Menstrual Problems and Lifestyle among Spanish University Women

Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Legal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain

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Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain

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Well-Move Research Group, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain

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Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food and Nutrition Research Group, University of Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain

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Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain

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Departament of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain

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Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaén, Spain

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CIBERESP, Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain

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University of Cantabria–IDIVAL, 39011 Santander, Spain

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Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), Sergas-UVIGO, HealthyFit Research Group, Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, 36310 Pontevedra, Spain

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Natural Resources, Health and Environment Research Center (RENSMA), University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(20), 7425; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207425

Received: 6 August 2020 / Revised: 27 September 2020 / Accepted: 30 September 2020 / Published: 12 October 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Public Health)

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Abstract

Menstrual problems affect many young women worldwide, conditioning both their academic performance and quality of life. This study sought to analyse the prevalence of menstrual problems and their possible relationship with lifestyle among Spanish university women, as part of a research project (UniHcos Project) involving a cohort of 11 Spanish universities with 7208 university students. A descriptive analysis was performed using the bivariate chi-square test and the Student’s t-test together with a binary logistic regression, in which the dependent variable was ‘suffering from menstrual problems’. Menstrual problems were identified in 23.8% of the students, representing women who paid more visits to the doctor and to emergency rooms, and who consumed more painkillers and contraceptives. In relation to dietary preferences, menstrual problems were 1.39 (CI 95% 1.22–1.61; p = 0.000) times more likely among women classified as high-risk alcohol users according to the AUDIT questionnaire, and 1.187 (CI 95% 1.029–1.370; p = 0.019) times greater among those who consumed sweets daily, 1.592 (CI 95% 1.113–2.276; p = 0.011) times more frequent among those who eat fish daily, and 1.199 (CI 95% 1.004–1.432; p = 0.045) times greater among those who were dieting. Menstrual problems affect many college students and potentially modifiable lifestyle variables exist which may influence their prevalence. It would be interesting to develop programmes to promote women’s health in the university context. View Full-Text

Keywords: menstrual disorders; diet; lifestyle; university students

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

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MDPI and ACS Style

Fernández-Martínez, E.; Fernández-Villa, T.; Amezcua-Prieto, C.; Suárez-Varela, M.M.; Mateos-Campos, R.; Ayán-Pérez, C.; Molina de la Torre, A.J.; Ortíz-Moncada, R.; Almaraz, A.; Blázquez Abellán, G.; Delgado-Rodríguez, M.; Alonso-Molero, J.; Martínez-Ruíz, V.; Llopis-Morales, A.; Valero Juan, L.F.; Cancela Carral, J.M.; Martín-Peláez, S.; Alguacil, J. Menstrual Problems and Lifestyle among Spanish University Women. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 7425. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207425

AMA Style

Fernández-Martínez E, Fernández-Villa T, Amezcua-Prieto C, Suárez-Varela MM, Mateos-Campos R, Ayán-Pérez C, Molina de la Torre AJ, Ortíz-Moncada R, Almaraz A, Blázquez Abellán G, Delgado-Rodríguez M, Alonso-Molero J, Martínez-Ruíz V, Llopis-Morales A, Valero Juan LF, Cancela Carral JM, Martín-Peláez S, Alguacil J. Menstrual Problems and Lifestyle among Spanish University Women. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(20):7425. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207425

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fernández-Martínez, Elia, Tania Fernández-Villa, Carmen Amezcua-Prieto, María M. Suárez-Varela, Ramona Mateos-Campos, Carlos Ayán-Pérez, Antonio J. Molina de la Torre, Rocío Ortíz-Moncada, Ana Almaraz, Gemma Blázquez Abellán, Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez, Jéssica Alonso-Molero, Virginia Martínez-Ruíz, Agustín Llopis-Morales, Luis F. Valero Juan, José M. Cancela Carral, Sandra Martín-Peláez, and Juan Alguacil. 2020. "Menstrual Problems and Lifestyle among Spanish University Women" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 20: 7425. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207425

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