Multi-Site Pain During Menstruation in Adolescents is Associated With Impaired Functioning Across Various Domains: A...

To evaluate multi-site pain (i.e., number of painful body regions) during menstruation in a sample of adolescents, and to assess relationships between multi-site pain during menstruation and other menstrual cycle, pain, and psychosocial factors.

Participants in this cross-sectional observational study included 141 girls ages 13-19 years with varying levels of menstrual pain. Participants indicated on a body map the areas where they usually experience pain when menstruating. Participants also completed a set of validated self-report questionnaires. Menstruation-associated multi-site pain was calculated as the total number of body regions reported (out of 21). Partial correlations controlling for baseline menstrual pain intensity were conducted between menstruation-associated multi-site pain and other variables of interest.

The average number of body regions reported was 2.8 (SD = 1.5; min = 0; max = 8). Menstruation-associated multi-site pain was significantly positively correlated with number of pre-menstrual syndrome symptoms, non-menstrual multi-site body pain, pain interference over the prior week, fatigue, sleep disturbance, somatization, and multisensory sensitivity. Menstruation-associated multi-site pain was not significantly correlated with age, age at menarche, gynecologic age, menstrual pain interference, and non-menstrual body pain intensity.

Pain during menstruation in adolescents is not limited to the abdominal and pelvic regions, and many girls experience pain in numerous body locations during their periods. The associations between menstruation-associated multi-site pain and other pain and psychosocial measures provide preliminary evidence for the existence of a sub-group of adolescents who may be at increased risk for future pain problems.