Table 2 Menstrual characteristics of adolescent girls with dysmenorrhea
From: Health-related quality of life among Chinese adolescent girls with Dysmenorrhoea
|  | With dysmenorrhea (n = 428) |
|---|---|
Pain intensity | |
 Mean (SD) | 5.43 (2.13) |
Area of dysmenorrheal pain | |
 Upper abdomen | 17 (4.0%) |
 Lower abdomen | 359 (83.9%) |
 Pelvic region | 17 (4.0%) |
 Lumbar region | 26 (6.1%) |
 Inner thigh | 5 (1.2%) |
 Other | 4 (0.9%) |
Other discomforts | |
 Breast tenderness | 85 (16.1%) |
 Swelling of lower limbs | 17 (3.2%) |
 Fatigue | 197 (37.5%) |
 Nausea | 35 (6.7%) |
 Headache | 43 (8.2%) |
 Diarrhea | 33 (6.3%) |
 Anxiety | 38 (7.2%) |
 Palpitations | 4 (0.8%) |
 Skin problems | 57 (10.8%) |
 Other | 17 (3.2%) |
First experience of dysmenorrhea | |
 In the first menarche | 82 (19.2%) |
 6 months to a year after menarche | 161 (37.6%) |
 1 to 2 years after menarche | 93 (21.7%) |
 2 years after menarche | 68 (15.9%) |
 Other/ forgotten | 24 (5.6%) |
Onset of dysmenorrhea | |
 Day before menstrual cycle | 109 (25.5%) |
 First day of cycle | 221 (51.6%) |
 Second day of cycle | 80 (18.7%) |
 Other | 18 (4.2%) |
End of dysmenorrhea | |
 First day of menstrual cycle | 54 (12.6%) |
 Second day of menstrual cycle | 135 (31.5%) |
 Third day of menstrual cycle | 149 (34.8%) |
 Fourth day of menstrual cycle | 56 (13.1%) |
 Fifth day of menstrual cycle | 22 (5.1%) |
 Others | 12 (2.8%) |
Limitation of daily activities due to dysmenorrhea | |
 None | 52 (12.1%) |
 Slightly affected | 239 (55.8%) |
 Moderately affected | 108 (25.2%) |
 Seriously affected | 29 (6.8%) |
Absence from class in this half year due to dysmenorrhea (days) | |
 0 | 360 (84.1%) |
 1 | 43 (10%) |
 2 | 15 (3.5%) |
 3 | 6 (1.4%) |
  ≥ 4 | 4 (0.9%) |
Received menstrual education | |
 No | 185 (43.2%) |
 Yes | 243 (56.8%) |
Others consulted about dysmenorrheal | |
 No one | 174 |
 Mother | 201 |
 Father | 3 |
 Sister | 42 |
 Friend | 73 |
 Teacher | 4 |
 Nurse | 2 |
Medical consultation for dysmenorrhea | |
 None | 399 (93.2%) |
 Chinese practitioner | 9 (2.1%) |
 Modern practitioner | 20 (4.7%) |
Self-medication for dysmenorrhea in the last 3Â months | |
 None | 351 (82%) |
 Chinese herbs/ medicine | 6 (1.4%) |
 Modern medicine | 71 (16.6%) |