SYED MUHAMMAD ASHRAF JAHANGEER, MEERAB FATIMA, HİFZA IQBAL, AREEBA SHEIKH
Gynecology Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine - 2024;30(2):122-127
OBJECTIVE: Dysmenorrhea negatively impacts a woman’s quality of life. The lack of proper awareness results in poor coping mechanisms in females. This study aims to determine the association of dys-menorrhea with quality of life using the Dysmenorrhea Symptom Interference (DSI) Scale and the man-agement choices of females. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was conducted among females studying at various univer-sities in Karachi from March 2023 to May 2023. The calculated sample size was 270. A non-probability, convenience sampling technique was applied. A web-based, structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. RESULTS: 278 females completed the survey. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score (110) indicated the degree of dysmenorrhea. The majority of the females, 40.6% (n=113), had moderate dysmenorrhea. Quality of life was measured according to the DSI Score (maximum score=5). The mean DSI score recorded was 2.75. Most participants (27%; n=75) were found in the mood component of DSI. Most of the females used lifestyle modifications, followed by home remedies and medications. A significant pos-itive correlation between the NRS score and the DSI score (p<0.001) suggests that an increased degree of dysmenorrhea led to a significant decline in the quality of life. CONCLUSION: We conclude that dysmenorrhea is associated with a decreased quality of life and the DSI Scale is a valid tool for assessing its impact on quality of life. There is a general lack of knowledge about adequate pain management.
