Aching Alike: Comparative Analysis Of Primary Dysmenorrhea Prevalence In Mexican Athletes And Sedentary Females

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common gynecological disorder and can significantly impact a woman's sports performance as well as quality of life. There is a lack of research regarding PD in Mexican female athletes. PURPOSE: To a) compare the prevalence of PD in sedentary women and athletes in a Mexican population; and b) characterize associated pain semiology and accompanying symptoms. METHODS: A comparative and descriptive study of 238 female participants was done. Two groups were formed: 1) 124 elite athletes who train in the State Institute of Sport; 2) 114 sedentary medical students. Participants’ median age was 17 years [(IQR) 17-22]. Exclusion included diagnosis of secondary dysmenorrhea. Data was collected through a survey with questions related to the presence/absence of pelvic pain during menses in the last 3 months, The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain and questions about other symptoms accompanying PD were used. Data analysis used Pearson's Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, T-Student tests and point biserial variables as indicated. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.001 with a 95% confidence interval. IBM SPSS statistical package (V25) was used. RESULTS: Prevalence of PD in athlete group was 81.5% (N = 101), while prevalence in sedentary group was 75.4% (N = 86) [global prevalence 78.6% (N = 187)]. These differences were not statistically significant. Pain intensity (VAS) showed no significant difference between groups: athlete [median 6.50] and sedentary group [median 6]. Additionally, no statistically significant difference between groups was found for associated symptoms (vomiting, headache, night awakenings, insomnia, fatigue, and need for analgesic medicine). Headache (39.3%), need for analgesic (47.1%), and fatigue (55.5%) exhibited highest prevalence. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between PD in athletes and decreased sports performance, with athletes having a 6.8 times greater risk (P = 0.001, OR 6.828, 95% CI 3.470-13.433). CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of PD within both athletic and sedentary females, though no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups. This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and impact of dysmenorrhea among female athletes and sedentary individuals.