, an association was found between tobacco use and premenstrual emotional changes, with an aOR of 2.02 (95% CI [1.25, 3.25]). Furthermore, dysmenorrhea and PMS were both associated with a low quality of life, with pain and emotional changes being the most significantly associated factors, with ORs of 16.25 (95% CI [10.36, 25.47]) and 26.73 (95% CI [16.46, 43.40]), respectively. Conclusions: Similar to previous studies, the findings of this study indicate a high prevalence of dysmenorrhea and PMS among young university students in western Spain, with both of these symptoms impacting quality of life significantly and negatively. In addition, lifestyle habits, diet, physical activity, and tobacco use seem to influence the occurrence of these symptoms. Promoting lifestyle changes may be an effective strategy to reduce the incidence of dysmenorrhea and PMS and improve the quality of life of young women.

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