The prevalence of self-reported premenstrual symptoms and evaluation of regular exercise with premenstrual symptoms among female employees in Taiwan.
Few studies have focused on premenstrual symptoms in employees. This study explored the prevalence of premenstrual symptoms in 7,193 female employees aged 18-55 years in a large electronics manufacturer in Taiwan from August 2014 to December 2014 and examined whether regular exercise was associated with premenstrual symptoms. Information was collected on demographics, lifestyle, menstrual history, menstrual pain, and premenstrual symptoms. Half of the participants reported irregular menstruation; 79.4% reported a moderate menstruation amount, and half reported little impact of menstrual pain at work. In order of prevalence, symptoms were "easy to fatigue" (24%), "backache" (21.2%), and "abdominal bloating" (17.4%). Participants who engaged in regular exercise reported fewer backaches (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.68-0.91), somatic discomfort (aOR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.63-0.96), headache (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.69-0.98), diarrhea (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.60-0.96), constipation (aaOR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.44-0.78), less irritability (aOR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.65-0.94), feeling morose and depressed (aOR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.58-0.95), crying (aOR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.27-0.87), and emotional lability (aOR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.58-0.91). Regular exercise was associated with decreased menstrual pain (aOR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.76-0.96). Our findings provide a better understanding of premenstrual symptoms in female workers, allowing for the development of premenstrual health programs to improve their health and quality of life.
a Department of Health Management , I-Shou University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.
Su-Ying
SY
Tsai
b Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology , E-Da Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.|c School of Medicine, College of Medicine , I-Shou University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.|d Department of Public Health , College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.
Fu-Chen
FC
Kuo
a Department of Health Management , I-Shou University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.
Hsin-Chih
HC
Kuo
a Department of Health Management , I-Shou University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.
Li-Ling
LL
Liao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008598:Menstruation / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
Employee; exercise; female; premenstrual symptoms