Survey study, 1979
Can menstrual pain and discomfort be divided into two distinct types?
No. A statistical analysis of symptom patterns found seven different symptom groupings rather than two types, and women commonly experienced both premenstrual and menstrual symptoms together.
What they did
Researchers performed a statistical factor analysis of 275 completed Menstrual Symptom Questionnaires to test whether symptoms fell into two categories as theory predicted. They also compared symptoms between women using oral contraceptives and those not using them.
What they found
Factor analysis revealed seven symptom factors rather than the two predicted by the theory. Women commonly reported both high premenstrual and menstrual symptoms at the same time. Symptoms reported by women on oral contraceptives were similar to those not using contraceptives.
What it means for you
The traditional theory that dysmenorrhea comes in two distinct types is not supported by this data. Women typically experience a variety of menstrual symptoms that don't fit neatly into categories. This challenges how some clinicians classify menstrual pain, though the findings come from questionnaire responses and need confirmation.
275
Menstrual Symptom Questionnaires analyzed
7
symptom factors found
2
symptom types predicted by theory
About the study
- Original title
- The Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire and spasmodic/congestive dysmenorrhea: measurement of an invalid construct
- Authors
- Webster SK, Martin HJ, Uchalik D et al.
- Journal
- Journal of behavioral medicine
- Year
- 1979
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None; statistical analysis of questionnaire data.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/bf00846559
Topics
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