The Association of Reproductive Hormones During the Menstrual Period with Primary Dysmenorrhea

Impact of Probiotic Supplementation and High-Intensity Interval Training on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Inflammation and Hormonal Modulation

Background: Dysmenorrhea, categorized as primary (PD) or secondary (SD), significantly affects females during their reproductive years, impairing quality of life, performance, and social relationships. Alongside medical treatment, exercise and probiotics are complementary measures for managing PD and promoting health. This study examined the impact of probiotic supplementation and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on PD severity, physiological modulation, and physical fitness. Methods: Participants, recruited according to the primary dysmenorrhea criteria, were divided into non-PD (control) and PD groups, with the PD group further classified into dysmenorrhea (Dysmen), dysmenorrhea with probiotics (DysmenPro), dysmenorrhea with exercise (DysmenEx), and dysmenorrhea with both (DysmenExPro). Interventions included 10 weeks of HIIT and probiotics. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included questionnaires on premenstrual and menstrual symptoms, physical fitness evaluations, and blood sample analyses for biochemical, hormonal, and prostaglandin levels. Results: HIIT significantly reduced premenstrual symptoms, menstrual distress, and pain severity, likely due to hormone (estradiol, prolactin, progesterone, cortisol) modulation and decreased inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, PGE2, PGF2α). Cardiovascular endurance and explosive strength showed improvement through high-intensity interval training (HIIT), whereas probiotics had no significant effect on these aspects of physical fitness. While probiotics reduced premenstrual and menstrual distress symptoms, they had no notable impact on pain, inflammation, or hormone levels. Dysmenorrhea-related discomforts were correlated significantly with inflammation and hormones. Conclusions: The intervention strategy involving probiotics and HIIT exercise may be utilized as an alternative and complementary treatment to alleviate PD symptoms. Furthermore, this strategy could also be incorporated into educational health plans to promote women's health and potentially prevent gynecological disorders in the adolescent population.

Dysmenorrhea and Premenstrual Syndrome in Association with Health Habits in the Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are common disorders in the Mexican population, but these are usually underdiagnosed and under-treated, impacting women's quality of life. Adequate health habits have been reported as precursors of decreasing dysmenorrhea symptoms. However, few studies assess their impact on PMS.

AIM

This study aims to evaluate dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome in association with health habits in the Mexican population.

METHODS

To assess the impact of health habits on menstruation symptoms a validated survey was conducted in 1679 adult females aged ≥18 years. The survey collected data on participants' dysmenorrhea, PMS, and their health habits.

RESULTS

The analysis showed that physical activity duration, changes in eating habits (increases in salty or sugary foods) during menstruation, and oversleeping habits predict increases in dysmenorrhea and PMS. In contrast, an active sexual life, relaxing physical activity, and adequate sleep hours during menstruation seem to decrease the symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that adequate health habits and addressing early gynecological conditions might regulate dysmenorrhea and PMS.

Prevalence and risk factors of primary dysmenorrhoea among medical students: a cross-sectional survey in Indonesia

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of primary dysmenorrhoea among medical students in Indonesia.

DESIGN

A web-based survey was conducted among 630 medical students across Indonesia, selected based on specific inclusion criteria. Dysmenorrhoea prevalence, severity and associated risk factors were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. To analyse the data, univariate and multiple binary logistic regression analyses were performed. A significance level of 5% (p<0.05) was used for both types of analyses to determine the statistical significance of the observed associations.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Indonesia (2021: n=630 female medical students).

OUTCOMES

The primary outcome is primary dysmenorrhoea, defined as painful menses without previous diagnosis of pelvic pathology. The severity of dysmenorrhoea was measured using the Verbal Multidimensional Scoring System. Independent variables include socio-demographic characteristics, menstrual history and other identified associated risk factors.

RESULTS

Of the 630 Indonesian medical students surveyed, a large proportion (91.27%) reported experiencing dysmenorrhoea, with 52.35% experiencing moderate-to-severe pain. Family history of dysmenorrhoea emerged as a significant predictor for both occurrence (OR 3.76; 95% CI 1.89 to 7.45) and severity (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.06). Dysmenorrhoea severity was positively associated with cycle length (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.01 to 2.43), whereas higher body mass index (BMI) (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.90 to 0.98) and being Indonesian of foreign descent (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.27 to 0.84) were negatively associated with moderate-to-severe dysmenorrhoea.

CONCLUSIONS

Dysmenorrhoea is prevalent among Indonesian medical students, with family history, BMI, cycle length and race significantly associated with its occurrence or severity. These findings underscore the need for further research on more diverse populations to enhance awareness and address this prevalent gynaecological concern effectively.