Symptom assessment related to the menstrual cycle to predict endometriosis and adenomyosis in university students

TL;DR

This study finds that worsening menstrual pain is a strong predictor of endometriosis or adenomyosis in university students.

Contribution

Identifies worsening dysmenorrhea as a novel predictor for endometriosis/adenomyosis in young female students.

Findings

2.9% of students self-reported adenomyosis and 18.6% reported endometriosis.

Worsening dysmenorrhea was a strong predictor (OR=5.73) of endometriosis/adenomyosis.

Symptoms like dyspareunia and dysuria were more common in the ENDO/ADENO group.

Abstract

To assess the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of endometriosis and
adenomyosis among university students and identify potential predictors of
these diseases among these symptoms.

This cross-sectional study was conducted at a private university in
northeastern Brazil. The students were asked to complete an electronic
questionnaire using a Google Form link. Participants were asked about
general information, the menstrual cycle, and bleeding symptoms. The
electronic questionnaire results were compared between two groups: students
who self-reported endometriosis/adenomyosis (ENDO/ADENO) and students who
self-reported no endometriosis/adenomyosis (NO ENDO/ADENO).

Four (2.9%) students self-reported adenomyosis alone, 26 (18.6%) students
self-reported endometriosis alone, and two (1.4%) students selfreported an
associated diagnosis of endometriosis and adenomyosis. Participants were
divided into two groups: ENDO/ADENO (n=32) and NO ENDO/ADENO (n=108).

Participants in the ENDO/ADENO group reported more severe dysmenorrhea,
worsening dysmenorrhea in the last 12 months, frequent absence from class,
dyspareunia, and dysuria. Worsening dysmenorrhea was a predictor of
endometriosis/adenomyosis in university female students (odds ratio = 5.73;
95% confidence interval, 1.91-17.22, p=0.002).

The assessment of menstrual cycle symptoms can be used as a screening tool
for patients at risk of endometriosis/adenomyosis. The progressive worsening
of dysmenorrhea in the last 12 months was a predictor of
endometriosis/adenomyosis diagnosis.