# Effect of Primary Dysmenorrhea on the Mental Health Quality of Medical Students in Saudi Arabia

## TL;DR

This study shows that severe menstrual pain negatively impacts the mental health of female medical students in Saudi Arabia.

## Contribution

The study establishes a link between primary dysmenorrhea severity and psychological distress in Saudi medical students.

## Key findings

- 25.8% of participants experienced severe to very severe menstrual pain.
- Higher menstrual pain interference scores correlated with lower mental health quality of life scores.
- Severe dysmenorrhea increases the risk of mental health impairment in female students.

## Abstract

Objective: Primary dysmenorrhea is an underdiagnosed and ignored severe lower abdominal pain that causes millions of women worldwide to suffer. This commonly affects women before the start of their period and can last for three days from its onset. Studies in Saudi Arabia have mentioned that the severity of primary dysmenorrhea can cause significant disturbances and negatively impact the lives of women, especially students. This study aimed to assess the association between primary dysmenorrhea and psychological distress among medical students at Qassim University, Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students from Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed online to medical students. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age and marital status), menstrual characteristics (i.e., age at menarche and menstrual pain), the Dysmenorrhea Symptom Interference (DSI) scale, and the Mental Health Quality of Life (MHQoL) questionnaire.

Results: Among the 194 medical students who participated in the study, 97.9% were single and 51.5% were aged between 21 and 23 years; 25.8% experienced severe to very severe menstrual pain. The DSI scale was inversely correlated with the MHQoL. Higher DSI scores were associated with frequent or severe to very severe menstrual pain, the use of painkillers and herbs for menstrual pain, and visiting a doctor for menstrual pain. In contrast, higher MHQoL scores were associated with infrequent or mild to moderate menstrual pain.

Conclusion: Primary dysmenorrhea adversely affects the mental health of female medical students. The burden of menstrual pain, particularly in its severe form, increases the risk of mental health impairment in this group of patients. We advocate the promotion of health education programs to limit the effects of dysmenorrhea on students’ quality of life.