Prevalence of menstrual pain and associated risk factors among Iranian women

Objective: Dysmenorrhea is a common disorder among women. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and to investigate the associated risk factors in Iranian women. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 381 women in Tehran, Iran completed a questionnaire regarding dysmenorrhea. Descriptive statistics, spearman rho correlation, and ordinal regression model were used to present the results. The response rate was 72%. Results: The prevalence of no, mild, moderate, and severe menstrual pain was 9.8%, 40.9%, 27.5%, and 21.7% respectively. The mean age at menarche was 12.3 years. Age, socioeconomic status, fruit and vegetable intake, fatty diet, stress level, and family history of dysmenorrhea were all associated with menstrual pain. There was no association between BMI, parity, smoking, and physical activity with dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: menstrual pain is a common complaint in Iranian women. By identifying modifiable risk factors, recommendations could be made to reduce dysmenorrhea.