Case-control study, 2014
How common is severe period pain and what causes it?
Period pain affects 16% to 91% of women of reproductive age, with severe pain in 2% to 29%. It's less common as women age, after having children, and when using birth control pills, but more common with stress or family history of it.
What they did
Reviewed 15 large community-based studies from 2002 to 2011 measuring how many women had period pain and what risk factors increased or decreased it.
What they found
Period pain prevalence ranged from 16% to 91%, with severe pain reported by 2% to 29% of women. Age, having children, and birth control pills were protective factors. Stress increased risk with modest to moderate effect sizes (odds ratios 1 to 4). Family history was the strongest risk factor (odds ratios 3.8 to 20.7). Evidence was inconclusive for smoking, diet, obesity, depression, and abuse.
What it means for you
Period pain is common but severely limiting pain is less common. It naturally improves with age and having children. Stress and family history are clear risk factors. More evidence is needed on whether diet, obesity, smoking, depression, and abuse affect period pain.
16-91%
prevalence of period pain
2-29%
prevalence of severe pain
3.8-20.7
odds ratio for family history
About the study
- Original title
- The prevalence and risk factors of dysmenorrhea
- Authors
- Ju H, Jones M, Mishra G
- Journal
- Epidemiologic reviews
- Year
- 2014
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1093/epirev/mxt009
Topics
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