Effect of perceptions of menstrual blood loss and menstrual pain on women's quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to explore Australian women's experiences of menstruation and effect on quality of life (QoL).


METHODS
A representative sample of women recruited through a commercial social research sampling organisation completed a detailed online questionnaire about menstruation. Specific detailed questions were asked about perceptions of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and menstrual pain.


RESULTS
The questionnaire was completed by 1575 women aged 20-39 years. Most perceived their bleeding to be light (11.6%) or moderate (60.5%); 363 (22.5%) perceived it to be heavy and 86 (5.3%) very heavy. Women who experienced severe or very severe menstrual pain were significantly more likely to report periods as heavy or very heavy (p < .001). The prevalence ratios for being confined to bed during menstruation for women experiencing severe or very severe menstrual pain were 12.02 (95% CI: 5.71-25.31) and 15.93 (95% CI: 7.51-33.78), respectively, compared with women experiencing no pain. The prevalence ratios for being confined to bed were 1.58 (95% CI: 1.11-2.24) and 1.53 (95% CI: 1.04-2.25) for women with heavy or very heavy bleeding, respectively. Women who experienced severe or very severe menstrual pain associated with their HMB were >12 times more likely to be confined to bed for 0.5-1 day during menstruation than if they reported HMB without pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Severe menstrual pain with HMB has a much more profound effect on all aspects of women's QoL than HMB alone; it accounts for more days in bed and for loss of productivity.
a Family Planning NSW , Sydney , Australia.|b Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology & Neonatology , University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
Edith
E
Weisberg
a Family Planning NSW , Sydney , Australia.|b Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology & Neonatology , University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
Kevin
K
McGeehan
c School of Women's and Children's Health , University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia.
Ian S
IS
Fraser
D000328:Adult; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008598:Menstruation; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
Heavy menstrual bleeding; menstrual pain; menstruation; quality of life; survey