In this study, to estimate the current status of young women with menstrual disorders, the relation among
dysmenorrhea,
irregular menstruation and premenstrual symptoms was investigated by a questionnaire. Subjects ranging from 18 to 20 years old were recruited from 522 female students at Ashiya College in Japan. The intensity of
dysmenorrhea was classified into 3 grades (score 1, not requiring
analgesic; score 2, painful, requiring
analgesic; score 3, painful, not relieved by
analgesic). All participants were further divided into subsequent groups as having premenstrual symptoms or not and those having regular or
irregular menstruation.
Dysmenorrhea scores in the students with premenstrual symptoms or
irregular menstruation were significantly higher than those without these symptoms (1.66+/-0.66 vs 1.41+/-0.59; 1.62+/-0.68 vs 1.49+/-0.61, respectively). There was no significant relation in the incidence between premenstrual symptoms and
irregular menstruation. These findings suggest that considerable numbers of young women with
dysmenorrhea are associated with premenstrual symptoms.