title: [THE PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF MENSTRUAL PAIN IN HEALTHY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menstrual disorders generally affect the daily activities of females, and menstrual pain is a common gynaecological complaint in westernized societies. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of, and the factors related to, menstrual pain in young, healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 600 university students were obtained during the cross sectional survey. Stu-dents were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Information on the women's socioeconomic status, age at menarche, and menstrual cycle characteristics: i.e. the length and regularity of cycles, the duration of menstrual flow, and the occurrence of menstrual pain, headache and back pain during the cycles were asked about. Each person's height, weight and waist circumference were measured, and the following indices: BMI, WHR, and WHtR were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  29.8% of the surveyed students reported the occurrence of moderate pain during menstruation, and 21.7% reported the occurrence of severe menstrual pain. Significant differences were observed in the prevalence of menstrual pain with relation to age at menarche and the amount and distribution of adipose tissue. Menstrual pain was more prevalent among women who experienced menarche at a younger age. Among overweight and obese students, as well as among students with abdominal obesity, menstrual pain was more frequent than among those with correct weight and correct waist circumference. Moreover, psychological stress was associated with menstrual pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that a sig-nificant percentage of young women complain of menstrual pain. Menstrual pain is associated with early age at menarch, obesity and abdominal obesity.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Teul
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kliś
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jarzębak
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wronka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult