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Dysmenorrhea in industrial workers
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica
|January 1, 1975
Summary
Dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation, affects many working women, causing significant absence from work. Some cases present with anovulatory cycles despite severe pain, indicating complex underlying causes.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Gynecology
- Reproductive Endocrinology
Background:
- Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological issue impacting women's quality of life and work productivity.
- Prevalence and characteristics of menstrual complaints in an industrial workforce are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and nature of menstrual complaints, particularly dysmenorrhea, among women in Norwegian industrial settings.
- To explore potential underlying causes, including secondary dysmenorrhea and anovulatory cycles, in women with severe symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 234 women of menstruating age in two Norwegian industrial companies regarding menstrual complaints.
- Clinical evaluation, including gynecological examination, hormonal assays, and endometrial biopsy, for a subgroup of 32 women with severe complaints.
Main Results:
- Over half of the women experienced menstrual pain; significant proportions reported needing to stay in bed or being absent from work due to dysmenorrhea.
- Headache and depression associated with dysmenorrhea were more common in older women.
- Secondary dysmenorrhea was infrequent in the severe complaint group. Anovulatory cycles were identified in 4 of 12 women with dysmenorrhea.
Conclusions:
- Dysmenorrhea is a prevalent issue in industrial settings, leading to substantial work absence.
- While pain is common across age groups, other symptoms show age-specific variations.
- The presence of anovulatory cycles in some women with dysmenorrhea suggests diverse etiologies requiring further investigation.