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Medina-Perucha L, López-Jiménez T, Pujolar-Díaz G, Martínez-Bueno C, Munrós-Feliu J, Valls-Llobet C, Jacques-Aviñó C, Holst AS, Pinzón-Sanabria D, Vicente-Hernández MM, García-Egea A, Berenguera A. Menstrual characteristics and associations with sociodemographic factors and self-rated health in Spain: a cross-sectional study. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:88. [PMID: 38310222 PMCID: PMC10838449 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02840-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on how menstrual characteristics may differ based on socioeconomic factors and self-rated health is significantly scarce. The main aim of this study was to investigate the associations between menstrual characteristics, sociodemographic factors and self-rated health among women and people who menstruate (PWM) aged 18-55 in Spain. METHODS This cross-sectional study includes data from an online survey collected in March-July 2021 across Spain. Descriptive statistical analyses and multivariate logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS The analyses included a total of 19,358 women and PWM. Mean age at menarche was 12.4 (SD = 1.5). While 20.3% of our participants experienced a menstrual abundance over 80 ml, 64.1% reported having menstrual blood clots; 6.4% menstruated for longer than 7 days. 17.0% had menstrual cycles that were shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days. Reports of moderate (46.3%) and high (22.7%) intensity menstrual pain were common. 68.2% of our participants experienced premenstrual symptoms in all or most cycles. The odds for lighter menstrual flow, shorter bleeding days and menstrual cycles were higher as age increased, and amongst participants with less educational attainment. Caregivers presented higher odds for abundant menstrual flow and longer menstruations. Reporting financial constraints and a poorer self-rated health were risk factors for abundant menstrual flow, menstrual blood clots, shorter/longer menstruations and menstrual cycles, premenstrual symptoms, moderate and intense menstrual pain. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that age, educational attainment, caregiving, experiencing financial hardship and a poorer self-rated health may shape or mediate menstrual characteristics. It thus highlights the need to investigate and address social inequities of health in menstrual research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Medina-Perucha
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Tomàs López-Jiménez
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Georgina Pujolar-Díaz
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Cristina Martínez-Bueno
- Servei d'Atenció a la Salut Sexual i Reproductiva (ASSIR). Direcció Assistencial d'Atenció Primària, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Research Group (GRASSIR), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordina Munrós-Feliu
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Research Group (GRASSIR), Barcelona, Spain
- Atenció a la Salut Sexual i Reproductiva (ASSIR) Muntanya/La Mina, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Constanza Jacques-Aviñó
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Anna Sofie Holst
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Andrea García-Egea
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Anna Berenguera
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Bellaterra, Spain
- Departament d'Infermeria, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
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