[How Do Korean Women Manage Menstrual or Menopausal Symptoms: 2022 Women's Health Survey for Sexual and Reproductive...

Menstrual health and hygiene are important for health and well-being across the life course. To assess sexual and reproductive health among Korean women, we conducted an online survey with 3,098 adolescent girls and premenopausal women and 1,307 peri- or post-menopausal women from July to September 2022. Among premenopausal women, 43% reported severe dysmenorrhea and 46% experienced severe premenstrual syndrome. Women who were menopausal or peri-menopausal reported health problems including sleep problem (28.0%), joint/muscle discomfort (23.3%), and vaginal dryness (27.2%). However, only 9.9% of adolescents and 28.5% of adults attended health services for these menstruation disorders. Moreover, 19.5% of peri- or post-menopausal women received medical treatment for menopausal symptoms. This result suggests that better access to service for menstrual health or menopause management may help promoting sexual and reproductive health and overall well-being among Korean women.